44:55 The expedition of Claudius to Britain,
45: 13] Nero visits Greece. The Jewish war begins. Josephus and Pliny the elder 45; 26 flourish, about 66.
Death of Vespasian, and succession of 45:53 Titus, 79.
About 106 flourished Florus, Pliny jun.,
45: 54 Dion, Plutarch, &c.
Adrian visits Asia and Egypt, 126; and
46:03 rebuilds Jerusalem, 130.
46:22 Antoninus defeats the Moors, Germans,
and Dacians, 145.
Lucian, Hermogenes, Appian, Justin the
46: 24 martyr, flonrished about 161.
Commodus makes peace with the Ger- 46:55 mans, 181. Albinus defeated in Gaul, 198. Severus conquers the Parthians, 200; 190 47 07 and soon after visits Britain.
Note. The historical novel, called the San Kwỏ Che, extends its narrative from A. D. 170 to 317.
10. The After Han Dynasty.
Year of Cycle.
2 | 42 223
Cotemporary Events.
4738 The age of Julius Africanus, 222. The
Goths exact tribute from Rome.
when he received his ministers at public audience, he told them of the dream; whereupon one of them gave him an account of what he had heard of Budha. The consequence was the embassy and the in- troduction of Budhism into China. The writers of the History Made Easy reprobate this conduct of the emperor, and denourice both the shaman and their doctrines as being false, and wicked. Shamun is a Sanscrit word, used as an equivalent for hoshang, pricts of Budha.
Chronology of the Chinese.
11. TSIN Kø...
Names of the Sovereigns.
1 武帝 Woote: 2惠帝 Hwuy te. 3懷帝 Hwae te.
4愍帝 Min te.
Cotemporary Chinese Events.
Woo te篡魏稱帝 1520an
Wei ching te, destroyed Wei and made himself emperor.
Min te's reign was an age of wonders: a sun fell from the fir- mament; and the earth changed its course and went backwards; &c.
Note. This dynasty is sometimes called the Se Tsin, or Western Tsin, in con--
tradiction to the next, the Eastern Tsin.
12. TUNg Tsin Ke.
Names of the Sovereigns.
Yuen te.
2明帝 Ming te. 3成帝 Shing te. 4 康帝 Kang te. 5 穆帝 Mäh te. 6哀帝 Ngaè te. 7 帝奕 Te yeih. 8簡文Keenwàn. 9孝武 Heaouwoo.
10 安帝 Ngan te.
Cotemporary Chinese Events.
日夜出高三丈 the sun
in the night rose 30 cubits high; and again black spots were seen
upon his disk. Other strange
phenomena were noticed, with many fearful signs. It was a dark age.
A stamp duty,
ke, on the sale of lands and houses said to have been introduced about the year 367.!
Children of concubines, priests, old women, and nurses" were the administrators of government..
Kungite.
Among the great men of the Han dynasty there was a good deal of the heroic and chivalrous, especially in those leaders whose actions are described in the History of the Three States. With all thei
Chronology of the Chinese.
11. THE TSIN DYNASTY.
Year of Cycle.
Cotemporary Events.
265 48:22 The Scythians and Goths defeated by
Cleodomus and Athenæus, 267.
48:47 Britain recovered, and Alexandria taken,
307 49:04 About this time flourished Gregory and
31349:10
Hermogenes, the lawyers.
Note. The much to be commiserated emperor,' Min te had grief and sorrow
for his lot, while presiding over the nation.'
12. THE EASTERN TSIN DYNASTY.
Year of Cycle.
Cotemporary Events.
317 49:14 The emperor Constantine begins to favor
the Christian religion, 319.
49:20 The first general council at Nice, 325.
49:23 The seat of empire removed from Rome
to Constantinople, 328.
49:42 An earthquake ruins 150 cities in Greece
and Asia, 358.
362 49:59
366 50:03 Julian dies, and is succeeded by Jovian,
9 24 373
11 1 419
50:08 The Goths permitted to settle in Thrace,
on being expelled by the Huns, 376.
50:10 The Vandals, Alani, and Suevi, permit- ted to settle in Spain and France by Hon- 50:34 orius, 406.
Rome plundered by Alaric, king of the 50:56 Visigoths, 410.
knight-errantry there was no lack of superstition, magic, witchcraft, and the many nameless vagaries usually accompanying them. But in the time of the Tsin, the heroic and chivalrous degenerated into the most pitiable weakness. Base and cruel women exercised great influ ence at court; the religions of Budha and Laou keun were in vogue; and the people suffered. Some few writers are found during this
Chronology of the Chinese.
13. 北宋紀 Pın Sung Ke.
Names of the Sovereigns.
Kaou tsoo..
Shaou te.
4 武帝 :5 廢帝 6 明帝
Ming te.
7蒼梧王 Tsangwoo woo.
Shan te.
With cotemporary Chinese events.
宋人好譽 Sung jin haou
yu, the people of Sung loved praise and commendation.
女子化為男 neu tsze wa
wei nan, a woman transformed into
射鬼竹林堂 shay lkoei
chuk lin tang (the emperor) shot
a demon in the court of the bam- boo grove.
Note. This is often called the Nan Pik Sung; it is also styled Sung Ke foo Peih Wei, or the Sung attached to the Northern Wei.
14. 齊紀 Tse Ke.
Names of the Sovereigns.
Kaou te.
Ming te.
With cotemporary Chinese Events.
tswan Sung
tseih wei, (this is said of the founder of the new line) he exter- minated Sung and took the throne.
4.東昏侯 Tunghwăn how. 五銖錢 Woo choo tseen, five 5.和鹿 Hote.
pearl cash.
period. It was about the year 286 that the literary title sewtsae was introduced.
In the reign of Shaou te of the Sung family, Budhism was inter- dicted. Under the reign of his successor, Wăn te, learning began to revive. The prince of Wei also persecuted the Budhists, burnt their temples and put the priests to death.
Chronology of the Chinese..
13. THE Northern Sung Dynasty.
Year of Cycle.
3420 50:57
Cotemporary Events.
The kingdom of the French begins on the lower Rhine.
The Romans take leave of Britain, and never return, 426.
51:01 The Saxons settle in Britain; Attila, king of the Huns, ravages Europe, about 51:31 449.
46451:41
51:42 The paschal cycle of 532 years invented
by Victorius, 463.
51:50 The western empire is destroyed by the king of the Heruli, who assumes the title 51:54 of king of Italy, 476.
Note. The founder of this line (the Sung, or Northern and Southern dynas- ties) was Lew Yu.
14. THE TSE DYNASTY.
Cotemporary Events.
51:56 Constantinople partly destroyed by an earthquake, which lasted 40 days at in-
483 51: 60 tervals, 480.
of Cycle.
Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, con-
52:11 quers Italy, 493,
52 16 Christianity embraced in France by the
baptism of Clovis, 496. 52:18
Seaou Taouching was the founder of the Tse dynasty, which took its name from a dukedom of which Seaou was master.
The Tse ke, like the Sung, and like the Leäng and Chin which follow it, was called Nan Pih, Southern and Northern, there being most of the time two distinct governments, one Tartar, the other Chinese, the former occupying the northern part of the country, and the latter the southern, and hence styled Northern and Southern dynasties.
VOL. X. NO. III.
Chronology of the Chinese.
15.梁纪 LeANG Ke.
Names of the Sovereigns.
1 武帝 Woo te.
·2簡文 Keén wăn. 3元帝 Yuen te. 4 敬帝 King te.
Cotemporary Chinese Events.
19 twan tseën, short cash, were interdicted by this emperor. The depreciation amounted to 10, and sometimes 20, and even 30, in a hundred.
"The people began to sit with their legs hanging down," i. e. they used chairs!
