the sea-breezes which blow over it at every period of the year, it is free from the extremes of heat and cold which oppress many other countries; the people seemed to enjoy robust health; for we observ ed no diseased objects, nor beggars of any description among them."

"Nature has been bountiful in all her gifts to Lewchew; for such is the felicity of its soil and climate, that productions of the vegetable kingdom, very distinct in their na ture, and generally found in regions far distant from each other, grow here side by side. It is not merely, as might be expected, the country of the orange and the lime, but of the banyan of India, and the Nor. wegian fir, the tea plant and the sugar cane. In addition to many good qualities, not often found combined, this isl and can boast its rivers and secure harbours; and last, though not least, a worthy, a friendly, and a happy people."

"The natives trace their history back to a period long anterior to the Christian era; but their first communication with the rest of the world, when their accounts became fully corroborated, was about the year 605, when they were invaded by China, who found them at that time-a time when England and the greater part of Europe were immers ed in barbarism-the same kind of people they are at the present day, with the exception of a few Chinese innovations; or at least they appear

to have altered but in a very slight degree.”

This people have been long tributary to the Chinese government,: and their intercourse has been principally with China and Japan. By the writer of the Narrative it was supposed that they had never been visited by any European ship prior to the arrival of the Alceste and Lyra. "On the approach of these ships says Mr. M'Leod, the astonished natives were perched by thousands on the surrounding rocks and heights, gazing on the vessels as they entered. Soon after, several canoes came alongside, containing some people in office, who wished to know to what country we belonged, and the nature of our visit." Being informed that the ships had been with an Ambassador to China-that they needed repairs, &c.; the natives immediately sent car penters to assist, but were assured that there were carpenters on board," and that an asylum was all we required during the time of repair, with permission to take on board some fresh provisions and water of which we stood much in need.

"An immediate supply of bullocks, pigs, goats, fowls, eggs and other articles, with abundance of excellent sweet potatoes, vegetables, fruit then in season, and even candles and fire-wood followed this intimation. Supplies of the same description being sent on board as often as was necessary for about six weeks, the period

of our stay in the island-those who brought them taking a receipt to show they had been delivered safely; but the chief authorities, who sent them, obstinately refusing any pay ment or remuneration whatever."

It was intimated to this people" that it was necessary to have a party on shore, such as ropemakers and smiths, where they could have more room to work, and thereby expedite our refit. They requested this might not be done until they heard from their king, it being an unprecedent ed case, in which they were incompetent to act without orders." But after a visit from one of the chiefs, several officers went on shore to an entertainment provided for them.

"About this time a mutual friendship began to exist between us; confidence took place of timidity; and now, instead of permitting only a few to visit the shore at a time, they fitted up the garden of a temple as a general arsenal for us. The habitations of the priests were allotted as an hospital for the sick, whilst other temporary buildings of bamboo were erected for the reception of our powder, which required airing, and for various stores wanting inspection and repair. They continued their usual supplies, bringing us even fresh water on board in their boats; and understanding that we required some wood for spars, they felled fir-trees, floated them down the river, and towed them a

long side, singing their usual boat-song, which had a very plaintive and pleasing effect."

"Many of these islanders displayed a spirit of intelligence and genius, which seemed the more extraordinary, considering the confined circle in which they live; such confinement being almost universally productive of narrowness of mind.

Our friends here

were an exception to the general rule. They all seemed to be gifted with a sort of politeness which had the fairest claim to be termed natural; for there was nothing constrained, nothing stiff or studied in it."

"These islanders are represented as being remarkable for their honesty and adherence to truth, and to this character they appear to be fully cntitled. That proud and haughty feeling of national superiority, so strongly existing among the common class of British seamen, which induces them to hold all foreigners cheap, and to treat them with contempt, often calling them outlandish lubbers in their own country, was, at this island, completely subdued and tamed by the gentle man. ners and kind behaviour of the most pacific people upon earth. Although completely intermixed and often working together, both on shore and on ' board, not a single quarrel or complaint took place on either side during the whole of our stay. On the contrary, each succeeding day added friendship and cordiality." "On our arrival at Lew

to

recovery.

chew, our cases of sickness though not numerous were severe; and to the kindness of the natives may, in a great measure, be attributed their They were not only comfortably lodged, but the higher classes of people daily attended, inquiring into their wants, giving additional coogas or eggs, and other delicacies, to those whose cases more particularly required them, and paying a cheering attention to the whole; for theirs was a substantial, not a cold or ostentatious charity.

"A young man whose case had long been hopeless, died here. On that night a coffin was made by our carpenters, whilst the natives dug a grave in the English manner, in a small burying ground under some trees near the landing place.

"Next morning we were astonished to find a number of the principal inhabitants clad in deep mourning-white robes with black or blue sashes-waiting to attend the funeral. The captain came on shore with the division of the ship's company to which the man belonged, and proceeded to the garden where the body lay.

His messmates bore the coffin, covered with the colors; the seamen ranged themselves two and two in the rear of it; next were the midshipmen, then the superior officers; and last of all the captain, as is usual in military ceremonies of this kind. The natives who had been watching attentively this arrangement, and

observing the order of prer cedence to be inverted, without the least hint being given, but with that unassuming modesty and delicacy which characterize them, when the -procession began to move, placed themselves in front of the coffin, and in this order marched slowly to the grave. The utmost decency and silence prevailed whilst the funeral ser, vice was performing by the chaplain.

"The day after the interment they went to the tomb with their priests and performed the funeral service according to the rites of their own religion. There is not an act of these excellent and interesting people, which the mind has not pleasure in contemplating and recollecting. Not satisfied with having smoothed the path of death, they carried their regards even beyond the grave."

"Crimes are said to be very unfrequent among them, and they seem to go perfectly unarmed; for we observed no warlike instruments of any description! Not even a bow or an arrow was to be seen! and when they observed the effect of fowling pieces in the hands of some of the gentlemen, they begged they might not kill the birds, which they were always glad to see flying about their houses; and if we required them to eat, they would send in their stead an additional quantity of fowls on board every day.-An order was immediately issued to desist from this sort of sporting."

"The period of our depar