PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
467 
The capital, for such I am disposed to call the town on the hill, CHAP, 
notwithstanding the denial of several of the natives, was surrounded 
by a white wall, within which there were a great many houses, and May> 
two strong buildings like forts ; with, as already mentioned, several 
small masts with gatfs, bearing flags of different colours. This space 
was thickly interspersed with trees, whence we conjectured the houses 
were furnished with gardens. There seemed to be very few people 
moving about the island, even between the upper and lower towns, 
with which it would be supposed there must necessarily be much 
intercourse. We rested awhile on the eminence that afforded this 
agreeable view of a country but very little known, and were joined by 
several persons whom fear or indolence had prevented keeping pace 
with us. Our guide now lighted his pipe and forgot his apprehension 
in the consoling fumes , of tobacco, while some of the party amused 
themselves with viewing the capital through a telescope, each prevent- 
ing the other having a quiet view by their anxiety to obtain a peep. Our 
clothes in the meantime were undergoing an examination from the re- 
mainder of the party, who, after looking closely into the texture of the 
material, exclaimed — choorassa, choorassa! (beautiful). 
While we sat here a Japanese junk bore down from the northward, 
and according to the information of those around us, which afterwards 
proved to be correct, she came from an island called Ooshimar, to the 
northwnrd of Loo Choo, and was laden with rice, hemp, and other articles. 
Her sails and rigging resembled the drawing of the Japanese junks in La 
Lerouse’s voyage. She passed close to the Blossom at anchor, and from 
the report of the officers her crew had their heads shaved in the fashion 
of the Japanese. Her arrival excited general interest, brought all the 
inhabitants to the housetops, and a number of canoes crowded round 
her before she reached the inner harbour, where she was towed and 
secured alongside several other junks bearing the same flag. 
On our return we passed through a village consisting of a number 
of square inclosures of low stone walls, separated by lanes planted on 
both sides, and so overgrown with bamboo and ratans that we could 
neither see the houses nor the sky ; several handsome creepers entwined 
themselves round the stems of these canes, and a variety of flowers, 
3 o 2 