Note. Budhism which had been discarded, again revived. The first emperor
himself, when old, became a priest, and lived according to the rites of the order.
16. CHIN Ke.
Names of the Sovereigns.
With cotemporary Chinese Events.
Cloth, paper, and iron money had
been sometime in vogue when,—
w00 yen tseën,
goose-eyed money-now came
Kaou tsoo.
2文帝 3廢帝 4 宣帝 5 後主
Seuen te.
How choo.
into use. Pearl money was soon
used in its stead.
neu heŏ sze, make
女學士 new heǒ
their appearance.
17. 隋紀 Sux Ke.
Names of the Sovereigns.
With cotemporary Chinese Events.
天下地震 teèn hei te chin,
an earthquake throughout the
whole empire.
Kaou tsoo.
Yang te.
Kung de yew.
4 恭帝们 Kung te tung.
lung chow, an imperial
boat-built. This was 45 cubits
high, 200 long, having four sto-
Yang Keën was the founder of the Suy dynasty. He was fond of power and extended his rule oyer the whole of the empire, uniting in
Chronology of the Chinese.
15. THE LEANG DYNASTY.
Cotemporary Events.
52:19 Alaric defeated by Clovis, 507; and Paris made the capital of the French do- 53:07 minions, 510.
On Cycle.
53:09 The Turkish empire in Asia begins, 545; and the manufacture of silk intro- 53: 12 duced into Europe from the east, 553.
Note. During this short dynasty, the empresses exerted great influence in the councils of state. One of them was a distinguished heroine.
16. THE CHIN DYNASTY.
Part of Italy conquered by the Lom- bards, 568.
of Cycle.
Cotemporary Events.
A dreadful plague in Europe, Asia, and Africa, commences 558.
567: 53:24
about 581.
569 53:26 Latin ceases to be the language of Italy
58353:40
Note. The capital of the empire was frequently changed; the last sovereign of Chin reigned at Nanking.
17. THE Suy Dynasty.
Year of Cycle.
Cotemporary Events.
53:46 The Saxon heptarchy begins in England
about 600.
54:02 The Persians take Jerusalem with a
slaughter of 90,000 men, 614.
618 54: 15 Mohammed in his 53d year, flies to Me- dina, and this becomes the 1st of the He- 61954: 16 gira, 622.
one the northern and southern empires. from its allegiance, was humbled and
Corea, which had drawn off made to sue for peace.
Chronology of the Chinese.
18. 唐紀 TANG Kz.
Names of the Sovereigns.
Kaou 'tsoo.
Tae tsung.
Kaou tsung.
Chung tsung.
Juy tsung.
Heuen tsung.
Suh tsung.
Tae tsung.
Tih tsung.
Shun tsung.
Heën tsung.
Múh tsung.
King tsung.
Wăn tsung.
17 懿宗 18 僖宗
He tsung.
12 穆宗 13 敬宗
Woo tsuug.
Seuen tsung.
E tsung.
Chaou tsung.
19 昭宗 20昭宣帝 Chaouseven te.
With cotemporary Chinese Events..
in D là cung pao (seên, the
copper coin, now current, first comes into use.
The Nestorians enter China about this time, when the empress Woo Tseihteën lived.
And books began to be bound;
previously scrolls only were used.
梨園弟子 theatricals com-
kaou she, the literary ex-
aminations-instituted about this
帝聞空中神語 the em-
peror heard in the fimament di vine words.
初稅茶 choo shuy cha, an
impost on tea began in the 9th year of Tih tsung.
The feast of lanterns comes in-
to vogue.
Heën tsung brought one of the
fingers of Budha in procession to his capital.
服金丹而崩 The emper-
or Mŭh, a devotee of the Ration-
alists' school, fuh kin tan urh
pång, swallowed the philosopher's
stone and died.
無憂城 woo yew ching, a
city without sorrow.
Eunuchs exercise great influ-
ence in the affairs of state.
The emperor Chaou commanded
one of his prisoners to be
keu che, sawn asunder.
Le Yuen, of the house of Leäng, was the founder of this dynasty, which is second to none except perhaps that of Han. During this
Chronology of the Chinese.
18. THE Tang Dynasty.
Cotemporary Events.
Constantinople besieged by the Persians and Arabs, 626.
Mohammed dies, 632; Jerusalem taken by the Saracens, 634; Alexandria taken, 54:47 and its library destroyed, 637. The Sa-
racens ravage Sicily, 669.
of Cycle.
2 23 627
3 34 650
55:21 The venerable Bede among the few men of learning of this age. Pepin engrosses 55:47 the power of the French monarchy, 690.
The Saracens conquer Africa, 709; and 55:50 Spain, 713.
A market opened at Canton, and an offi- 56:33 cer appointed to receive the imperial
763 56:40 Bagdad built and made the capital of the caliphs of the house of Abbas, who greatly
78056:57 encourage learning, 762.
Irene murders her son and reigns alone, 805 57:22 797; Charlemagne emperor of Rome, 800; Egbert ascends the throne of En- 806 57:23 gland, 801.
The Arabians arrive in China, and settle 57: 38 in Canton prior to 805.
The Saracens of Spain take Crete, which 825 57:42 they call Candia, 823.
82757:44
57: 44 Origin of the Russian monarchy, 839.
58:04 The Normans get possession of some
cities in France, 853.
58:17 Clocks first brought to Constantinople
from Venice, 872.
874 58:31
Paris besieged by the Normans, and 58:46 bravely defended by bishop Goslin, 887.
King Alfred, after a reign of 30 years 904 59:01 dies, 900.
line of emperors, China stood comparatively higher than at any other period. The darkest age of the West, was the brighest in the East:!!
Chronology of the Chinese.
19. 後梁紀 How LeanG Ke.
Names of the Sovereigns.
Tae tsoo.
With cotemporary Chinese events.
The greatest hero of this age
劉鄩一步百計 Lew
2Leang Choo teen Tsin at one step could execute a
hundred stratagems!
20. 後唐紀 How Tang Ke.
Names of the Sovereigns.
1 Chwang tsung.
2 明宗 Ming te.
3 閔宗 Min te.
1廢帝 Fei te.
Cotemporary Chinese Events.
傳粉墨與優人共戲
This emperor (Chwang) painted his face and with stage players engaged in theatricals.
每夕焚香祝天,this
emperor (Min) every evening burnt incense and paid his vows to heaven.
21. 後晉 How Tsin Ke.
Names of the Sovereigns.
1 高祖 Kaou tsoo.
2 Chuh te.
With cotemporary Chinese events.
楊延政剝皮 Yang Yen-
ching flayed the poor people. He
set up his throne in Fuhkeën,
22. 後漢紀 How Han KE.
Names of the Sovereigns,
Kaou tsoo.
2隱帝 Yin te.
With Chinese cotemporary events.
大風發屋拔木 a tem-
pest overturned the houses and
uprooted the trees.
These woo tac, or five dynasties-Leäng, Tang, Tsin, Han, and
Chronology of the Chinese.
19. THE After Leang Dynasty.
Year of Cycle.
Cotemporary Events.
The Normans establish themselves un" der Rollo in France.
Romanus the First, general of the fleet, usurps the throne.
20. THE AFTER TANG DYNASTY.
Year of Cycle.
3 923 59:20
Cotemporary Events.
Fiefs established in France, 923.
92659:23
934 59: 31
934 59:31
21. THE AFTER TSIN DYNASTY.
Year of Cycle.
Cotemporary Events.
The Saracen empire divided by usur- pation into seven kingdoms, 936.
944 59:41 Naples seized by the eastern emperors,
22. THE After Han Dynasty.
of Cycle.
3 948 59:45
Cotemporary Events.
