216 VOYAGE TO THE 



fleet for the purpose of compelling payment ; but 

 about this time China having suffered a serious defeat 

 from the Japanese, and from the kingdoms of Tonquin 

 and Cochin China, and lost 100,000 men in her expe- 

 ditions against those places, disaffection spread 

 throughout the troops, and the expedition returned 

 without even having reached its destination. 



Ynt-sou was succeeded by his son Ta-tchin, who was 

 followed by his son Ynt-see, two princes much es- 

 teemed for their wisdom and benevolence. Not so 

 Yut-ching, a prince of avaricious and voluptuous dis- 

 position, who ascended the throne of his father in 

 1314; during whose reign the state fell into consi- 

 derable disorder. The governor of Keng-koaey-gin 

 revolted and declared himself King of Chanpe, the 

 northern province of the island. The governor of 

 Tali also revolted, and became king of the southern 

 province Chan-nan, leaving Yut-ching to govern only 

 the centre of the island, which was called Tchong- 

 chan. Thus was this island, not sixty miles in length, 

 divided into three independent kingdoms. The great- 

 est animosity prevailed between these three princi- 

 palities ; and long and bloody wars ensued. About 

 sixty years after the country had been thus divided, 

 Tsay-tou, a prince beloved by his people and esteemed 

 for his valour, came to the throne of the middle pro- 

 vince. It was in his reign that Hong-vou, the Empe- 

 ror of China, renewed overtures of protection ; and 

 the embassy which he sent to the court of Tsay-tou 

 acquitted itself so creditably, that the ofl'er was ac- 

 cepted. The kings of the other districts of Loo Choo 

 were no sooner apprised of the conduct of Tsay-tou, 

 than they also put themselves under the protection of 

 China ; and thus Loo Choo once more became tri- 

 butary to the Celestial Empire. 



