The New York herald., 1874-08-20

could oe defended against invaders to oil eternity.
Expedition TO tho New Landing Place
i'm Nishim Bay-Friendly Receptions
by the Nasivcs-The Joculartty OF the
ChieG-A People Without Spelling
Books-An Impromptu Banquet ON the
Shore:
NIsHN BAY, NEAR TUhAsox,
East Coast OF Formosa, June IL, 1874
The arrangement for the occupation Of q piece OF
land on the east coast was made on the OH inst.
ard Oh the 10th 1t was decided to send round o
small force IN the Nishin to point already visited
and examined Tor distance The indefatigable
ana pucky interpreter Johnson, was sent. with
hiya to notify the inhabitants OF Tutlasok and the
neighborhood Of the proposed new encampmenr,
ana, on the morning ofthe iith the Nshin started
with fifty marines on board. This little excursion
was put in the hands OF Admiral Skanatsu. as
sisted by Major Fukusima. On this voyage be-
leve that foreigners sailed for the first time in
Japanese man-oi-war. IL is needless to say that
the greatest courtesy was shown to the American
guests. The officers OF this ship are gentlemen OF
rather exceptional culture, many OF them under
standing several languages, and one of them, in
particular, speaking English with as much purity
OF accent and nuency as If 1t were his mother
tongue. The passage occupied only a few hours
from ten in the morning till three in the afternoon
About twelve the bay IN which the Rover tragedy
took place was passed. This, though not more
than mile in depth, is said to be the largest inlet
OF the whole Island. The little indentatlon from
which date this letter is not indicated In the
charts. and is q discovery Of the Nishin, made In
the trip OF three weeks ago, when she was nred
upon from the shore 1t affords very slight pro-
lection from gales. and presume is only valuable
as one or the few available points OF debarkation
along the coast.
EVIDENCES OF CONFIDENCE.
As the frIgate dropped anchor a group OF men
was seen on the beach with three Of the flags that
had been distributed two days before. This showed
thai they were disposed to put the pledges OF good
treatment to an early test The landing was not
effected without difficulty, the surf being rather
high. Everybody was moro or less wet and the
American Commodore was swept clean overheard.
But, as ! have often remarked, this is
an experience which does not come amiss
under the scorching sun OF the tropIca We
finally found our way into the mouth of little
river, not Tar from the bank OF which were
gathered Issa. Pinto and Lulin, with few Of their
followers They had seen our approach from q
considerable distance further SOUTH and mad run
along the shore, with their nags, to meet us.
They had built fire. with what earthly or un
earthly design we could not then conjecture, near
which they eXhorted US to sit down, and seemed
somewhat concerned at our unwiinngness to sub
ject ourselves to their artificial heat IN addition
to that which naturally b!azed upon All OF the
natives were more careessly attired than on their
ceremonial visits TO Pal1ao. and not only ap-
peared without ornaments, but with very little
clothing OF any sort They were IN much better
humor than they had ever before seemed, owing,
suppose, to their freedom from all es.rant and
the consciousness that their feet were on their
native sage brush. Most OF them exhibited
A TENDENCY TO UNINTELLIGIBLB POPULARITY,
Issa being the exception. He still preserved hts
imperturbable sohaity, but the amlty OF lis sentl
ments was Indicated by his wearing the sword
that had been given him by Saigo. In conse-
quence OF some misunderstanding as to the place
OF meeting Johnson did not promptly appear TO
interpret, and meanwhile the fifty marines were
landed together with an equal number OF sailors.
Little excursions were MADE to Tuiiisok the Old
home OF Tokitok and to other villages within a
mile OF the shore. This region is more attractive
in appearance than the country round about LIZ
angkiao, the hills rising rapidly from the water's
edge, and being covered with thick and varie
gated verdure. On the sands there were signs OF
an avOcat,on which tue savages have not gener-
ally been supposed to follow. Fishing nets were
stretched upon frames, ana "catamarans" were
propped up on their edges. ready for launching
In the centre OF the beach there suspicious
looking line OF elevated SAND, about two feet high
and thirty feet long, just at the spot where the
NlshiI was fired upon. 1t had most probably
been thrown up as breastwOrk, from which to
repel any attempts TO land at that time. and the
position was well enough chosen for that purpose,
a sa e way Of retreat to the hills lying exactly be-
hind it.
QUESTION OF RACE.
AS the afternoon passed numbers Of the natives
f.oI-
to the fierce race which we usually speak Of as
aboriginal and Others OF Chinese descent The
former are always easily distinguished by their
distended ears. the lobes OF many OF which are
stretched around pieces Of circular metal or stone
not less in circumference than o Mexican dollar.
Ii may hereafter become question whether any
connection can be traced between these people
and the Japanese-who are known to have occu-
pied Formosa ages ago-by means OF these pro-
diglous ears There are in Japan !nnumerable
pictures and bropzes representing early heroes,
saints, &C, in which the lower part OF this feature
is disproportionately large and dropping, and
sometimes consists OF a mere rim. which is pre-
cisely the case here. The famous statue OF Dai
Butsu, at Kamakura, ia an example in point.
An UNwRITTES LANGUAGE.
All the new comers were heavily armed, but all
were prompt in their invariable salutation oirend
breast to SIGNIFY, they say, that the heart is good.
Some OF the Cinnamon knew how to write. and
amused themselves by tracing simple characters
in the sand. few OF the savages could under
stand little Chinese, but could not write or read.
Their own language has no written form, so far as
! can learn. Mutual communication was extremely
disjointed and incoherent until the arrival OF the
interpreters, when al was smooth again. The
camping ground was selected and approved, the
"headnan" OF Tuiasok again refusing to be re-
munerated. Later in the day Koalut warrior
marched in among us, who we were assured this
time beyond question was the chief himself He
was near his own domain now, and If not without
reproach was devoid OF fear. He was little
man, THIS leader OF the most bloodthirsty
tribe, except the Boutans. In the peninsula, with
a rather eGeminate face. large, mild eyes, and
wreath OF wild flowers tasteiuiy woven into his
hair One OF his cnmpaEiOna had aOmeYhat