59:44 The sons of Romanus conspire against
their father.
Chow, occupy the throne from 907 to the close of' 959, a period of fifty-three years, giving an average of little more than ten years to each house. There were other families that claimed authority,' and the several monarchs had to contend moreover with foreign foes; consequently this period presents one unbroken series of disor- ders and revolutions..
Chronology of the Chinese.
後問紀 HOW CHOW KE.
Names of the Sovereigns!
1太祖 Tae tsoo.
2世宗 She tsung. 3 恭帝 Kung te.
With cotemporary Chinese Events.
佛像鑄錢 the images' of
Budha were made into cash: this
was done by an imperial order issued by She tsung.
Note. The first and second of, these three emperors exhibited wisdom; and She tsung was zealous in promoting the welfare of his people.
24. SUNG KE.
Names of the Sovereigns.
1太祖 Tae tsoo.
2太宗 Tae tsung.
3. 真宗 Chin tsung.
4仁宗 Jin tsung.
5 英宗 Ying tsung:
6神宗 Shin tsung.
With cotemporary Chinese Events.
BT-the set- 日下腹有一日
ting sun reäscended for a day: this was seen and attested by the astronomer Meaou Heun.
得天書于泰山 (one of
the emperor's ministers) obtained celestial books from Taeshan.
Pop. 9,955,729.
In the fourth year of Ying
tsung, Canton was first walled in.
司馬光 Szema Kwang. 男人誕子
7哲宗 Chě tsung.
8徽宗 Hwuy tsung.
birth to a child.
a long beard.
a man gave
a woman wore
9欽宗 Kin tsung.
Learning received much attention during both this reign and the next succeeding it. The first emperor was rased to the throne by military men, who were about to wage war against some northern hardes; and being unwilling to serve under the rule of a mere child, the emperor Kung being only nine years old they determined.to: elevate in his stead a servant of the deceased monarch. They im- mediately dispatched a messenger, who found him lying under the influence of wine, and in that state communicated to him their
1太祖 Tae tsoo.
2世宗 She tsung.
Q ? #Kune to
佛像鑄錢 the images' of
Budha were made into cash: this was done by an imperial order issued by She tsung.
Chronology of the Chinese.
23. THE After Chow Dynasty.
Cotemporary Events.
Romanus II., son of Constantine VII., by Helena, the daughter of Lecapenus, 59:57 succeeds, to the Eastern Empire 959.
She tsung not only destroyed the images of Budha, he also pulled down their temples, and took their sacred utensils and converted them into money, having established a mint for this specific purpose.
24. THE SUNG DYNASTY.
Year of Cycle.
2 22 976
1023 60: 60
1064 61:41
Cotemporary Events.
Italy conquered by Otho, and united to the German empire, 964.
The third or Capetian race of kings in France begins, 987; arithmetical figures brought into Europe by the Saracens, 991. A general inassacre of the Danes in England, Nov. 13th, 1002.
The kingdoms of Castile and Arragon begin, 1035. The Turks invade the Ro-
6 18 1068 61: 45 man empire, 1050; take Jerusalem, 1065;
William the conquerer crowned, 1066.
15 1086 62:03
8 25 1101
9 1 1126
Asia Minor taken by the Turks, 1084; 62: 17 first crusade 1096; Jerusalem taken by the crusaders, 1099; learning revived at 62:43 Cambridge, 1110.
decision; and ere he had time to reply, the yellow robe of state was placed upon him. Thus he was made emperor, the exalted sire of the blackhaired nation. Rude and ignorant as he himself was, learning flourished under his auspices, encouraged by the colleges he built, and the rewards he conferred.
The number of authors given to this and the southern Sung families, by the writers of History Made Easy, is sixty-one; among this crowd of literary men, Choo He is the most distinguished.
VOL. X. NO III.
Chronology of the Chinese.
25. 南宋紀 NAN Sune Ke.
Cotemporary Chinese Events.
Names of the Sovereigns.
1高宗 Kaou tsung.
2孝宗 Heaou tsung.
3光宗 Kwang tsung.
4 寧宗 Ning tsung.
Le tsung.
6 Too tsung.
7恭宗 Kung tsung.
8端宗 Twan tsung.
9帝昞 Te Ping.
Choo He, the able critic
and historian, known as Choo foo- tsze, flourished early in this reign. 白虹貫日 a white rain-
bow seen passing through the sun.
天赤如血 the heavens red
as blood.
蝗飛蔽天 flights of locusts
obscure the heavens.
An officer appointed by the
emperor to reside at Canton as commissioner of customs.
Gunpowder and fire-engines used. Movable characters, made of
burnt clay and placed in a frame for printing.
26. YUEN Ke.
Names of the Sovereigns.
Ching tsung.
She Tsoo.
Woo tsung.
4 仁宗 5英宗
Ying tsung.
Jin tsung.
6泰定帝 Taeting te.
Ming tsung.
Wăn tsung.
Shun, tsung.
With cotemporary Chinese Events.
25 Hwuhpeihleě, or Ku-
blai, was the founder of this dy- nasty.
Foreign trade for a time inter- rupted at Canton.
枋得不食二十餘日 Fangtih lived more than
20 days without eating any food.
The Grand Canal.
周歲童子暴長四尺
a child one year old suddenly
grew to more than four cubits in height.
雨毛如線而綠 feathers
rained down like thread of a green color.
Kublai's life and actions-especially, his attention to the Pala
Chronology of the Chinese.
25. THE SOUTHERN SUNG DYNASTY.
Year of Cycle.
136.1127 62: 44
1163 63: 20
1190 63:47
Cotemporary Events.
Accession of Stephen to the English crown, 1135.
The Teutonic order begins, 1164; the conquest of Egypt by the Turks, 1169.
Third crusade and seige of Acre, 1188; John succeeds to the English throne, 1199. Genghis khan's reign and conquests. The Magna Charta, 1215. Origin of the 64: 22 Ottomans, 1240.
Edward I. on the English throne, 1272.
1265 65:02 The uncle and father of Marco Polo the Venetian traveler in China.
1278 65: 15
The famous Mortmain act passes in England, 1279.
26. THE YUEN DYNASTY.
Year of Cycle.
Cotemporary Events.
65: 17 During the Sicilian vespers, 8000 French murdered, 1283. Wales annexed to Eng- 65: 32 gland, 1283. Regular succession of En-
glish parliament begins, 1293.
130865:45
1330 66:07
1312 65:49 The mariner's compass said to be invent-
jed or improved by Flaveo, 1302.
132165:58
132466:01 The Swiss cantons begin 1307. Edward
II. succeeds to the English crown. 1329 66:06 Edward III. on the English throne,
The first comet observed, whose course is 9 35 1333 66: 10 described with exactness, in June, 1337.
family, his embassy to the pope, his predilection to Christianity,- are narrated in the travels of Marco Polo,-an historian of no mean
Chronology of the Chinese.
27.MING Kɛ.
Names of the Sovereigns.
Meaou Haou.
1太祖 Tsae t900.
2建文帝 Keënwǎn te.
3 太宗 Tae tsung. 4仁宗 Jin tsung.
5 宣宗 Seuen tsung. 6英宗 Ying tsung. 7景帝 King te.
8憲宗 Heěn tsung.
9 孝宗 Heaou tsung.
10 武宗 Woo tsung.
11 She tsung.
Mŭh tsung.
13 神宗 Shin tsung.
14 Kwang tsung.
15 熹宗 He tsung.
KwŎ Haou.
Cotemporary Chinese events.
Hungovo. 二十六年
Hunghe. 十四萬五千八
Seuentih. ☎ +
In the 26th year of Hung-
Chingtung woo, the Board of Revenue reported that the number of
Teënshun.
