1827. 



220 VOYAGE TO THE 



granted to his subjects very great privileges in their 

 commercial transactions with China. 

 May, The Japanese pirates, among which there were a 



great many vessels manned by Chinese, continued 

 their depredations in spite of the efforts and remon- 

 strances of the Emperor of China ; and latterly occa- 

 sioned such alarm in that country, that the famous 

 Tay-Cosama, who was then secular ruler of Japan, 

 determined to avail himself of the panic, and preme- 

 ditated an attack upon the coast of that mighty em- 

 pire. It was necessary to the success of this bold 

 enterprise that the assault should be conducted with 

 the utmost secrecy ; and Tay-Cosama, fearing that the 

 frequent intercourse between China and Loo Choo, 

 w^hich country could not remain in ignorance of the 

 preparations, might be the means of divulging his in- 

 tentions to China, sent ambassadors to Chang-ning, 

 who was then King of Loo Choo, haughtily forbidding 

 him to pay tribute to China, and desiring him to ac- 

 knowledge no other sovereign than that of Japan. It 

 is said that he also sent similar notices to the gover- 

 nor of the Philippines, to the King of Siam, and to the 

 Europeans in India. 



Chang-ning, however, was not easily intimidated, 

 and remained deaf to the menaces of the Emperor of 

 Japan. He saw through the designs of Tay-Cosama; 

 and by means of a rich Chinese merchant, who hap- 

 pened to be at Napa-kiang at that time, he apprised 

 Ouan-h, then Emperor of China, of his designs. 

 Ouan-li immediately increased his army, fortified his 

 coasts, and made every preparation for a vigorous de- 

 fence against the invading army of Japan, whenever it 

 might arrive. He also apprised Corea of the danger 

 with which that state was threatened ; but the king, 



