JAPANESE OUTPOST. 
145 
a mandarin of some rank, and a guard of soldiers. 
When Hamel was a prisoner among the Koreans, in 
1653, he says, alluding to their then crippled state, 
‘'Kow both Tartars and Chinese tyrannise over 
them." 
I accompanied the captain in his galley, to call 
upon the Japanese officer, but on entering a small 
camber near their settlement, we were met by 
numbers of sharp-prowed boats, which attempted to 
bar our further progress ; upon which, the crew 
were told to arm themselves with the boats 
stretchers, and bring those who were opposing our 
progress to order. Our men, accordingly, obedient 
to command, dealt about them pretty lustily, and 
the Japanese soon giving way, we effected a landing. 
We had not yet, however, gained our object, for, on 
arriving at the entrance of their stronghold, we 
were decidedly shut out, and on demanding admit- 
tance it was peremptorily denied. So we proceeded 
on board again, and despatched the interpreter to 
demand an explanation, with the threat of the 
alternative of a bombarchnent early next morning ! 