Kingtae. families was 16,052,860, and the persons 60,545,811
Chinghwa. in the empire.
Hungche. (in the 11th year of this reign) there was an earth-
Chingtih. quake at the capital ac-
companied by a noise.
Keŭtsing.
天鼓鳴 sound of a
Lungking drum in the heavens.
In the 4th year of Hung-
Wanleih. che, it was only 9,113,446
families, and 53,281,158
Taechang. individuals.
In the 6th year of Man-
Teënke. leih, the families were 10,621,436, and the per-
16 懷宗 Hwae tsung. Tsungching, sons 60,692,856.
rank. He held his court at Peking, which was called Kambalu. The history of his ancestors, Genghis and others, and that of his own times, are full of interest. They were great men, and achieved great things. Central Asia-their theatre of action-may again erelong become a scene of interesting events, and opened and free for the European traveler.
The native historian says, 'in the beginning of the Ming dynasty, the government paid no regard to rank in the employment of its sub- jects. In commencing the dynasty, there was an urgent demand for
Chronology of the Chinese.
27. THE MING DYNASTY.
of Cycle.
1368 66: 45
Cotemporary Events.
Timur on the throne of Samarkand. William Occam, Peter Apono, Wiclif,
1398 67: 15 and Chancer flourish.
Henry V. succeeds his father Henry IV,
1403 67:20 1413.
Constantinople is besieged by Amurath II., the Turkish emperor, 1422.
Cosmo de Medici recalled from banish- ment, and rise of that family at Florence, 1434.
Glass first manufactured in England, 1457. The arts of engraving and etching
1457 68: 14 invented, 1459.
The Cape of Good Hope discovered. Shillings were first coined in England, 1505.
Edict of Worms proscribing Luther and his adherents, 1521. The pope taken 69: 03 prisoner, 1527.
Huguenots, i. e. 'the allied by oath,' first 1522 69 19 so called, 1560; massacre of them at
Paris, 1572.
70: 04 The Turks invade and ravage Russia,
1573 70: 10 A British colony established in Virginia, 1614; and an English settlement made at 162070: 57 Madras, 1620.
1621 70:58 War commenced by England against France in favor of distressed French pro-
162871:05 [testants, 1627.
talents; and the people of the empire being roused by the hope of rank and nobility, the human intellect at once rose above mediocri- ty. At this time they had fire-chariots, fire umbrellas, &c.
Again the historian says: 'In the 3d year of Keätsing, people came in foreign vessels to Macao, and affirmed that, having encoun- tered a gale of wind, their ships were leaky: it was desired, that Macao, on the coast, might be allowed them to dry their goods,' Hence originated the foreign settlement.
Chronology of the Chinese.
28. TA Tsing Chadu.
The Names of the Sovereigns, or Meaou Haou.
Shaoutsoo Yuen
肇祖原皇帝 hwangte.
2興祖直皇帝 Hingtsoo Cheih
hwangte.
3景翼皇帝 Kingtsoo Yeih
hwangte.
Heëntsoo Seuen
4顯宣皇帝 Kwangte.
Taetsoo Kaou
KwŎ Haou.
N. B. These were mere
chieftains, without na-
tional titles.
天命 Teënming.
天聰 Teëntsung.
5 太祖高皇帝 hwangte.
hwangte.
7世祖章皇帝 Shetsoo Chang
hwangte.
8聖祖仁皇帝 Shingtšoo Jin
hwangte.
6 太宗文皇帝 Taetsung Mán
崇 Tsungtih.
順治 Shunche.
康熙 Kanghe.
9 世宗憲皇帝 Shetsung Heën
雍正 Yungching-
hwaugte.
10 高宗純皇帝 Kaoutsung Shun
hwangte.
乾隆 Keënlung.
11 仁宗睿皇帝 Jintsung Juy
嘉慶 Keäking.
hwangte.
12 (The reigning monarch.)
Recapitulation.
1. The three August Sovereigns reigned 81,600 years.
2. The five Sovereigns
reigned 047 yrs., commencing B. c. 2852
道光 Taoukwang.
- 3. The Heǎ dynasty
4. The Shang dynasty
5. The Chow dynasty
6. The Tsin dynasty 17. The After Tsin dynasty
-8. The Han dynasty
9. The Eastern Han dynasty 10. The After Han dynasty
reigned 873 reigned reigned 44
reigned 439
reigned 644
reigned 226
reigned 196
A. D. 25
reigned 44
11. The Tsin dynasty
reigned 52
12. The Eastern Tsin dynasty
reigned 103
13. The Northern Sung dynasty reigned 59
14. The Tse dynasty
reigned 23
15. The Leäng dynasty 16. . The Chin dynasty
reigned 55 reigned 32
Chronology of the Chinese.
28. THE Great Tsing Dynasty.
Year of Cycle.
Cotemporary Events.
N. B. The reigning family feign to derive their origin from the gods: it is believed, however, that the nation was formed of Tongouse tribes, situated on the banks of the Amour, north of |Corea; and during comparatively very modern times.
War declared between the Turks and Venetians, 1645. Charles I., king of
1644 71:21 England, beheaded, 1649. Carolina plant-
ed by English merchants, 1676.
First king of Prussia crowned, 1701.
861 1662
9 13 1723 72:40 War between the Ottoman Port and Per- sia, 1730; the Russians invade Tartary,
1736 72:53 1338.
1796 73:53 An emigration of 500,000 Tourgouths
from the Caspian to China, 1771.
182174: 18
17. The Suy dynasty 18. The Tang dynasty 19. The After Leäng dynasty 20. The After Tang dynasty 21. The After Tsin dynasty 22. The After Han dynasty 23. The After Chow dynasty 24. The Sung dynasty
reigned 31 yrs., commencing A. d. 589 reigned 287 reigned 16 reigned 13 reigned 11 reigned 4 reigned 9
reigned 157
25. The Southern Sung dynasty reigned 153
26. The Yuen dynasty
27. The Ming dynasty
reigned 88 reigned 276
28. The Ta Tsing dynasty has reigned 196
The whole number of sovereigns in the foregoing lists, exclusive of the mythological line, is 243.
The number of years-excluding the reign of the three august sovereigns-is 4692, which gives to each dynasty a fraction more than 173 years; and to each sovereign a period of little more than 19 years,
Notices of Japan, No. VII.
ART. II. Notices of Japan, No. VII.: recent attempts by foreign- ers to open relations with Japan; by Americans; by Russians; and by English.*
WHEN Christianity was finally extirpated throughout Japan, and the remnant of the European trade committed to the Dutch factory at Dezima, the resolute seclu- sion of the insular empire was long respected and left undisturbed by other nations. The slight attempt made by the English under Charles II., which the Dutch foil- ed by proclaiming the English queen to be a Portuguese princess, can hardly be called an exception.
This abstinence from any endeavors to transgress the prohibitory laws of Ja- pan allowed the strong feelings in which they originated to die away; and towards the close of the last century, the continuance of the system appears to have proceeded rather from indifference to foreign trade and respect for existing cus- toms, than from hatred or fear. Whilst the public mind of Japan remained in this `easy state, although no trade, nor unnecessary intercourse with foreigners, was permitted, foreign ships in distress for provisions or other necessaries, were freely suffered to approach the coast, and their wants were cheerfully relieved. Captain Broughton,† when exploring the Japanese seas in the years 1795-6-7, was, perhaps,
* [Several papers on foreign intercourse with Japan have already appeared in the pages of the Repository; see Vols. VI and VII. In this paper, some things are repeated that are found in those articles, but much that is here given concern- ing Russian and American intercourse has not been before related, and we retain it in the series.]
