PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 137 



Japanese, and exchange their straw sandals for wooden 

 clogs. They have besides umbrellas to protect them 

 from the rain. Of their occupations we could not 

 judge ; it was evident that there were a great many 

 agriculturists among them, and many artisans, as they 

 have various manufactures, of which I shall speak 

 hereafter. 



They appear to be very temperate in their meals, 

 and indulge only in tea, sweatmeats, and tobacco, of 

 which they smoke a great quantity ; it is, however, of 

 a very mild fjuality and pleasant flavour. Their pipes 

 are very short, and scarcely hold half a thimbleful ; 

 this is done that they may be the oftener replenished, 

 in order to enjoy the flavour of fresh tobacco, which is 

 considered a luxury. 



For further information on the manners, the dress, 

 and minor points of interest belonging to these people, 

 I must refer to the publications of Captain Hall and 

 Mr. Macleod, who have so interestingly described all 

 the little traits of character of the simple Loo Chooans, 

 and who have pourtrayed their conduct with so much 

 spirit, good feeling, and minuteness. These descrip- 

 tions, though they have been a little overdrawn from 

 the impulse of grateful recollections, from the igno- 

 rance in which the authors were kept by the cautious 

 inhabitants, and from their desire to avoid giving 

 oftence, by pushing their inquiries as far as was neces- 

 sary to enable them to form a correct judgment upon 

 many things, are, upon the whole, very complete re- 

 presentations of the people. 



The supposition that the inhabitants of Loo Choo 

 possessed no weapons, ofl'ensive or otherwise, natu- 

 rally excited surprise in England, and the circum- 

 stance became one of our chief objects of inquiry. I 



