PACIFIC AND BEEIIING’S STRAIT. 
503 
grandson of heaven). He was afterwards the first king of Loo Choo, CHAP. 
and from the first year of his reign to the first of that of Chun-tien, 
who ascended the throne A. D. 1187, they reckon a period of no less May, 
than 17,802 years. The kings were supposed to be descended from 
the eldest son, the nobility from the second, and the commoners from 
the youngest. The eldest daughter was named Kun-kun, and had the 
title of Spirit of Heaven ; the other, named Tcho-tcho, was called the 
Spirit of the Ocean. 
We are told that five-and-twenty dynasties successively occupied 
the throne of Loo Choo, from the death of Tien-sun to the reign of 
Chun-tien ; but nothing further was known of the history of the country 
until the year A. D. 605, when the Emperor of China, of the dynasty 
“ Soui,” being informed there were some islands to the eastward of his 
dominions named Loo Choo, became desirous of reconnoitring their 
situation, and of becoming acquainted with the resources of the islands. 
He accordingly fitted out an expedition, but it did not effect what 
the emperor desired. It, however, brought back a few natives ; and 
an ambassador from Japan happening to be at the court of China at 
that time, informed the emperor that these people belonged to Loo 
Choo, and described their island as being poor and miserable, and the 
inhabitants as barbarians. Being informed that in five days a vessel 
could go from his dominions to the residence of the king of these 
islands, the emperor, Yang-tee, sent some learned men with interpreters 
to Loo Choo to obtain information, and to signify to the king that he 
naust acknowledge the sovereignty of the Emperor of China, and do 
him homage. This embassy succeeded in reaching its destination, but, 
as might have been expected from the ruler of an independent people, 
it was badly received, and was obliged to return with the haughty 
answer to their sovereign, that the prince of Loo Choo would acknow- 
ledge no prince superior to himself. Indignant at being thus treated 
by a people who had been described as barbarians, he put ten thousand 
experienced troops on board his junks, and made a successful descent 
upon the Great Loo Choo. The. king, who appears to have been a 
man of great courage, placed himself at the head of his troops, and dis- 
puted the ground with the Chinese ; but unfortunately he was killed ; 
his troops gave way ; and the victorious invaders, after pillaging and 
