DEPARTURE FROM CHINA FOR LEW CHEW. 149 



a sliort time, to await the course of events in the rebel camp, her commander having orders to 

 follow as soon as he could do so consistently with the safety of American interests at Shanghai. 

 The day of departure was unusually clear, and the cultivated banks of the river, with their 

 orchards and fields of grain, never appeared more beautifully green. With the fine day, wliich 

 gave a bright, cheerful aspect to every object, the inspiriting music of the band, which struck up 

 a succession of lively airs, the crowds of spectators on the shore, and the natural enthusiasm of all 

 on the prospect of carrying out the enterprise which was the great object of the expedition, the 

 departure from Shanghai was in a high degree animating. 



The Mississippi had preceded, as we have seen, the Susquehanna, to which the Commodore 

 had now transferred his flag, and joined the Supply, which, after having grounded on the 

 North Sand, succeeded fortunately in getting off without damage. The squadron, which now 

 prepared to sail for Lew Chew, was composed of the Susquehanna, the Mississippi, the Supply, 

 and the Caprice, which was discovered standing in, as the other ships were standing out, 

 and was ordered to follow. The Plymouth was, as has just been stated, left at Shanghai, as a 

 guard of American property and interests, and the Saratoga remained at Macao, to await the 

 arrival of Dr. Williams, the interpreter. These vessels were expected to follow, and join the 

 rendezvous at Lew Chew. 



The Susquehanna, on reaching the mouth of the Tang-tse-Kiang, came to anchor and 

 remained there for three days. The Mississippi and Supply took up their positions on either 

 side. The junk belonging to Kussell & Co., the American merchants, which had been hired 

 to carry a cargo of coal to the mouth of the river to be put on board the Mississippi, was, while 

 under the charge of its own commander and officers, lost on the North Sand. From the 

 anchorage of the Mississippi, Gutzlaff's island could be seen some six miles distant, and 

 beyond it stretched the long uneven outline of Buggies' islands. The weather was alternately 

 clear and rainy, and when the sun did not shine the scene was particularly gloomy and 

 oppressive to the spirits. The muddy waters of the Yang-tse-Kiang, looking more muddy still 

 in the yellow light of a foggy atmosphere, and the dull constraint of a tedious anchorage, 

 presented a sad prospect to the eye, and a wearisome sensation to the feelings, which made all 

 anxious for departure. 



The naturalists had an opportunity of gratifying their tastes in observing a flock of small 

 birds from the land, which hovered in and about the ship. Mr. Heine, the artist, succeeded in 

 obtaining several specimens, which had somewhat the appearance of the starling. He also 

 caught a graceful dove, of a light brownish color. A beautiful king-fisher was brought on 

 board, which had been caught by some of the sailors of the Mississippi. Its plumage was 

 exceedingly rich and charmingly variegated ; its long bill was of a bright red ; its wings were 

 black ; its body was of a rich blue color, and its flossy neck was of a whitish cream tint. 



The Susquehanna got under way at one o'clock on the 23d of May, followed by the 

 Mississippi with the Supply in tow, all bound for Napha, the principal port of the Great Lew 

 Chew island. In the course of the evening, about six o'clock, the low range of islands known 

 as the Saddles, and inhabited by a sparse population of fishermen, was passed, the ships 

 directing their course to the north of them, where there is an open channel free from shoals. 

 The night was clear, with a full moon, and the weather was mild and agreeable. The 

 Susquehanna moved on at a moderate rate, keeping about a mile in advance of the Mississippi, 

 ■while the Caprice, gently fanned by the southwestern monsoon, managed to keep also in sight, 

 though further in the distance, until she was lost in the darkness of the niglit. 



