III.] 



THE ROAD TO T'SKIXA. 



59 



greatness it was a relief to emerge on an open terrace on the 

 summit of one of the great walls, from which w^e got a splendid 

 view of the island. Here we discovered a room which was in a 

 tolerably good state of preservation, and enjoyed our tifiin. We 

 were joined by the officer of the Japanese troops, who made his 

 appearance laden with a large water-melon, which, with the 

 customary grovellings and abasements of his country, he deposited 

 at our feet. He spoke no practicable language, but in these lands 

 of perpetual thirst, the contents of tumblers accompanied by polite 

 salutations will do wonders, and before long we were getting on 

 swunmingly. I had a great desire to get at further particulars 

 of the state of the island under its new rulers, and tried our new 

 friend and Uyeno upon the subject, but in vain. The latter, who, 

 if he chose, could be intelligent enough, suddenly became hopelessly 

 stupid, and after a few reiterated questions and answers a travers, 

 I gave up the task in despair. 



From a turret commanding extensive views of the island, Uyeno 

 had pointed out a hill some 

 two or three miles to the south- 

 east as the site of another palace, 

 and readily acceded to the desire 

 we expressed to \dsit it. We 

 accordingly started without loss 

 of time, our palanquin-bearers 

 carrying us at a rapid pace over 

 broken country with atrociously 

 bad roads. On our way we 

 passed through a pretty village, 

 the houses of which, pleasantly 

 bowered in bamboo and banana, 

 were thatched with straw in a 

 peculiar fashion, the ridge of the 

 roof being raised into a hump and covered with thickly-plaited 

 bamboo. Here the women came out fearlessly to look at us, and 



LIU-KIUAN GIRL, NAPHA-KIANG. 



