PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
459 
was finished, no doubt, intended to trace even the grain of the wood. OTAP. 
Whatever merit might have been attached to the drawing, the artists 
were entitled to commendation for their perseverance, which overcame 
every difficulty ; and they had some few to contend with. Alittle before 
sunset they rolled up their paper and paddled on shore. 
We were scarcely up the following morning before our ears were 
assailed by the choruses of the boatmen bringing off new visiters to the 
ship, who continued to pass between her and the shore the whole of 
the day, carrying a fresh set at every trip, so that the harbour if pos- 
sible presented a more lively scene than it did the day before : on shore 
the walls and housetops were occupied by groups who sat for hours 
looking towards the anchorage. Our visiters as before were well dressed 
and well bred people, and extremely apprehensive of giving offence or 
even of incommoding us. 
The mandarin, however, fearful we might experience some annoy- 
ance from having so many people on board without any person to con- 
trol them, sent off a trusty little man with a disproportionably long bam- 
boo cane to keep order, and who was in consequence named Master at 
Arms by the seamen. This little man took care that the importance of 
his office should not escape notice, and occasionally exercised his baton of 
authority, in a manner which seemed to me much too severe for the occa- 
sion ; and sometimes even drew forth severe though ineffectual anim- 
adversions from his peaceable countrymen : but as I thought it better 
that he should manage matters in his own way, I did not allow him to 
be interfered with. 
Among the earliest of our visiters were An-yah, Shtafacoo, and Sha- 
yoon ; three intelligent, good-natured persons, who, I have no doubt, had 
a charge to watch our movements. They were the bearers of a present 
of a pig and some vegetables. As An-yah had promised, several boats 
commenced supplying the ship with water, bringing it off in large tubs*. 
In reply to my request that the officers and invalids might be allowed 
to walk about on shore, An-yah said he had spoken to the mandarin, 
* This water proved to be bad, for though it had no very unpleasant taste, it was found, 
upon being analysed, to contain in solution a large proportion of magnesia and some salt; 
a circumstance which should be borne in mind by vessels obtaining a supply at this place. 
3n2 
A- Vll. 
May, 
1827. 
