1S45.] COLLEGES. 65 



In the first place, it is too high for men or guns to fire 

 over, and in the next, it is not more than eighteen inches 

 in thickness : far too slight to withstand either the con- 

 cussion from their own artillery, or to resist an attacking 

 force. The work opposite, westerly, is liable to an equal 

 objection. It has the same thickness of wall, but suffi- 

 ciently low to fire over, without affording any protection 

 to its defenders. The works noticed at Japan, were even 

 worse, as from the clear view which we had of their 

 batteries, on the southern side of the entrance, the para- 

 pet did not appear to rise more than a foot, if so much. 



The characters in use by the people of the Meia-co- 

 shimas and Loo-Choo, could not be comprehended by our 

 interpreter, although upon a very close scrutiny, by others 

 at Hong-Kong, it was pronounced to be a species of Chinese 

 running hand, sometimes practised by the merchants. It 

 bears no resemblance whatever to the Japanese character. 



At Japan, Quelpart, as well as Loo-Choo, colleges are 

 established for the education of the upper classes ; the 

 established language of the schools, in all cases, being 

 that of the court-dialect of China. In this language all 

 official correspondence to strangers is framed, as we found 

 in all the places visited, and which were afterwards trans- 

 lated at Hong-Kong. The students at these institutions 

 have peculiar dresses, probably arranged by the state ; 

 those of Japan were pointed out by a bluish-grey mantle, 

 and those of Loo-Choo, by a kind of dark-coloured cas- 

 sock, with upright collar and red hatchee-matchee caps. 

 These, at our state entertainment, performed the duties 

 of attendants. The material of the cap or Hatchee- 

 matchee, appeared to be of coarser texture, and a duller 



VOL. IT. F 



