VISIT TO THE CASTLE OF TIMA-GUSKO. 281 



On returning through the rice fields towards the bridge of Ishirashi, as the natives called it, 

 and which was supposed to be the same as that of Madaw-darlci, as it had been termed by Dr, 

 Bettleheim, the Lew Chewans pointed up to some ruined walls which stood upon the brink of a 

 lofty and precipitous hill, which overlooked the town of Napha, and a large circuit of the 

 country and the surrounding waters. 



The report, as drawn up by one of the party and laid before the Commodore, describes Tima- 

 gusko as distant four miles in a southeast direction from Napha, and as being on a large scale, 

 covering about eight acres, but in a state of utter ruin. It seemed to have no regular plan, and 

 the walls had been erected upon various projecting points of the rock, and often parallel to each 

 other in several lines, for the purpose of strengthening the defences. The neck of the headland 

 connecting it with the hills behind had been separated by a moat, which was, however, hardly 

 perceptible from the profuse growth of vegetation, which filled it up and concealed it from the 

 eye. On a lofty eminence of the headland there was an oblong space shut in with walls, and 

 thickly crowded with a dense thicket of trees and undergrowth. This part of the fortress was 

 in a better state of preservation than the rest, and the original height of the wall, which reached 

 about twelve feet, was discernable. On the western side there was a massive arched gateway, 

 with a wooden door, closed by what appeared to be a Chinese lock. As a large tree, growing on 

 the summit of the arch, had sent down its twisted roots among the stones which formed the sides 

 of the entrance, a natural ladder was thus formed, by which the party succeeded in clambering 

 over into the enclosed space. Following a narrow pathway through the otherwise impenetrable 

 thicket, a heap of ruins was reached, upon the summit of which were two stones marked with 

 Chinese characters, and the remains of some joss sticks. From these it was concluded that the 

 present inhabitants of Lew Chew still retain some forms of this worship. Tima-gusTco is 

 undoubtedly the remains of the southern one of the three castles which were the strongholds of 

 the three several kings who at one time divided the dominion of Lew Chew. The traditional 

 account of the former dynasties, as given by Klaproth in his translation of the " Kaii-to-siis," 

 seems remarkably confirmed by the observations of our officers at Lew Chew. The two castles 

 of the north and the south were found in ruins, while the central one of Shui, now the habitation 

 of the present supposed young king, was seen to be in a perfect state of preservation, and 

 indicated that the dynasty of Lew Chew had been finally concentrated in a single ruler. 



In accordance with the arrangements between the Commodore and the authorities of Naplm, 

 the bazaar was opened at six o'clock on the morning fff the steamer's departure, (Monday, 

 August 1.) The Kung-qua, the place selected for the mart, was found duly prepared, with 

 heaps of Lew Chewan productions, a motley assortment of lacquered cups, plates and boxes, 

 pieces of grass-cloth, and the various articles of Lew Chew costume, such as cotton and silk 

 sashes, sandals of straw, and hair pins of brass and silver, fans, chow-chow boxes, which 

 correspond somewhat with our sandwich cases, smoking pipes and a plentiful supply of tobacco. 

 The interpreter, Ichirazichi, was the presiding genius, or, rather, roguish Mercury of this 

 market, who went busily about performing his functions as general broker, accompanied by a 

 group of subordinate oQicials. The various parties from the ship soon commenced a brisk 

 business, and succeeded in spending, in the aggregate, about a hundred dollars. As the demand 

 increased it was found, in accordance with the usual law of trade, that the supply augmented, 

 and the Lew Chew merchants were not backward in illustrating this principle of political 

 economy. The prices were not very heavy at first, but the natives, in the course of the business, 

 36 J 



