88 YEARLY TRIBUTE. [1844. 



a small hexapetaloid flower, a species of Xyris noticed 

 on their island ; the latter is a slender instrument with a 

 spatulate extremity, serving various purposes, from ear- 

 pick and nail-cleaner, to even that of chop-stick. These 

 ornaments are of gold or silver, according to the rank of 

 the wearer. With the females, only the latter is worn, and 

 instead of the narrow spatulate form, it resembles a long 

 mustard spoon, with a slightly curved point. On state 

 occasions the grandees wear red, yellow, or blue caps, of 

 office, and in pursuance of the customs of the Chinese, 

 their women are strictly secluded. 



The chiefs are sent from Loo-Choo, or as pronounced 

 by them Tah-Lieu-Kieu or great Loo-Choo; and we 

 believe this to be a penal settlement from those islands. 

 The yearly tribute payable to the Emperor of Loo-Choo, 

 is forwarded by two junks quitting Pa-tchung-san 

 and Ty-pin-san with the favourable monsoon, and return- 

 ing with a cargo of material for clothing, cooking utensils, 

 crockery, tea, pipes, and other necessaries conducive to the 

 happiness and comfort of these poor islanders. This tri- 

 bute is but of trifling value, and consists of Rice, Batatas or 

 sweet Potatoe,and Tobacco ; and is probably received more 

 as a mark of submission than for its intrinsic worth, as by 

 their own estimate, the return cargo (the gift of Govern- 

 ment) far exceeds in value any thing which they could 

 send. Although they pretend to be ignorant of the use 

 of money, as a medium of interchange amongst the is- 

 lands, the chiefs are well aware of the value of the silver 

 dollar. Their general disposition, however, is averse to 

 receiving any thing as remuneration from strangers, and 

 it was not without considerable difficulty that we even- 



