182 



PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 225 



been endangered by foreign invasion : her towns have C!Iap 

 been plundered, her palaces consumed, and her cili- v__^ 

 zens carried into captivity. Situated between the em- May, 

 pires of China and Japan, she has been mixed up with 

 their quarrels, and made subservient to the interests of 

 both ; at one time suffering; all the miseries of inva- 

 sion, and at another acting as a mediator. Allied by 

 preference to China, and by fear and necessity, from 

 her proximity, to Japan, she is obliged, to avoid jea- 

 lousy, to pay tribute to both, though that to the latter 

 country is said to be furnished by the merchants who 

 are most interested in the trade to that empire. Their 

 conduct to strangers who have touched at their ports 

 has ever been uniformly polite and hospitable ; but they 

 would rather be exempt from such friendly visits : 

 and though extremely desirous of obtaining European 

 manufactures, particul-rly cloth, hosiery, and cutlery, 

 they would oppose nuy open atteujpt to introduce 

 them. The most likely means of establishing a com- 

 munication v.'ith them would be through Chinese n)er- 

 chants at Canton, who might be persuaded to send 

 goods there in their own names, and under the charge 

 of their own countrymen. 



Whale ships have occasionally touched at Loo 

 Choo when distressed for provisions. It is satisfac- 

 tory to find that these interviews have been conducted 

 without giving offence to the natives. It is to be 

 hoped that any vessel which may hereafter be under 

 the necessity of putting in there will preserve the same 

 conduct, and give the inhabitants no cause to rearet 

 having extended their hospitality to foreig^ners. 



I have perhaps entered more minutely upon several 

 (|uestions connected with Loo Choo than may be con- 



VOL. II. «. 



