504 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



their forelieads moderately higli, their eyes dark, but not very brilliant or intelligent, and their 

 chins broad and massive. Their noses are long and flat, their lips thick and prominent, and 

 their large months display strong well-formed teeth, which, however, are generally blackish, 

 from the use of the betel nut. The skin is smooth, with a small supply of black coarse hair in 

 those parts where it is usually found, excejit on the head ; there it grows profusely and straight, 

 but is worn short. Their limbs are lithe, and their hands and feet small. Their language is 

 soft and agreeable to the ear, but, although it is supposed to be a derivation from the Malayan, 

 it is not intelligible to those on board familiar with the ordinary dialect of the Malays. They 

 are, however, believed to be of Malay origin, much modified by the effects of climate and 

 accidental causes. Tbe intelligence of the Sil-li-ba-boos is so far blunted as to place them 

 within the category of the savage races, to which, in habits and social characteristics^ they are 

 closely allied." 



One purpose of the visit of the Macedonian to Manilla was to hand over the Sil-li-ba-boos to 

 the governor general of the Philippines, that they might be protected and sent home. The 

 governor, with many expressions of gratitude for the kindness that had been shown toward 

 these involuntary wanderers, received them ; and we may indulge the hope that, long ere this, 

 they have reached their native island, there to tell to their wondering countrymen the story of 

 their providential preservation and marvellous adventures. 



On the 17th of August, the Macedonian (lier officers having been shown the greatest civility 

 and kindness both by the authorities and the American residents) left Manilla for Hong Kong, 

 and her voyage presented a strong contrast to what she had experienced in the run from 

 Formosa to Manilla. Captain Abbot reported that for the first five days he had either a dead 

 calm, or light, baffling winds from the north and northwest, which did no more than enable 

 him to make an offing from the land ; and after that, either calms or moderate breezes had 

 prevailed, with pleasant weather, and the very unusual circumstance of scarcely any southing in 

 the winds. On the 26th, the Macedonian was at her anchorage at Hong Kong. 



It will be remembered that we left the flag-ship, the Mississippi, on her way from Lew Chew 

 to Hong Kong. She arrived after a short passage, and the Commodore now turned his attention 

 to affairs in China. The reader will not have forgotten that the Plymouth, Commander Kelly, 

 had been left at Shanghai to watch over the interests of our countrymen there, and did not 

 accompany the squadron on the second visit to the Bay of Yedo. And now it was found that 

 the Chinese imperial troops had given both the English and ourselves some work to do during 

 the Commodore's absence. The first acts of aggression were shown in the latter part of 

 February and beginning of March, very soon after our squadron had left for Japan on the 

 second trip. The imperial troops were at that time encamped around the settlement of the 

 foreigners at Shanghai, and the imperial fleet was anchored off the place. They soon began their 

 acts of violence and robbery on the land, by tearing down buildings that the foreigners were 

 erecting, and stealing the materials ; while their fleet, without the slightest previous notice, 

 commenced firing upon and searching all boats passing up or down the river. Complaints were 

 made in the first instance to the general commanding the Chinese troops, and to the Taoutae, or 

 commander-in-chief of the fleet. These functionaries at length acknowledged their inability to 

 prevent such acts of aggression, and said that the foreigners would have to protect themselves. 



It so happened that on the 6th of March a pilot boat, under the American flag, and belong- 

 ing to three of the foreign residents, Ayers, Linklater, and Donaldson, all American citizens, 



