74 MEIA-CO-SHIMAH GROUP. [1843 



sels, however, attended us, and we soon discovered a gap 

 in the reef into which the ' Samarang ' was warped, and 

 before sunset, securely moored j although with not more 

 than room to swing. Vessels should not venture near 

 these islands after dark, until their dangers have been 

 more closely examined, and charts published. From the 

 western limit of Hummock Island to the eastern range 

 of the Ty-pin-san breakers, the space is dangerous. 

 Independent of the many reefs which connect the islands, 

 the constant strong winds, with haze and rain during the 

 N.E. monsoon, render the approach at that season 

 very hazardous except on a clear day. 



On the morning after our arrival I landed, accompanied 

 by our Chinese Interpreter, Aseng, formerly a boy of 

 Mr. Morrison's, who both spoke and wrote the court 

 language, and was met by one of the Mandarins and his 

 attendants, at a hut hastily constructed on the beach. 

 Ah 1 were evidently alarmed, but after a short conference 

 with our Interpreter (by written communication in the 

 Chinese court dialect), the object of our visit was soon 

 understood, and confidence established. In a short time 

 I succeeded in effecting an arrangement permitting four 

 Officers and myself to survey the Islands, by land ; un- 

 dertaking upon my part to prohibit any of our crew from 

 entering their villages, or penetrating into the interior, 

 and that their operations should be strictly confined to 

 the sea limits. 



On the 6th of December, attended by Lieut. Baugh, 

 Messrs. Richards, M'c Dougal, Adams, Assistant Surgeon, 

 and the Chinese Interpreter, we commenced our exami- 

 nation of the territory of Pa-tchung-san. The official 