+ [Capt. Broughton published an account of his cruise in the Japanese waters in 1804, in a small quarto of 393 pages. Speaking of the conduct of the Japanese towards him and his ship, he says; "The same unremitted jealousy of foreign- ers seems to have pervaded every place in those seas where the Providence touched at; and although the desires of the crew for wood and water were readi- ly complied with, yet any wish of exploring the interior of the country, or of gaining a more perfect knowledge of its government, produce, and manners, was invariably and pertinaciously resisted." The Providence was a strongly built ship of 400 tons. After taking her departure from Oahu in 1796, she made a cruise north of Nippon, and in the spring of the next year anchored at Macao. Here, her enterprising commander having purchased a tender, left in April for the same seas, and on 17th of May, he was unfortunately wrecked on a reef at the north of Typinsan, one of the Madjicosima (or more correctly Hachi kosima, the Eight islets), a group of small islands between Lewchew and Formosa. The tender now proved to be of great service, and by the kind assistance of the natives of the group, who from his account are much like the Lewchewans in dress, language, and appearance, he was able to provision her and return to Macao in June. Hav- ing discharged some of his crew, captain Broughton planned a continuation of his cruise in the tender, notwithstanding she was only 87 tons, and, as he adds, “in- adequate in many respects. But still there was some prospect of acquiring geographical knowledge of the Tartarean and Corean coasts; and I was unwill- ing, even under the existing circumstances, not to use every endeavor to the utmost of my power, that could tend to the improvement of science by the ex- ploration of unknown parts." With these wishes, so characteristic of British navigators, and seconded by his officers, he left for the Japanese seas; he touched at Lewchew, Endermo harbor in Yesso or Insu, Matsmai, Tsus sima, Chosan in Corea, and Quelpaert I.; and returned to Macao in Nov. 1797. The volume contains but little else than nautical observations and remarks, which may be one reason why it has since its publication been so little spoken of or quoted.]
Notices of Japan, No. VII.
the last English sailor who thus benefited by unsuspicious Japanese hospitality.* Since that period, attempts have been made and accidents have happened, the effects of which are represented by the Dutch to have been the revival of their alienation from foreigners in all its original inveteracy. Siebold, however, rather questions this resuscitation; and thinks, that if it did take place, the feeling has again died away.
The first aggression upon the Japanese prohibitory code was made by the Americans, and originated in the war between England and Holland, during the subjection of the latter to France. It has already been intimated,† that the Dutch authorities at Batavia, when they durst not expose their own merchantmen to capture by British cruizers in the Indian seas, engaged neutrals to carry on their trade with Japan. The first North-American ship thus hired was the Eliza of New York, captain Stewart, in 1797; and her appearance at once aroused Japan- ese suspicion.‡
A vessel, bearing the Dutch flag, but of which the crew spoke English, not Dutch, was an anomaly that struck the Nagasaki authorities with consternation. It cost the president of the factory some trouble to convince the governor of Nagasaki that these English were not the real English, but English living in a dis. tant country, and governed by a different king. All this, however, even when believ- ed, was of no avail; the main point was, to prove that the Americans had nothing to do with the trade, being only employed by the Dutch as carriers, on account of the war. The governor was at length satisfied that the American was no inter- loper, the employment of neutrals being, under existing circumstances, unavoida ble; and he consented to consider the Eliza as a Dutch ship.
Upon his second voyage, the following year, captain Stewart met with the ac- cident mentioned in the last paper; and it seems not unlikely that his increased intercourse with the Japanese, during the attempts to raise his ship and her repairs, gave birth to his project of establishing a connection with them, independent of his employers, the Dutch. His scheme and his measures do not, however, very distinctly appear in Doeff's narrative, either because the Dutch factory president is perplexed by his eagerness to identify them with English incroachment, or because the successful foiling of captain Stewart's hopes prevented the clear development of his intended proceedings.
When repaired and reloaded, the Eliza sailed, but was dismasted in a storm, and returned again to refit. All this occasioned such delay, that the American substitute for the Dutchman of 1799 arrived, and had nearly completed her load- ing for Batavia, when captain Stewart was at length ready to prosecute the voyage that should have been completed in the preceding year, 1798. For his consort he obstinately refused to wait, and sailed early in November, 1799. The follow- ing year capt. Stewart again made his appearance, but in a different vessel and under a different character. He had still not reached Batavia, and told a piteous
* [So far as merely supplying the necessary wants of distressed mariners who may be wrecked on their shores, we are inclined to think the Japanese are as kind now as they have ever been; that is, they would feed and clothe such persons, and get them sent out of the country as soon as possible. When the Morrison was at Satsuma, the Japanese on board were told that three sailors from a foreign ship had some years before been sent to Nagasaki. Capt. Gordon in the Brothers (sco Chi. Rep., Vol. VII., page 589) was not treated at all inhospitably.]
# Docff.
+ No. VI. page 82.
VOL. X. NO. 11.
Notices of Japan, No. V11.
tale of shipwreck, of the loss of his own all, as well as of his whole Dutch cargo, ending with his having been kindly enabled by a friend at Manila to buy and freight the brig, in which he was now come for the purpose of discharging, by the sale of her cargo, his own property, his debt to the Dutch factory, incurred on account of the Eliza's repairs.
But in the interval, an able and energetic president had succeeded to a very inefficient one. Heer Wardenaar saw, in this visit of the American, an insidious attempt to gain a commercial footing, for himself individually, if not for his coun- try, at Nagasaki; and his suspicions of the veracity of Capt. Stewart's story were further awakened by the recognition in the Manila brig of some articles that had belonged to the Eliza, from the wreck of which it was averred that nothing what- ever had been saved. He took his measures accordingly. He caused captain Stewart's cargo to be sold in the usual manner, and his debts to be paid from the proceeds; but he procured no return cargo for the brig, and sent the captain in the Dutch ships of that year to Batavia, to be there tried for the loss of the Eliza's cargo.
Pending the investigation of his conduct at Batavia, Capt. Stewart made his escape from the Dutch settlement, and for a year or two was not heard of. But in 1803, he again appeared in Nagasaki bay, this time more openly declaring his purpose. He now presented himself under the American flag, brought a cargo, avowedly American property, from Bengal and Canton, and solicited permission to trade, as also to supply himself with fresh water and with oil. The first request was positively refused, the second granted; and when his wants were gratuitously supplied, he was compelled to depart. Captain Stewart now gave up his interloping scheme as hopeless; he returned no more, and the only American ship subsequent- ly mentioned is one in 1807, which professedly in distress between Canton and the western coast of America, prayed for wood and water, with which, at Doeff's solicitation, she was supplied, and, as Capt. Stewart had been, gratuitously. Whether she was really in distress, or was thus prevented from endeavoring to trade, the factory did not ascertain.
One very recent attempt of a mixed commercial and missionary character has, however, been made by American merchants from Macao. A vessel, with a mis- sionary at once clerical and medical, and that able oriental linguist, the Rev. C. Gutzlaff, sailed from Macao in July, 1837, professedly to carry home some ship- wrecked Japanese sailors. She steered for the bay of Yedo, and after a short inter- course with boats which the missionaries thought promising, the ship was fired upon. She made her escape to sea, and next anchored in the bay of Kagosima, in the principality of Satsuma, where she experienced a precisely similar repulse. And now, indignant at what the reverend physician, Dr. Parker in his Narrative, calls the treachery of the Japanese, the missionary adventurers determined to return to Macao, without visiting the only port-to wit, Nagasaki-where they had a chance of being permitted even to land their Japanese protegés. Whether this blunder or omission were the consequence of ignorance, or of their ascribing to Dutch intrigue the uniform repulse of all their predecessors, does not appear. The shipwrecked Japanese accompanied them back to Macao.
