NAPHA OFFICIAL DEVICES. 159 



He was then asked if some two or tliree of the Americans might not sleep in the house for that 

 night, and rejilied that no American must sleep in a house on shore. Ujion being pressed 

 furtlier he seemed to become somewliat impatient, and, rising from his seat, he crossed over to wliere 

 the officers sat, and dispensing with the aid of the interpreter, (through whom all communications 

 had thus far been made,) to the surprise of our gentlemen, said: " Gentlemen, Doo Choo man very 

 small, American man not very small. I have read of America in books of Washington — very 

 good man, very good. Doo Choo good friend American. Doo Choo man give America all 

 provision he wants. American no can have house on shore." These were nearly his exact 

 words ; and the officers concluded that he had probably learned from Dr. Bettelheim what he 

 knew of the English language. 



When they insisted that two or three of their company should stay in the house, at least for 

 the night, he begged permission to go and confer with the mayor of Napha. He was gone for 

 some time, and probably went three miles beyond Napha, to the palace of Shui^ to confer with 

 the regent. "Well," (said one of the officers, on his return,) "we can sleep here to night?" — 

 with a polite bow and marked emphasis, he replied "you cannot." But our officers had been 

 ordej-ed to procure a house, and resolved to obey; so they left one of their number with the inter- 

 preter to sleep there, unless they should be sent for by the Commodore, while they returned to 

 the flag-ship to report what they had done. The officer and interpreter occupied two of the mats 

 that night, and the islanders slept on the rest. There was no forcible taking possession of a 

 building, as some have represented. Two meQ slept in the town-house for one night, surrounded 

 by the natives, and this was all that was exacted or taken. The nest day the Commodore 

 sent a sick officer_, with his servant, to the place, and those who slept there on the previous 

 night came on board. * 



• We have before us an original note from the regent of Lew Chew, addressed to the Commodore, with a translation of the 

 same, made by Mr. Williams. We insert the latter as affording a specimen of the Lew Chew epistolary style, premising that 

 to represent themselves as very poor and obscure, and indeed unworthy almost of notice, was the uniform practice of the officials 

 of the island, in all their communications witli our officers. It seems to be part of their settled policy ; for we find the same 

 humble and depreciatory representations of tliemselves pervading their letters to the British officers, on the visit of the Bishop 

 of Victoria. The communication below relates to the two subjects of the Commodore's visit to the palace at Sliui, and granting 

 a house for the use of the squadron on shore; both of which events they strove hard, by various artifices, to prevent. 



A prepared petition. Shang Ta-mu, regent of Lew Chew, &c., &c., hereby urgently petitions upon important matters. On 

 the 21st day of the present month (this, of course, is a translation of their mode of expressing time into ours) I received your 

 excellency's verbal orders that on the 30th day of the present month, at 10 o'clock, you had concluded to come to the capital to 

 return your respects. Also, on the 2Gth instant, Ching Changlieh, the mayor of Napha, received your excellency's communi- 

 cation saying, that on the 30th instant, at 10 o'clock, it was decided to go up to Shui, the capital, to return the visit of the 

 regent at the palace, and wished this to be distinctly stated in the proper way. 



Now, it is plain to all that the capital and towns of this little country are quite different from the provincial capitals of China ; 

 here there is only a palace for the king, and no halls, official residences, markets, or sliops ; and, up to this time, no envoy from 

 a foreign country has ever entered into the palace. In February, of last year, an English general came here, bearing a public 

 letter, and was strenuous to enter tlie palace, there to deliver it; the high officers repeatedly requested that it might be given 

 them elsewhere, but he refused, and forced himself into the palace. At that time, from the young prince and queen dowao-er down 

 to the lowest officers and people, all were alarmed and fearful, hardly keeping soul and body together ; and tlie queen dowao-er 

 has been dangerously sick even to this day, the physicians giving her broths and medicines for her alarming ailments which are 

 not yet removed. All the officers in the country are really troubled and grieved on this account ; and having heard that the 

 ruler of your country is endued with great kindness and vast compassion, and highly prizes humanity and benevolence, they 

 urgently beg of your excellency, that respectfully embodying the humanity and benevolence of your sovereign, and his great 

 love for men, you will take the case of the queen dowager, and her severe indisposition, into your favorable consideration, and 

 cease from going into the palace to return thanks. If you deem it necessary to make this compliment, please go to the residence 

 of the prince, there to make your respects in person. Respecting the matter of renting a house for residing, it has been stated 

 by the mayor of Napha that, on the 24th instant, he had clearly shown forth the circumstances ; and, on the 26th, had received 

 your excellency's reply, in which it was remarked — "that, whenever the officers and men from the ships were on shore, rambling 

 about, they had no place of resort, and that, as there were no inns in the country, if they were overtaken by rain or had weather, 



