52 EXCURSION TO THE MOUNTAINS. [1845. 



had by their tact prevented their people from communi- 

 cating so freely with him as before, thus turning the 

 tables in order to render his excursions so monotonous 

 as to cease to be interesting. His funds, too, had fallen 

 low, but the arrival of the ' Royalist ' had enabled him 

 to obtain supplies. 



The presence of the Frenchman now proved of some 

 importance to ourselves, as he, having visited the interior, 

 was able to afford me much information, and assisted in 

 forming plans for an excursion, which having already 

 been permitted to him, they could not, by courtesy, deny 

 to me. The intimation that I wished to take air on the 

 mountains, and that the Frenchman should accompany 

 me, was conceded without difficulty, and having arranged 

 to breakfast with the Padre, our horses, guides, &c., 

 were assembled at his gate. After breakfast, our party, 

 consisting of the Padre, Lieut. Ogle, of the ' Royalist ', 

 Lieut. Roberton, of the ' Samarang ', and myself, with 

 one Mid. and our interpreter, Aseng, mounted our steeds, 

 and accompanied by Mandarins, great and small, with 

 attendants, forming a goodly throng, proceeded on our 

 journey. The interpreter had some little communication 

 with me previous, and having intimated a wish that the 

 great town, or city of the Emperor should not be entered, I 

 assured him most fully upon this matter, reminding him 

 of our proceedings at the Meia-co-shimas ; upon which 

 he concluded, " you are at liberty to do as you please, 

 Loo-Choo man very small." Our steeds were led with 

 some little ceremony until we gained the outskirts of the 

 town, when they were left to our own control, or, more 

 truly, to their own instinct. I am not quite satisfied 