The next foreign attempts to be noticed were made by the Russians; and it almost looks as if they had once a chance of success. But if it were so, the op- portunity was not seized by the forelock, and it never recurred.
Notices of Japan,. No. VII.
During the reign of Catherine II., a Japanese vessel was wrecked on the coast of Siberia, and the empress ordered such of the crew as had been saved to be con- veyed home. A Russian ship accordingly landed the rescued Japanese at Matsmai in 1792, and the captain, Adam Laxmann, made overtures respecting trade. He was formally thanked for bringing home the shipwrecked sailors, and permitted to repair to Nagasaki, there to negotiate with the proper authorities upon his com- mercial propositions. He was further informed that at Nagasaki alone could fó- reigners be admitted, and if the Russians ever again landed elsewhere, even to bring home shipwrecked Japanese, they would be made prisoners.
Capt. Laxmann did not go to Nagasaki, and the attention of the empress being probably withdrawn from so small a matter as trade with Japan by the engrossing character of European politics at that moment, the opening was neglected. It must be stated, however, that Dr. Von Siebold doubts of there having been any real opening. He ascribes the implied possibility of the Russian overtures for trade being entertained at Nagasaki, to the prince of Matsmai, or his secretary, feeling that the town was in no condition to sustain a conflict with a man-of-war, and being consequently anxious to get amicably rid of the Russian visitor.
In 1804, exertions were made to repair this omission. A Russian man-of-war appeared in Nagasaki bay, conveying count Resanoff, ambassador from the czar to the siogoun, and empowered to negotiate a treaty of friendship and commerce between Russia and Japan,. The count brought with him official Dutch recom- mendations to the president of the factory, who had previously received advices upon the subject of the embassy, and recommendations from Batavia. These Heer Doeff had communicated to the governor, so that the constituted authorities of Nagasaki were not altogether unprepared for the embassador's arrival.
It was on the 7th of October that the Russian vessel was reported to be off the mouth of the bay. The usual commission was sent out to visit her and receive her arms in deposit; and upon this occasion, in compliment to the embassador, the president was requested to accompany the deputation in person. Even at this first meeting the dissensions between the Russian and Japanese dignitaries began. The commissioners, regarding themselves as the representatives of the siogoun, required, as usual, that the marks of repect due to his person should be paid to themselves; whilst the embassador deemed it inconsistent with either his indi. vidual or his official rank to humble himself before the deputies of a provincial governor. The next dispute related to the arms, which Resanoff positively re- fused to surrender, this quarrel turning, like the former, upon the point of honor,
* Doeff.
+ Upon the subject of this representation of the siogoun's person, a difficulty that occurred with the Coreans, and was settled during Doeff's presidentship, may be mentioned. The king of Corea sends an embassy to pay a sort of homage to every new siogoun upon his accession. They formerly repaired to Yedo for that purpose, but upon the accession of the present monarch, the Corean embassy was refused permission to visit the capital, and required to do homage to the prince of Tsu-sima, the immediate superior of Corea, who has a garrison upon the peninsula. This the Corean refused as a degradation, claiming admission at Yedo; and the dispute remained for years unsettled, the homage unpaid. At length, the prince of Kokura, grand treasurer of Japan, and the grand accountant (probable the Japa- nese chancellor of the exchequer), were sent as representatives of the siogoun, to Tsu-sima, to receive the Corean homage; and to this representation of majesty the embassy were content to pay it. The deputation from Yedo visited Doeff at Dezima upon their return to court,
Notices of Japan, No. VII.
not of safety, as he readily suffered the ammunition to be landed and held by the Japanese.
President Doeff avers, that it was solely owing to his good offices and personal influence with the governor, that the ship, thus imperfectly disarmed, was permit- ted to enter the harbor, and take up a secure anchorage, there to await the answer from Yedo, not as to the future opening of negotiations, but as to the present ceremonial. This single evening the Dutchmen were indulged in spending cheer- fully in European society. But the next day a suspicion seems to have arisen of possible confederacy between the two sets of foreigners, however manifestly op. posed their interests, and they were never again allowed to exchange a word. They contrived, however, to correspond in French, through the medium of the interpreters, always, ready apparently to favor the violation of the rigid code: the way, indeed, in which excessive rigidity is in most cases usefully though illegally compensated.
The jealousy of combination between the Dutch and Russians went so far, that the annual ship, this year really Dutch, and then in course of loading, was remov. ed from her wonted berth to a distant station, and when she set sail, the captain and crew were forbidden to answer the kindly greetings and farewell of the Rus- sians. The Dutch captain durst only wave his hat in reply, and this want of politeness seems to have given great offense to the courteous Muscovites, who imputed it to mercantile ill-will.
Meanwhile, the Russian embassador earnestly solicted permission to land, and Capt. Krusenstern, the commander of the ship, as earnestly desired leave to repair his vessel. These requests, being contrary to law, required a reference to Yedo. But Nagasaki now witnessed an unprecedented phenomenon-the simultaneous presence of the two governors: the relief governor having arrived, and the reliev. ed governor fearing to depart at so critical an emergency. Whilst awaiting the orders from Yedo, the colleagues deliberated. They inquired whether the Dutch factory could accommodate the embassy at Dezima, which Doeff, though straiten- ed for room in consequence of a recent fire, agreed to do. But the proposal was not repeated, and the governors next talked of giving the Russians the use of a temple. This idea likewise was abandoned, and finally a fish warehouse, over against Dezima, but at the further extremity of Nagasaki, was selected for the residence of the Russian embassy. It was accordingly cleared out, cleaned, and prepared, for their reception, by inclosing it with palisades, to prevent external communication. These preliminary arrangements being completed, count Re- sanoff was, about the middle of December, installed with his suite in this strange hotel d'ambassade, where the Russian soldiers mounted guard with unloaded mus- kets. It is said that the court of Yedo decidedly disapproved of this ungentle- manlike treatment, in minor points, of the rejected European embassy. A former siogoun had, indeed, beheaded a Portuguese embassy, leaving only enough sur. vivors to carry home the report of their reception, but he had not degraded or insulted them.
All these delays, difficulties, and annoyances, which Doeff ascribes to Resanoff's refusal to give up his guns and perform the kotow, were imputed by the Russians to Dutch influence and misrepresentation. This question requires no investiga. tion; of course, the Dutch did not wish the Russian mission success, but under- hand efforts were scarcely wanted to insure its failure. The affair was, however,
Notices of Japan, No. VII.
deemed important even at Yedo, as this is said to have been one of the very few occasions upon which the siogoun* consulted the mikado; probably wishing for his sanction of a refusal that might lead to war.
Towards the end of March, a commissioner, who appears to have been a spy of the higher grade, arrived from Yedo with the answer of the siogoun, and the Russian embassador was invited to an audience, at which he should hear it read. The governor requested Doeff to lend his own norimono for the conveyance of the embassador from his warehouse-lodging to the government-house. The other pre- parations made were directed solely towards preventing the European intruder from acquiring any knowledge of Nagasaki or its inhabitants. The shutters of the windows of all the houses in the streets through which he was to pass were ordered to be closed; the ends of all the streets abutting upon those streets to be boarded up, and every inhabitant, not called by official duty to the procession or the audience, was commanded to remain at home.
A pleasure-boat of the prince of Fizen's conveyed the Russian embassy across the bay to the landing-place, where the Dutch president's sedan awaited the embassador; a solitary acknowledgment of rank, as his whole suite followed on foot. The next day a second audience was granted, and in consequence of a heavy rain, cago were provided for the Russian officers. The answer was a decided refusal, and Doeff was requested to assist the interpreters in translating the Japanese official document into Dutch. He observed that the Russians pro- bably did not understand this language, and offered to make a French version of the paper. But the Japanese, knowing nothing of French, could not have judged whether a translation into that language was correct; a point far more important in their eyes, than such a trifle as the answer being intelligible or not to those to whom it was addressed.
