48 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



Having finished this division of the suhject, I shall proceed to an account of their manners, 

 customs, religion, dress, and other points of interest. I have already spoken of their physical 

 peculiarities, in comparing them with the Japanese ; but there are still some observations which 

 it is necessary to mention. The chin, as already stated, is covered with a jet-black beard, and, 

 in aged men, is white as snow, which is always in the higher classes permitted to grow to a 

 great length, and is looked upon as a most honorable custom. The lower orders, or coolies, 

 seldom allow it to grow long, being obliged, I think, to cut it by law. The moustaches are 

 also worn by most men, but never attain any great length. The head is covered with a fine 

 growth of jet-black hair ; the crown is shaven to the scalp, and the locks, on the side and back 

 of the head, are combed up to the top, where it is formed into a knot, which conceals the shaved 

 part. In this they wear two metallic pins, which determine the rank of the person, according 

 to the quality of the metal. The hair is always well oiled, which gives it a glossy and shining 

 appearance. The ears are small, and rest close to the head ; the neck is thin and rather long ; 

 the chest generally wide, and well developed; the pelvis in proportion to the rest of the body. 

 Their costume is neat and well adapted to the climate, consisting of a long, loose robe, coming 

 to the ankles, with very wide sleeves, and is fastened around the body with a girdle of silk or 

 grass cloth ; attached to the latter is a small pouch for tobacco and a smoke-pipe, neither of 

 which is ever absent. The head-covering is a peculiar cylindrical cap, called by the natives 

 hachee-machee, which appears to be made of two bands crossing each other in a "figure of eight" 

 form. The higher classes wear a white stocking, and when they walk out have over this a 

 straw sandal, which is always taken off before going into a house. The laboring classes always 

 go barefooted. It is a remark, made by nearly all foreigners who have visited Lew Chew, that 

 there are none of the people deformed ; this must be attributed to their temperate habits, and 

 the healthy climate in which they live. 



The women are of small stature, and those that have come to our notice have no pre- 

 tensions to beauty; but, of course, it would not be fair to draw general conclusions from 

 the lower classes, the only ones allowed to walk out from their houses. The few of the higher 

 order who have been seen are described as rather handsome and quite fair in complexion. 

 Their faces are inclined to be more square, and their noses more depressed than in the men. 

 They have their hair put up very much like the men, only the topknot is a little more in 

 front, and to one side of the head. Their dress, also, is considerably like that of the men — a 

 long, loose robe, coming to the ankles, but is not fastened by a girdle. They also wear sandals 

 and stockings, like the men. As already observed, they scarcely ever leave their houses to walk 

 out, and, when they meet the men on the streets, are scarcely noticed by them ; a mark of dis- 

 respect which accords badly with their mild and amiable deportment when met by foreigners. 

 They do not hold a high social position — in many instances, being the mere slaves of their 

 husbands ; differing very much in this respect from the Japanese, among whom they hold a 

 much higher rank. 



The government of the Lew Chewans appears to be an absolute despotism ; nominally a 

 dependency of China, but really tributary to a Japanese prince, (Prince of Satsima,) by whom 

 it was conquered more than three centuries ago, and still is held in subjection. The policy and 

 exclusive laws exist here as in Japan, and the people, therefore, are not permitted to hold any 

 intercourse with foreigners. Numerous spies are always about to report any infraction of the 

 laws. When we first arrived, the people ran away as soon as we came near them; and if any 

 one walked through the streets of the city, they were cleared in a minute, and all the doors 



