1845.] THE LOO-CHOOANS. 57 



" Enquire." " He no like say." " Ask why they sent 

 reports from Pa-tchung-san, and hence to Japan, stating 

 how I had been employed, if their Chief was not under 

 Japanese rule ? " " He say, ' who told you he send chop 

 to Japan ' ? " The interpreter having explained, all the 

 reply we could obtain was, " He say he must do so." 

 However, this point was indirectly established at other 

 meetings, and satisfied me that all the chain of islands 

 continuous from Japan, as far as the Meia-co-shimas, are 

 penal settlements under Mandarins, not Emperors. Re- 

 ferring to the visit of the ' Morrison ' to this port, on her 

 passage to Japan, having on board the Japanese who 

 were wrecked near the mouth of the Columbia, in the 

 Oregon territory , it appears, that the chiefs of this place 

 expressed great anxiety about them, observing, " that it 

 would be far better to send them from Loo-Choo by one 

 of the Japanese junks." Would they presume to do so 

 in defiance of the known laws of Japan, unless they 

 possess some delegated authority? It appears further, 

 that on discovering the determination to proceed in the 

 'Morrison', that the communication with that vessel became 

 more restrained, probably, to prevent intercourse with these 

 people; the language of these islands being very similar to 

 that of the lower orders in Japan. However, a document 

 put on board at the moment of departure, and translated 

 by Mr. Gutzlaff, as well as by another, totally unconnected 

 with him, at Hong-Kong, and agreeing, clearly points 

 out the authority of Loo-Choo over the Meia-co-shimas, 

 and Mr. Gutzlaff, from it, and other sources, perfectly 

 coincided in opinion with me upon their being under the 

 control of Japan. 



