50 INTERPRETER ASENG. [1845- 



trating into the interior. I do not mean for a moment 

 to insinuate that those who preceded me were wanting 

 either in tact, or determination, but either these people 

 have changed, their superiors have relaxed, or, (the most 

 important point,) they were not aided by so determined a 

 Chinese interpreter as I had in Aseng, the pupil and 

 servant of my lamented friend, Mr. Morrison, able to speak 

 as well as write the court dialect. It will be seen that 

 this latter advantage was important ; first at the Meia- 

 co-shimas ; next at Quelpart, and the Korea ; at Japan ; 

 and now, at Loo-Choo. Restraint appeared to dissolve 

 before him. This may also be attributed to the presence 

 of the Frenchman, but certainly did not extend to the 

 permission to survey their islands. Here we were on the 

 summit of one of the Loo-Choo peaks, as guests, feted at 

 every turn, and I feel that I may safely say, nominally, 

 by my own proposition, excluded from entering this en- 

 chanted city. 



Before I descend from this elevation, let me discuss the 

 questions of " the Emperor ". I found on many occasions 

 that my interpeter confounded the terms Chief, Mandarin, 

 Examiner, King, Queen, and Emperor, which also ex- 

 pressed Ruler, and it was not without special examina- 

 tion, on every occasion, that I induced him to adopt the 

 proper English words. So it has probably happened 

 with others at Loo-Choo, with respect to the designation 

 of \Einperor.' But on this occasion I was determined to 

 probe the matter more closely. I therefore demanded of 

 him where the Chief resided ? The reply was, " Sheudi ". 

 "What is his rank?" "Mandarin, not first chop." 

 " Has he a button ? " " No I think he Japan Chief." 



