1827 



186 VOYAGE TO THE 



Like the Japanese, they have always shown a deter- 

 mination to resist the attempts of Europeans to trade 

 May, with them, partly^ no doubt, in consequence of orders 

 to that effect from China, and partly from their own 

 timidity ; and whenever a foreign vessel arrives it is 

 their policy to keep her in ignorance of their weak- 

 ness, by confining the crew to their vessel, or, if they 

 cannot do that, within a limited walk of the beach, 

 and through such places only as will not enlighten 

 them on this point ; and also to supply her with what 

 she requires, in order that she may have no pretext 

 for remaining. 



Mr. Collie in his journal has given a phrenological 

 description of the heads of several Loo Chooans which 

 he examined and measured, in which proportions he 

 thinks the lovers of that science will find much that 

 is in accordance with the character of the people. 

 The article, I am sorry to say, is too long for insertion 

 here, and I only mention the circumstance that the 

 information may not be lost. 



We had but few opportunities of seeing any of the 

 females of this country, and those only of the working 

 class. An-yah said they were ugly, and told us we 

 might judge of what they were like from the lower 

 orders which we saw. They dressed their hair in the 

 same manner as those people, and were free from the 

 Chinese custom of modelling their feet. 



The Loo Choo people dress extremely neat, and 

 always appear cleanly in their persons ; they observe 

 the Chinese custom of going bareheaded, and when 

 the sun strikes hot upon their skulls, they avert its 

 rays with their fans, which may be considered part of 

 the dress of a Loo Chooan. In wet weather they 

 wear cloaks and broad hats similar to those of the 



