430 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1817. 



of other parts of the world where 

 they are employed, and of suffi- 

 cient size to contain easily from 

 six to eight or ten people. For 

 purposes of heavier burden, they 

 had boats strongly built, and rather 

 fiat-bottomed. 



In these boats they brought our 

 water, bullocks, and other stock, 

 on board. The water was not 

 sent in barrels, but in open tubs, 

 and baled from these into our 

 casks. 



A few days previous to our 

 leaving the island, intimation was 

 sent that a man of the first dis- 

 tinction (said to be one of the 

 princes, and nearest heir to the 

 crown) intended paying a visit to 

 the ship. He was carried down 

 to the mouth of the little river, 

 opposite to the anchorage, in a 

 close chair, or palanquin, amidst 

 an immense concourse of people, 

 who had flocked from all parts to 

 this spot. He embarked in great 

 state, in their own boats, with 

 their flags flying ; and was sa- 

 luted, on his approach to the ships, 

 by seven guns from each, and re- 

 ceived on board the Alceste with 

 every possible mark of respect 

 and attention; the rigging being 

 manned, and the officers in full 

 dress. He was above the usual 

 size of the Lewchevvans, and had 

 rather more of the Euiopean cast 

 of countenance. His robe was of 

 a dark pink-coloured silk; the 

 cap rather lighter, with bright 

 yellow lozenges on it. In his 

 mien and deportment there was 

 much dignified iimplicity ; for, 

 althougli his carriage was that of 

 a man of higli rank, it was totally 

 unmixed with the least appear- 

 ance ofhautem'; and his demean- 

 our was, altogether, extremely en- 

 gaging. 



As he passed along the decks, 

 his own people saluted him by 

 kneeling ; clasping the hands be- 

 fore their breasts and bowing the 

 head. He examined minutely 

 every thing about the ship, and 

 seemed equally pleased and sur- 

 prised with all he saw. After 

 joining in a sumptuous collation 

 in the cabin, he took his leave 

 with the same honours as when 

 he came on board, having pre- 

 viously inyited the captain and 

 officers to an entertainment on 

 shore. The day appointed for this 

 feast happening to be the 25th of 

 October, the anniversary of our 

 venerable sovereign's accession to 

 the throne, a royal salute was 

 fired, at sun-rise, by both ships j 

 at noon the standard was hoisted, 

 the ships dressed in colours, and 

 another salute fired ; after which 

 the boats with their flags flying, 

 containing the captains and every 

 officer that could possibly be spared, 

 proceeded into Napa-kiang. 



They were received precisely as 

 on the former occasion, except 

 that the number of grandees was 

 greater, and there appeared a 

 higher degree of state. The prince 

 received the party at the gate, and 

 conducted them into the hall. 

 Three tables were laid close to 

 each other ; the first for the great 

 man and the captains, the second 

 for the superior officers, and the 

 third for the young gentlemen. 

 This prince, or chief, did the ho- 

 nours of his own table, occasion- 

 ally directing his attention to the 

 others ; but a man of some rank 

 was added to each of them for the 

 purpose of seeing the strangers 

 properly treated, as well as to 

 pass and proclaim the toasts ; and 

 for this purpose they were allowed 

 to be seated, all the rest standing 



round 