But though the object of the negotiation was peremptorily rejected, the negotia tion itself was not yet over. The siogoun had rejected the presents offered him from the czar, whereupon count Resanoff naturally declined accepting the Japan- ese presents sent for himself. This was a point of vital importance to the go- vernor of Nagasaki individually; he had been ordered to make the embassador accept these presents, and a failure would have left him no alternative; he must have ripped himself up, imitated, most likely, by a reasonable proportion of his subordinate officers. By dint of intreaty, the interpreters, who had by this time picked up a little Russian, prevailed upon Resanoff to accept something; and in- deed if they, or Doeff by letter, explained to him the inevitable consequence of his pertinacious refusal, a man of common good-nature could not but yield.
The Japanese, according to custom upon occasion of rejecting overtures, defray- ed the expenses of the Russians at Nagasaki, and gratuitously supplied the ship with necessaries at her departure. The bitter reciprocal accusations between the baffled Russian diplomatist and the Dutch president are irrevelant to our object; the more so, perhaps, that Resanoff did not live to hear Doeff's charges against himself, or even to give an account of his mission. But short as was the remain- der of his life, it allowed him time to take measures for the gratification of his own anger at his treatment at Nagasaki, which must have determined for a long time, if not permanently, the exclusion of his countrymen from any intercourse with Japan.
* Fischer.
Notices of Japan, No. VII.
Instigated by these vindictive feelings, he appears to have resolved upon mak. ing Japan feel the wrath of Russia. For this purpose, during his stay in Siberia or Kamtschatka, he directed two officers of the Russian navy, named Chwostoff and Davidoff, then temporarily commanding merchant-vessels trading between the eastern coast of the Russian dominions in Asia and the western coast of North America, to effect a hostile landing upon the most northern Japanese islands, or their dependencies.
It must here be stated that, before this period, the Russians had gradually possessed themselves of the northern Kurile islands, the whole Kurile archipelago having for centuries been esteemed a dependency of the Japanese empire, and 'more immediately of the prince of Matsmai. Whether this loss of a few islands in a rude and savge state were even known at Yedo; the Dutch factory were of course ignorant; and it seems not unlikely that the prince and his secretary-mas. ters, if they could secure themselves against spies, would deem it expedient to conceal a disaster rather disgraceful than otherwise important.
It was upon Sagalien, one of the southern Kuriles, still belonging to Japan, that Chwostoff and Davidoff, according to Resanoff's orders, landed in the year 1806. This being the most unguarded part of the empire, they were able, unop. posed, to plunder several villages, commit great ravages, and carry off many of the natives. On reëmbarking, they left behind them papers in the Russian and French languages, announcing that this was done to teach the Japanese to dread the power of Russia, and to show them the folly of which they had been guilty, in rejecting count Resanoff's friendly overtures.
The Japanese government, provincial and supreme, was utterly confounded at this whole transaction. The governor of Nagasaki, evidently by orders from on high, repeatedly asked the Dutch president's opinion of its object; and the French papers were sent to the factory with a request that Doeff would translate them. Some of the interpreters had gained sufficient Russian during the six months' detention of the embassy to make a sort of translation of the Russian copy; and thus, by comparing the two versions, the council of state would be enabled to judge of the fidelity, as to matter and spirit, of Doeff's.
The only immediate result of this really wanton outrage, was the degradation of the prince of Matsmai. He was judged incapable of protecting his subjects or defending his dominions; for which reasons, the principality of Matsmai was converted into an imperial province, and, with its dependencies, Yezo and the Kuriles, thenceforth committed to an imperial governor.
Four years later, Capt. Golownin was sent in a frigate to explore the Japanese seas, and especially the portion of the Kurile archipelago still belonging to Japan. In the course of a voyage of discovery so likely to offend the feelings of the Japan- ese, some of Golownin's crew indiscreetly landed upon the Kurile island Eeterpoo -or, according to Siebold's orthography, Jetorop-near a fortress, and they were in danger of being taken; but Golownin persuaded the commandant that the hos- tile incursion of Chwostoff and Davidoff had been a sheer act of piracy on their part, for which they had been punished-they had been imprisoned, but suffered to escape, and as far as appears, not dismissed the service-and that he himself had only approached the coast because in want of wood and water. A Kurile who spoke Russ, and a Japanese who spoke the Kurile tongue, were Golownin's usual media of conversation. The commandant was satisfied, treated Golownin
2 2 2 4 4 2 2
No. VII.
Notices of Japan, No.
hospitably, and gave him a letter to the commandant of another Jetorop fortress, where, the anchorage being safer, wood and water might be more easily shipped. Golownin made no use of this friendly introduction, but continued for weeks to sail about amongst the islands, exploring, according to his instructions. When at length the wants he had prematurely alleged really pressed, he did not seek the Jetorop harbor recommended to him, but cast anchor in a bay of another yet more southern Kurile island, Kunashir. Here a similar misunderstanding occur- red with the commandant of an adjoining fortress, but was not so happily got over. The Japanese officer merely affected to be satisfied till he had lulled Golownin in- to security; and then, upon his landing without his usual precautions, surprised overpowered, and made prisonors of him, his officers, and his boat's crew.
The mixture of cruelty and kindness that marked their treatment astonished the Russians, but is easily intelligible to those who have made acquaintance with the Japanese character. The cruelty was deemed essential to their safe custody, and any torture contributing to such an object would be unhesitatingly, as relent- lessly, inflicted. The kindness was the genuine offspring of Japanese good-nature, ever prompt to confer favors, grant indulgences, and give pleasure, even at the cost of some personal inconvenience.
Thus the Russians were bound all over with small cords so tightly, as to render them perfectly helpless, as to induce the necessity of their meat and drink being put into their mouths: whilst their legs were allowed just sufficient liberty to enable them to walk: The ends of each man's cord were held by a soldier; and in this state they were driven over land or piled upon one another in boats, when they were to cross the sea. Their complaints that the cords cut into their flesh were totally disregarded, and though the wounds were carefully dressed every night, the cords were neither removed nor slackened; but their guards, who underwent more fatigue than themselves, were always ready to carry them when tired, and seemed to grant with pleasure the frequent requests of the compas. sionate villagers of both sexes upon their road, to be permitted to give the prison- ers a good meal: when the givers stood around, and feeding them like infants, seemed to enjoy the refreshment they afforded. The Russians were moreover constantly assured that they were only bound as Japanese prisoners of their rank would be.
They were finally conveyed to Matsmai, and there kept in prison. After a while, a good house was perpared for their accommodation, where they could be guarded with less annoyance to themselves. The use they made of this indulgence was to attempt an escape, which of course led to their being again committed to the surer custody of a prison. The continued friendship of the governor after this eva- sion, the success of which must have compelled him to the hara-kiri operation- and they were not retaken for some days-is a lively example of the good disposi- tion of the Japanese. So is the behavior of one of their guards, who, though degraded from a soldier to a prison servant, because on duty at the time of their flight, exerted himself unremittingly to procure them comforts. The great topics of Golownin's complaints in prison, where he and his companions were immediate. ly unbound, are want of food and troublesome questions; but this simply means, that the abstemious Japanese could not even conceive the appetite of a Russian sailor, and that the Europeans were above answering questions which, under reversed circumstances, they would gladly have put.
Notices of Japan, No. VII.
