146 VOYAGE TO THE 



board, and with a respectful salutation begged permis- 

 sion to be allowed to look over the ship ; but they were 

 interrupted by the approach of a boat with an officer, 

 apparently of rank, whom they endeavoured to avoid. 

 His person underwent a severe scrutiny through our 

 telescopes long before he came on board, and we could 

 distinctly see that he had not the hatchee-matchee, or 

 low cylindrical cap worn by persons of rank in Loo 

 Choo, in the same manner as the cap and buttons are 

 by the mandarins of China, yet he was evidently a 

 man of consequence, from the respect paid him by the 

 natives in making room for his approach. When he 

 came along side he was invited upon deck, but for 

 some time he stood minutely examining the outside 

 of the ship, counting the number of port-holes, and 

 apparently forming an estimate of her length and 

 height. At last he ascended the side and made a low 

 salutation on the quarter deck, bowing his head in a 

 respectful manner, and clasping his hands to his breast, 

 as before described. Finding we could not under- 

 stand his language he waved his hand to seaward, in 

 intimation that we should not be allowed to remain in 

 the port. He then looked down upon the gun deck, 

 and pursued his examination of the inside of the ship 

 W'ith the same rigour that he had bestow^ed upon the 

 exterior, making notes of what he saw. When he 

 was satisfied, he expressed his thanks for our civility 

 and returned to the shore. 



Soon after his departure, several well-dressed per- 

 sons, with boys holding parasols over them, were ob- 

 served coming off to us : they were seated in Chinese 

 style upon mats spread in the bottom of the boat, over 

 neat ratan platforms, and were propelled by several 

 persons working at a large oar as a scull, keeping time 



