CHAPTER XIX. 
Hong Kong and Canton—Stone-polishing Establishments at Canton— 
Political Kelations in an English Colony—Treatment of the Natives— 
Voyage to Labuan—Coal Mines there—Excursion to the shore of 
Borneo—Malay Villages—Singapore—Voyage to Ceylon—Point de 
Galle—The Gem Mines at Ratnapoora—Visit to a Temple—Purchase of 
Manuscripts—The Population of Ceylon—^Dr. Almquist’s Excursion to 
the Interior of the Island. 
Some days after our arrival at Yokohama the Vega was 
removed to the dock at Yokosuka, there to be protected by 
coppering against the boring mussels of the warm seas, so 
injurious to the vessel’s hull; the opportunity being also taken 
advantage of by me to subject the vessel to some trifling repairs 
and alterations in the fitting up, which were desirable because 
during the remainder of our voyage we were to sail not in a cold 
hut in a tropical climate. The work took'somewhat longer 
time than was reckoned on, so that it was not until the 21st 
September that the Vega, could leave the dock and return to 
A'okohama. It had originally been my intention to remain in 
Japan only so long as was necessary for the finishing of this 
work, during which time opportunity could he given to the 
officers and crew of the Vega to rest after the labours and 
sufferings of the long winter, to receive and answer letters from 
home, and to gather from the newspapers the most important 
occurrences that had taken place during our fourteen months’ 
absence from the regions which are affected by what takes place 
in the world. But as appears from the foregoing narrative, the 
