PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 217 



The Emperor Hong-vou was so much pleased with 

 this conduct of the kings of Loo Choo, that he sent 

 them large presents of iron, porcelain, and other 

 articles which he knew to be scarce in their dominions ; 

 and also settled in the middle province thirty-six 

 famihes from Fochien, who established themselves at 

 a place called Kumi, a little to the northward of Napa- 

 kiang. These people introduced into Loo Choo the 

 Chinese written character, and ceremonies in honour 

 of Confucius. On the other hand, the kings of Loo 

 Choo sent several youths to Pekin, among whom were 

 the sons and brothers of Tsay-tou, who were educated 

 and brought up at the expense of the emperor. 



The best understanding now existed between the 

 kings of Loo Choo and the court of China ; and while 

 the emperor was receiving ambassadors from Loo 

 Choo, that country had the satisfaction of seeing 

 several islands to the northward and southward of its 

 own position added to its dominions. On the death 

 of Tsay-tou, which happened in 1396, his son Au-ning 

 was installed king by the emperor in the place of his 

 father. He reigned ten years, and was succeeded by 

 his son Is-tchao. The reigns of these two princes 

 were not distinguished by any remarkable events ; but 

 that of her successor, Chang-patch^, will ever be re- 

 membered by the Loo Chooans from the advantageous 

 union of the free provinces, which for nearly a century 

 had been agitated by a continued state of warfare ; 

 and from the estimation in which the king of the 

 island was held by Suent-song, then Emperor of China, 

 who made him large presents of silver, and bestowed 

 upon him the title of Chang, which has ever since 

 been the patronymic of the royal family of Loo Choo. 



The three following reigns present no occurrences 



