MATTHEW C. PERRY. 369 



On the 26th of May, Commodore Perry reached 

 the Lew-Chew Islands. They lay before him upon 

 the bosom of the tranquil deep, like fruitful gardens 

 surrounded by the placid waters of a lake, and 

 adorned with all the rich luxuriance of a tropical 

 clime. It was a portion of the instructions which 

 had been given by Government to the commander 

 of this expedition that he should establish a separate 

 treaty of commerce with these islands, which were 

 not only of considerable importance in themselves, 

 but which also acquired a still greater consequence 

 from their position on the great East India route. 

 Here a solitary representative of civilization already 

 existed, in the person of Dr. Bettleheim, a converted 

 Jew, who had been sent out by a missionary society 

 in England to convert the natives to Christianity; 

 but who, after eight years of residence and en- 

 deavor had not secured a single proselyte. 



A friendly intercourse was immediately esta- 

 blished between the squadron and the harmless and 

 hospitable inhabitants of the island. The name of 

 the chief town is Napha ; and this spot was the re- 

 sidence of a mysterious person, who was the heir- 

 apparent to the throne, but whose authority during 

 the period of his alleged minority was exercised by 

 a regent. .After various negotiations had taken 

 place between subordinate agents on both sidea, an 



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