62 SHIP-BUILDING. [1845. 



like comeliness in the lower orders ; and some of these 

 were not to be despised. Many of the elders not gifted 

 with charms, quietly sat still, with their backs towards 

 us, pretending to be engaged in other matters, and gene- 

 rally screened by some well-meaning male. From the 

 fair supply of produce noticed in this market, and the 

 persons engaged in purchases we may infer that the use 

 of money was not unknown ; or for what possible end 

 could it be forbidden ? Our ramble carried us through 

 the town of Napa, und suburb of Pootsoong, and towards 

 the temple where my friend the French Padre resided, 

 returning by the outer line of the town, to the place of 

 disembarcation. 



I think there were six junks in the harbour, at the 

 time of our visit ; they were all of Japanese build, and 

 of their peculiar model. Two, in particular, appeared to 

 be very neatly built and equipped, and bore the Satsuma 

 emblem on their banners, as well as the quarters. They 

 have been designated by some as wanting in beauty. 

 How has this varied within the short period of my own 

 nautical experience ! When Seppings first modelled his 

 circular sterns, how unsightly they were declared ! But 

 strict utility has taken the lead, and from the bow of 

 1810, even of our then clippers, who would have believed 

 that in 1840 the Symond build would almost have 

 changed the features of our navy ? Again, in the former 

 period, the extreme beam was retained about one-third 

 from the stem, tapering aft ; latterly, the beam, as in 

 some of our most powerful vessels, has been carried well 

 aft, in conformity with Chinese models. 



The Japanese models, now before us, differ in toto 



