COCHINCHINA. 291 
Ambassador accompanied his letter in reply with a handsome 
double-barrelled gun complete with its apparatus, a pair of 
brass pistols fitted with spring bayonets, a steel liilted sword, 
and several pieces of camblets and scarlet broad cloih. The 
bearei' of the letter Avas dressed in a silken robe, embroidered 
with figures of tygers and dragons, like those worn in 
China ; but on coming on board the Lion, he threw this aside, 
and put on two or three long white muslin robes. 
The good understanding that now subsisted between the 
natives and us met with a momentary interruption by an act 
of indiscretion on our part Being desirous of obtaining a 
correct outline of this excellent bay and harbour, a party of 
us one morning took a boat and landed on the eastern shore, 
where, by measuring a })ase line on the sandy beach, and 
taking the necessary angles, we might be able to determine 
the position of the most material points. From the earliness 
of the hour, and the expedition with which we accomplished 
our object, it was concluded we had escaped without notice. 
An officer, however, speedil}^ followed on board with a mes- 
sage from the Governor, expressing dissatisfaction at our 
conduct, and desiring that no more measurements might be 
taken. Another awkward circumstance occurred, which 
sensed to confirm their suspicions of our having other views 
than those Ave professed. An officer of the Lion, whose zeal 
to explore the river leading up to Fai-foo got the better of 
his prudence, was seized in the night, and made prisoner in 
a kind of small fort, with the whole boat's crew. Hearing 
nothing of what had happened, Ave conjectured that the boat 
had swamped, and every soul in her perished. At length, 
