1827. 



200 VOYAGE TO THE 



silver ornaments, a paper even thicker than that of Co- 

 rea, made of les cocons, and another made of bamboo, 

 May, besides that manufactured from the bark of the paper 

 tree. He states they have woods fit for dyes, and particu- 

 larly esteem one made from a tree, the leaves of which 

 resemble those of the citron tree ; and mentions brass, 

 pewter, saddles, bridles, and sheaths as being manufac- 

 tured with considerable taste and neatness upon the 

 island, and as forming part of the tribute to China, 

 from which it might be inferred that they were better 

 executed than those in Pekin. 



Previous to our departure I offered An-yah a patent 

 corn-mill and a winnowing machine, and showed him 

 the use of them. He was extremely thankful for 

 them at first, but after a little consideration he declined 

 the present, without assigning any reason. He pro- 

 bably imagined the introduction of foreign machinery 

 might be disapproved by his superiors. 



It has been observed that drums and tambourines 

 were the only musical instruments among these people ; 

 we saw a flute, and were told that the inhabitants pos- 

 sessed violins and other stringed instruments ; yet they 

 do not appear to be a musical nation. 



Among our numerous inquiries there was not one 

 to which we got such contradictory answers as that 

 concerning the residence of the king of Loo Choo. 

 It was evident that there was a person of very high 

 authority upon the island, whom they styled ivaiig, 

 which in Dr. Morrison's Dictionary is translated king, 

 and that his residence was not far from Ncipa-kiang t, 

 but An-yah provoked me much by always evading this 

 question. Sometimes he said it was four days to the 

 north-cast, at others that it was only one, and at last 

 that it was at a place called Sheui, or Shoodi. Some 



