156 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



REPORT II. 



Chaplain Jones to Commodore Perry. 



United States Ship Macedonian, 



At Sea, July 28, 1854. 



Sir: As it is possible that the increasing steam navigation of these waters may, eventually, 

 give importance to the coal region about Kelung, I have, in this recent visit, made as extensive 

 researches as the time would allow ; and I will now give a detailed report of them, adopting a 

 succinct journal form, as this will show the disposition of the authorities and people of that 

 neighborhood, as well as the results. 



Monday-, July 10, 1854. Evening. — In sight of the northern end of Formosa, and swept 

 about by most violent currents. There are three small islands here, (Agincourt, Pinnacle, and 

 Crag islands,) good landmarks in approaching from the northward, but somewhat dangerous 

 amid these currents. 



Tuesday, 11th. — The harbor of Kelung not easily 

 made out at a distance, but a high, rocky islet, of this 

 shape, stands out about three miles to the north of 

 it, and will prevent any mistake. Leaving this a 

 little on the east, and steering; southwardly, the 



' D Seen from the northward. 



harbor will develop itself, and its entrance be readily 



seen. A native came out and offered himself as a pilot ; his charge, $5. 



The harbor is about two miles in length, with pleasant scenery on its shores ; a couple of 

 hamlets on the west; halfway up, on the east, a village with quite a number of junks anchored 

 off; above this village, nothing but bare flats, in low tide, with a channel through them navi- 

 gable for flat boats. In full tide our ship's boats can go up to the town of Kelung, at the 

 head of the harbor, by keeping in the channel. 



In the afternoon, went ashore with the purser, Passed Midshipmen Breese and Jones, and 

 Mr. Williams, (master's mate,) determined to commence our explorations before the authorities 

 could suspect our object and throw difficulties in the way. Landed at Junktown. Near that 

 saw the natives burning lime (from coral) with coal. In doing this, they use a blower like the 

 fanning mills of our barns, worked by a treadle. Found a man from Amoy who could speak a 

 little English and was acquainted with the neighborhood. He took us to a house in Kelung 

 where was a large pile of coal, ten or twelve tons, but most of it dust. They offered to sell it 

 at $2 21 a ton of 2,240 pounds. 



Kelung is a town of about three thousand inhabitants. It is compactly built, and the 

 houses have their roofs projecting in front, so as to form a covered way all along, on both, 

 sides of the street. Where the streets are narrow, these roofs meet in the middle and exclude 

 the air, making the place very offensive to the smell. The town is protected at its two ends by 

 walls and towers ; and it has now a guard of soldiers, as they are in daily expectation of an 

 attack by the rebels from Amoy. 



Eastward from the town, a valley (a stream in it) stretches up for about two miles ; and, as 

 our information led us to expect coal in that direction, we now set out on an exploratory walk. 

 Some people from Kelung followed us ; but to our questions they protested that there was not 

 any coal in that direction. However, I soon found some fragments in the path, and we continued 



