512 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP. Thus Loo Choo, like almost every other nation, has been disturbed 
by civil wars, and the state has been endangered by foreign invasion ; 
May, her towns have been plundered, her palaces consumed, and her citizens 
carried into captivity. Situated between the empires of China and 
Japan, she has been mixed up with their quarrels, and made subser- 
vient to the interests of both ; at one time suffering all the miseries of 
invasion, and at another acting as a mediator. Allied by preference to 
China, and by fear and necessity, from her proximity, to Japan, she is 
obliged, to avoid jealousy, to pay tribute to both, though that to the 
latter country is said to be furnished by the merchants who are most 
interested in the trade to that empire. Their conduct to strangers 
who have touched at their ports has ever been uniformly polite and 
hospitable ; but they would rather be exempt from suchTriendly visits : 
and though extremely desirous of obtaining European manufactures, 
particularly cloth, hosiery, and cutlery, they would oppose any open 
attempt to introduce them. The most likely means of establishing a 
communication with them would be through Chinese merchants at 
Canton, who might be persuaded to send goods there in their own 
names and under the charge of their own countrymen. 
AVhale-ships have occasionally touched at Loo Choo when dis- 
tressed for provisions. It is satisfactory to find that these interviews 
have been conducted without giving offence to the natives. It is to 
be hoped that any vessel which may hereafter be under the necessity of 
touching there will preserve the same conduct, and give the inhabitants 
no cause to regret having extended their hospitality to foreigners. 
I have perhaps entered more minutely upon several questions con- 
nected with Loo Choo than may be considered necessary, after what 
has already been given to the public; but it appeared desirable to 
remove doubts upon several points of interest, which could not perhaps 
be effectually accomplished without combining my remarks with a short 
notice of the history of the country. 
