REPORT 



OP 



AN EXPLORATION OF GREAT LEW CHEW. 



BY REV. GEORGE JONES, CHAPLAIN TJ. S. N. 



U. S. Steamer Mississippi, 

 Bay of Simoda, Japan, May 9, 1854. 



Sir: My historical account of the expedition for exploring the interior of Lew Chew, in 

 January and Fehruary last, must be from memory ; as, until a few days since, I was under the 

 impression that another of our company had taken notes for this purpose, and had sent in a 

 report. 



Our party consisted of five officers — namely, Dr. Green, as reporter on diseases and agricul- 

 ture; Mr. Heine, artist; Dr. Fahs, as botanist; Dr. Morrow, collector in botany and agricul- 

 ture; and myself, as geologist, and, by your order, as leader of the company; together with 

 two seamen as cooks and baggage guards. My geological report has already been given in. 



We landed at eight o'clock, at Tumai, where the native authorities had promised, the day 

 previous, that at this time we should find baggage-carriers and bearers for ourselves, but 

 where not the slightest indication of anything of the kind was now to be seen. However, when 

 the officials who gathered around us found that we were determined to go, they immediately 

 set to work to provide the means, and by ten o'clock we were fully accommodated and ready 

 for a start. 



The main object of the expedition was to examine some indications of coal at Shah bay, 

 towards the northern end of the island; and, knowing that the journey would have to be a 

 very rapid one, Dr. Green and myself had brought Chinese wicker chairs, to be slung between 

 bamboo poles, so that we might be carried when tired with walking ; and a very excellent relief 

 they proved to be. The others of the party, though warned to make similar provision, had not 

 done so, and started on foot. Our American feelings, at first, revolted against using our fellow- 

 men so much like beasts of burden ; but we soon became reconciled, on observing how much 

 like a joke they themselves treated it, and how cheerfully and merrily they trotted on. Indeed, 

 our whole company, at the outset, was a very joyous one. The weather, though on the 31st 

 of January, was like that of a fine May day at home ; our spirits were up and buoyant ; the 

 Lew Chewans, about thirty in number, seemed to feel that so large a gathering made quite a 

 holyday for them, and followed on, chattering and laughing, and joking with everybody they 

 met, especially with the women, who, Lew Chew fashion, started like frighted deer from the 

 roads, and hid themselves as we approached. 



