EXPLORATION OF LEW CHEW RESOLVED ON. 153 



anchor. Two persons were seen watching the movements of the squadron from the foot of the 

 flagstaff; and, through a telescoiae, numhers coukl be seen leaving the town under white 

 umbrellas. 



The ships had not been at anchor two hours, before, notwithstanding the rain, a boat came off 

 with two officials. On reaching the deck, tliey made many profound salutations, and presented 

 a folded red card of Japanese paper, about a yard long. The jirincipal personage wore a loose 

 salmon-colored robe of very fine grass cloth, while the dress of the other was of similar fashion, 

 but of a blue color. On their heads were oblong caps of bright yellow; they liad blue sashes 

 tied around their waists, and white sandals ujion their feet. Their beards were long and black, 

 though thin, and their ages were, seemingly, some thirty-five or forty years. Tliey had the 

 Japanese cast of countenance, and in complexion were a dusky olive. Who they were, or what 

 the purpose of their visit, was not immediately known, as there happened to be no interpreter, at 

 tlie time of their visit, on board the Susquelianna, to which ship they came ; but one of the 

 Commodore's Chinese servants was summoned, who understood the characters on tlieir card 

 sufficiently to explain that tlie visit was merely a cliin-chin, or complimentary salutation on 

 arrival. The Commodore, however, acting on his previously determined plan, declined seeing 

 them, or receiving any other than one of the principal dignitaries of the island; and they 

 accordingly returned to the shore. They had, no doubt, been sent to make observations, and, 

 without committal, to ascertain what they could of the strangers, that the policy and treatment 

 of the authorities of the island might be shaped according to circumstances. 



Scarcely had they gone before Dr. Bettelheim came on board hi a native boat; and such were 

 the relations in which he stood to the islanders that he hailed the arrival of the squadron with 

 delight, and manifested no little excitement of manner. He was conducted to the Commodore's 

 cabin, where he remained for two or three hours ; and in the course of the interview it appeared 

 that he had never heard even of the intended American expedition ; that a year and a half had 

 elapsed since any foreign vessel had been at Napha, and that he was almost beside himself with 

 joy. Grog and biscuit were given to his boatmen, and in their exhilaration, when they started 

 for the shore, they contrived to carry the missionary some three miles up the coast. 



The next day, the 2'7th, the shores looked, if possible, more brilliantly green and beautiful 

 than ever, and all on board were struck with the loveliness of their appearance. About seven 

 o'clock, four boats came off, bringing presents for the ship; in one of these were the two visitors 

 of the day before, wlio brought another card, seemingly a list of the presents. He of the sal- 

 mon-colored robe had given his name, on his first visit, as Whang-clia-ching ; jDrobably the Lew 

 Chew pronunciation of Whang-ta-zliin, or "his excellency, Whang." The presents brought 

 consisted of a bullock, several l>igs, a white goat, some fowls, vegetables, and eggs. These were 

 peremptorily refused, nor were those who brought them permitted to come on board. After 

 waiting a short time, tliey returned to the town, with an evident expression of anxiety and 

 uneasiness on their countenances. At this time it was observed in the squadron that several of 

 the junks put out from the inner harbor and sailed to the northward, as it was conjectured, for 

 Japan. Some of them passed quite near to the ships, to gratify their curiosity by a closer 

 inspection of such large vessels. The junks were somewhat like those of the Chinese, and, like 

 them, had two great eyes inserted in the bows, as if to see the way. Undoubtedly, the presence 

 of the squadron had created great alarm among the junks; for no force, half as large, had ever 

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