1845.] RETURN TO LOO-CHOO. 51 



tainly destroying that degree of confidence in the observa- 

 tions which these instruments warranted. After this, as 

 if sympathising in our disaster, a favourable breeze 

 ensued, and before sunset the ' Samarang ' was moving 

 about seven knots towards her destination. This con- 

 tinued until sighting the Loo-Choo group, when it again 

 fell calm, preventing our reaching anchorage until the 

 18th, about 4, P.M. Here we found the ' Royalist/ which 

 had been appointed as our consort, awaiting our arrival ; 

 but to our great disappointment, with barely provision 

 to enable us to reach Hong-Kong, thus destroying all 

 expectations of examining this interesting group, with 

 the same satisfaction and freedom as we had done at 

 the Meia-co-shimas, as well as cutting off that measure 

 of relaxation to which our crew looked forward after 

 cheerful submission to extraordinary and arduous labour, 

 consequent upon this peculiar service. So satisfied 

 were the Board of Admiralty upon the necessity of 

 these relaxations, upon reaching port, that to prevent any 

 misconception upon this important point, it was em- 

 bodied in a distinct and special letter; but as the 1st of 

 September was specified as my final limit for return to 

 Hong-Kong, anything short of absolute necessity forbad 

 delay. Every exertion was, therefere, directed towards 

 completing, and during the interval requisite for rating 

 the Chronometers, I determined on making the most of 

 my detention amongst these people. 



The ceremonial forms were, on account of my recent 

 visit much curtailed, and I found myself infinitely more 

 at home with these people than I had anticipated. The 

 Frenchman had been less vigourously treated, but they 



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