4 HILL TRIBES OF OF FORMOSA. 
of Formosa, and that the crews and passengers, in some instances, 
had been murdered, but, in other cases, had been taken into the 
interior and there made to work underground in certain mimes. 
In 1865, I was requested to make enquiries of the savages, wher- 
ever I might go, as to the truth of the supposition, and, after tra- 
velling all through the North of the island, and as far South as 
Lat. 24°, I could find no trace of mines in the interior, neither 
could I hear of the presence, amongst savages, of any foreigners. 
It is, however, very likely that people wrecked on the Western or 
Chinese side of the island were not only robbed, but, in many cases, 
murdered or starved to death. Chinese wreckers on the North 
and West Coast, in my own time, were not above taking advantage 
of the helpless state of either Li Chiian or Huropean wrecked ma- 
riners, and many, no doubt, would never have been again heard of, 
if strenuous exertions had not been made by foreign residents, 
who appeared on the scene, protected the crews, and, on several 
occasions, saved the ships from plunder and fire—the usual finale to 
a successful raid by Chinese wreckers. 
On the savages’ side of the island, or what is called the Hast Coast, 
many ships must have been lost. 
Some ten or twelve years ago, an American vessel was wrecked 
on the South-east Coast, and the unfortunate crew was murdered. 
The savages were punished, to some extent, by the H. B. M.’s gun- 
boat Cormorant, I think it was, and subsequently the American 
Flagship, with Admiral Bett on board, anchored off the place, and 
landed Marines and Sailors with the view of punishing the sa- 
vages, but, after eight hours’ march through forest and over hills, 
they returned without having effected much damage. On this 
occasion, Lieutenant MacKewzis, v.s.N., lost his life, and several of 
the men suffered from effects of the sun. After this, General Lu 
GunpreE, U.S. Consul at Amoy, proceeded across country from 
Takao, accompanied by Mr. Prcxerine (now Protector of Chinese 
at Singapore), Mr. A. U. Barn and, I believe, Mr. J. F. Hucuus 
of the Imperial Maritime Customs, to interview the Principal Sa- 
vage Chief in that part of the island. 
I believe his name was Tox i Tox. He was previously known 
to Mr. Proxrrnine and to General Lu Grenypre, and being friendly 
