EDUCATION IN LEW CHEW. 223 



thus establishing a ^jWma/acie relationsliip. Of these the language is to the ethnologist the 

 most satisfactory proof, and of the researches of some of our gentlemen, on this point, we shall 

 speak more particularly in its appropriate place, on a future page. 



The English Bishop of Victoria, who, in the discharge of his official duties, visited Lew Chew 

 in 1850, thus speaks on this subject: "On the whole, it seems far the most probable opinion 

 that Lew Chew was peopled by a colony from Japan, to which people their physiognomy, 

 language, and customs have a close affinity ; and that to China they owe the far more important 

 debt of their partial civilization and literature. The government of the country appears to 

 consist in a grievous oligarchy of literati immediately dependent upon Japan. They stand in 

 great fear of the latter country, and look to it, and not to China, for protection in time of need. 

 They have an historical tradition that a few hundred years ago, during the Ming dynasty, a 

 war broke out between China and Japan, during which the former, wanting to detach Lew 

 Chew from the latter^ raised it to the dignity of a separate kingdom. In token of vassalage, 

 every new king receives a formal investiture from a Chinese officer, specially deputed and sent 

 for that purpose from Foo Chow ; to which city, also, a biennial tribute-junk is sent from Lew 

 Chew. At the Tartar invasion of China, and the commencement of the present foreign dynasty, 

 above two hundred years ago, about thirty-six Chinese families, unwilling to conform to the 

 Tartar changes of costume and rule, emigrated to Lew Chew, the descendants of whom have 

 become, generally, the schoolmasters of the country, and amalgamated with the people." The 

 Commodore, from such observation as he could make, thought that the Lew Chewans were a 

 mixture, made up possibly of Japanese, (who preponderated,) Chinese, Formosans, and, perhaps, 

 Malays ; and that the island, commencing its population at a very early period, from some 

 accident, such as shipwreck, had, from time to time, added to its inhabitants from the adjacent 

 regions, until the whole was fused into the present stock. In personal appearance the Lew 

 Chewans did not seem to him to be unequivocally either Chinese or Japanese in aspect. They 

 are not a handsome people, nor yet can they be called decidedly ugly. Their complexion is 

 rather Chinese, and they have black eyes and hair ; the latter of which, by the way, they do 

 not dress after the Chinese fashion ; for, instead, of long plaited tails hanging down behind, it 

 is gathered, with great care and neatness, into a knot on the top of the head, and there fastened 

 with a pin of silver or other metal — the nature of the metal used indicating the rank of the 

 wearer. 



As to education, the opportunity afforded of acquiring information was necessarily limited, 

 and the best account the Commodore could obtain on that subject was fi'om Dr. Bettelheim, who 

 had been for some years resident on the island. "In Shui," says he, "I have seen a building 

 with an inscription, perhaps well rendered, 'University,' on the door. In Napha is a school 

 for proficients in Confucian lore. But in general, learning — as far as it goes, i. c. a mere 

 knowledge of Chinese characters and of some of their classical books — is diffused by the elder 

 instructing the younger ; a kind of Lancasterian system, carried on in the whole country, in 

 almost every house. Still, there are schools beside, and ^likewise the Kung-Kwas, government 

 houses in Napha, as well as Tumai, serve as schools. In the Kung-Kwas, however, no teacher 

 is appointed ; but in the out-buildings usually added to every Confucian temple, I found often 

 children assembled under the superintendance of a master, who seems to have the benefit of free 

 residence and the adjoining grounds for salary." "Aping China in everything, Lew Chew has 

 also its three yearly examinations, which, for the time being, make quite a stir in the learned 



