160 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



Drift No. 2, higher up ; similar to the last in all respects ; the roof hard and good. 



Drift No. 3, considerably higher than the last. The coal here crops out in the face of the 

 bluff; is 28 inches thick at the entrance, and 32 inches further in; roof dry; strike E. and W.; 

 dip S.S.E. 8° or 10°; roof hard at entrance ; softer further in ; the coal here not easily shattered, 

 and 10 or 12 tons, in large lumps, lying at the mouth of the drift. 



Drift No. 4, higher up; seam 30 inches thick; dip S.S.E. 8° or 10°; strike E. and W.; hard 

 roof; coal crops out in the bluff. 



These drifts extend in only 100 or 120 feet, and have few cross-headings. There are a few 

 other drifts now abandoned. 



This coal seam probably extends a great way into the hills, and doubtless also down beneath 

 the sea ; and the coal in all the drifts is remarkably pure throughout from roof to floor. The 

 position is also one possessing singular advantages. Lieut. Preble has since discovered a small 

 basin close by, (named "Coal Harbor" on his chart,) almost land-locked and pretty secure, where 

 one or two vessels may lie and take in coal, which a railroad of a few hundred yards in length 

 would transfer to their holds ; or boats may find safety in a little cove among the rocks just 

 below the mines, and thence transport it to the harbor of Kelung. 



Their present mode of mining it is ruinous to the coal, breaking most of it into small frag- 

 ments or turning it into dust ; while from the upper drifts the mode of getting it down is by 

 rolling it over the face of the rocks till it reaches a gentler inclination below. 



After examining these drifts, I took some of the boatmen as protectors, and crossed the hills, 

 intending to return by land and explore the interior. Our path soon turned to the eastward, 

 and brought us to a village (t) on another bay ; and the villagers here offered to conduct me to 

 a coal-mine, one mile, they said, eastward from this bay. We started for it; and after half an 

 hour's walk, came to a village (7c) where, on the shore, were a number of heaps of coal, most of 

 it fine and of a quality inferior to that at the other mines. I asked the villagers to take me to 

 the place whence it was procured ; but they said that this was far in the interior, 10 or 12 miles, 

 and that I could not go there and return to-day. 



The sun had now got towards the zenith, and was intensely hot; and as we were far from the 

 ship, and my sailor guards were suffering from the heat, I gave up further explorations, and, 

 hiring a native boat, returned to the ship. 



Towards sunset made another attempt to find a stone for the Washington Monument, but 

 did not succeed. 



Tuesday, 18th. — Captain Abbot sent me to the Hip-toy to make arrangements for purchasing 

 the coal which we had seen yesterday at the mouths of the drifts, and also that in town. This 

 mandarin replied that "we could go and purchase it if we wished." I answeredthat "the 

 owners always referred me to him, and told me that they could not dispose of it without his per- 

 mission ; that, as he was willing to have it sold, I now wanted a written permit from him which 

 I could show, and so obviate all difficulty." He said that "such a permit would not avail 

 unless it were an official one, with his official seal ; that this seal was kept locked up, and 

 another mandarin had the key ; that for him (the Hip-toy) to get it, and pass through the 

 usual formalities, would be to betray himself, and that then he would be punished by the 

 authorities at Pekin ; but that if I would bring the owners of the coal to him, he would give 

 them orders orally." He had several times before hinted at danger from Pekin if he were to 

 assist us in our doings, or be thought favorable to them. 



Wednesday, 19th.— Captain Abbot has concluded not to proceed further in coal negotiations till 