The Japanese government endeavored to profit by the captivity of the Russians, both to instruct and improve the interpreters in that language, and to acquire astronomical science, of which they hoped to learn more from naval officers than from merchants. Amongst the learned men sent from Yedo for this purpose was Doeff's friend, the astronomer Takahaso Sampai, who was likewise, according to the opperhoofd, a commissioner appointed to act with the governor of Matsmai.. As Golownin, who calls him Teské, and speaks of him with affection, seems unconscious of this branch of his mission, it may be suspected that even the philosopher upon that occasion played the part of metsuke, or spy.
Nearly two years from the seizure of Golownin elpased ere such a disavowal of Chwostoff and Davidoff was obtained from competent Russian authority, as would satisfy the court at Yedo. When the disavowals and explanations were at length admitted, and the prisoners allowed to reëmbark in Golownin's own ship, which had carried on the negotiation between the two empires, the cordial joy and sympathy of the Russians' Japanese friends are described as really affecting. Golownin, upon his departure, was charged with a written document, warning the Russians against further seeking an impossibility, such as permission to trade with Japan. The warning seems to have been respected, as no
subse. quent attempts with or upon the sonthern Kuriles are mentioned.
The English attempts at opening a commercial intercourse with Japan are the next and last to be narrated. The first of these was too slight to give offense, and may be briefly dispatched. Soon after Capt. Stewart's last visit to Nagasaki, another strange vessel was reported to be off the bay. She was visited by the accustomed Japanese and Dutch deputation, and announced herself as a British merchantman from Calcutta, sent thither to endeavor to open a commercial intercourse between India and Japan. The cross was omitted in her flag, in compliment to the prejudices of the latter nation. The captain's request for leave to trade was refused, and the ship ordered away.
The next British vessel that visited Japan was the Phaton. Her intrusion into the bay of Nagasaki, as has been explained, had no connexion with views of traffic; but its unfortunate result left a hatred of the English name rankling in the hearts of the Japanese, very unpropitious to subsequent amicable or mer cantile relations. Various additional measures of precaution were ordered, of which the demand of hostages from every strange sail prior to her entering the bay, as mentioned by Siebold, is one.
The British merchants made no second effort to trade with Japan; but in the year 1811, Batavia was attacked by an English armament, and governor Jansens capitulated for Java and all its dependencies. One of these dependencies the factory at Dezima undoubtedly was, the president, as well as the inferior officers and members, having always been appointed and sent thither by the governor of Batavia for the time being, with whom the opperhoofd corresponded, and to whose authority he was always subject. The English governor of Java, sir Stamford Raffles, naturally considered the Japanese factory as part of his government, and in the year 1813, proceeded to enforce his authority in that quarter, and thus effect the transfer of the factory and the trade to England. The measures he took for this purpose were the quietest possible; he dispatched two ships, as the annual traders, having on board a new Dutch opperhoofd-now British by allegiance-. Heer Cassa, to relieve president Doeff, who had already held his office more
Notices of Japan, No. VII.
then double the usual time, and two commissioners-one Dutch, Doeff's pre- decessor and patron, Wardenaar; the other English, Dr. Ainslie-to examine and settle the affairs of the factory.
To the Japanese, these ships upon being visited appeared simply two more Americans, hired by the Dutch; and although to the factory deputation there seemed a something mysterious about them, it was not till Wardenaar landed and explained to the president and the warehouse-master that Holland was no more, the European provinces being incorporated with France, and the foreign colonies surrendered to England, that the state of the case was understood. Neither, in- deed, was it properly understood then, for the first of the facts stated Heer Doeff refused to believe, and consequently to acknowledge English authority.
The question between sir Stamford Raffles and Heer Doeff, who was assuredly bound by the act of his superior, governor Jansens, is perhaps somewhat com- plicated by the English governor, like the Russian embassador, not having lived to know the charges brought against him. It is one not to be investigated without the examination of official documents, and even then the discussion would be mis- placed here, being irrelevant to the peculiarities and nationality of the Japanese. It may suffice to point out the improbability of Heer Doeff's statement, that not only no proofs were given him of the facts alleged, but that none were even sent the following year, although he had grounded his disobedience upon the want of such proofs-even of European newspapers.
Be this as it may, Heer Doeff resolved to remain opperhoofd, keeping the factory Dutch, and the trade in his own hands. The animosity against the Eng- lish, originating in the suicides occasioned by the adventure of the Photon, placed power in his hands, and he used it skillfully for his own purposes. He was obliged, however, to seek the aid of the interpreters, as in all underhand proceedings.
Heer Docff invited the five chief interpreters to Dezima, and in Wardenaar's presence communicated to them that gentleman's statements, his own disbelief of all beyond the conquest of Java by the English, and the fact that the ships then in the harbor were English. The Japanese were confounded at the idea of public vicissitudes foreign to their experience, and terrified at the weight of responsibility impending over the authorities of Nagasaki, who had again been duped into suffering the intrusion of English vessels. Willingly, therefore, did they agree to the scheme by which Doeff proposed to avert such consequences. This was to suppress the whole history of the conquest, and to state that a suc- cessor had been sent him, in case the Japanese should object to the further pro. longation of his already unwontedly prolonged presidentship; but that the go- vernor of Batavia wished, if not disagreeable to the governor of Nagasaki, to continue him yet a while as opperhoofd, that he might profit by a few years of trade, after so many blank seasons. This arranged, Doeff proposed to buy the cargoes of the ships, negotiate their sale and the purchase of return cargoes on his own account with the Japanese, and finally sell the latter to the English
commissioners.
The strong representations made by Doeff and the interpreters of the hatred entertained by the Japanese towards the English, of the conflict and bloodshed that must ensue upon revealing the truth, evils they had not been sent there to provoke, induced the intended president, the commissioners, and the captains of the vessels, to submit to Doeff's terms. The stratagem succeeded; the vessels
VOL. X. NO, III.
Notices of Japan, No. VII.
passed for Americans in the Dutch service, and Doeff remained Dutch president, Dezima alone in the whole world then being in fact Dutch.
Dr. Ainslie, who now visited in Nagasaki, according to Doeff, as an American physician, appears, from the very slight report of his mission given in sir Stam- ford Raffles' Memoir, to have experienced great kindness and hospitality, and to have been much pleased with the Japanese character, especially with the treat- ment of women, and the elegant manners of the ladies. It is to be observed that this report gives the impression of Dr. Ainslie's having been known as an Eng. lishman. Indeed, he positively states that the Japanese spoke to him of his coun- trymen with respect, averring their conviction that the English would never play a second act of the Russian embassy. But, as before said, this is not the place for discussing the question as mooted between sir S. Raffles and president Doeff; and the subject may be dismissed with the wish, that the publication of the Recollections of the latter may induce some one who possesses, or has access to the requisite knowledge of the facts to give a British statement of them to the world.
In 1814, Heer Cassa again appeared at Dezima as appointed opperhoofd, bring- ing tidings of the great events of 1813 in Europe, especially of the Dutch insur- rection in behalf of the House of Orange, and the consequent prospect of the immediate restoration of the Dutch colonies by England. Sir S. Raffles and Heer Cassa probably expected that this information would remove all Heer Doeff's patriotic objections to follow the fate of his lawful superior, governor Jansens, and obey orders from Batavia, as of old. But Doeff still professed dis- belief, and recurring to the measures of the preceding year, inforced compliance by the same threats then employed. He was now energetically aided by the interpreters, whose lives would be forfeited should their previous complicity be discovered.
This year, however, Heer Cassa was less unprepared for the conflict-he counter-manœuvred; and had he engaged no lady-domestics from the tea-houses, might possibly have triumphed. He gained over two of the confidential inter. preters, and negotiated through them, not the disclosure replete with danger to all, but the procuring from the court of Yedo a refusal of Doeff's request for leave to remain. But some of the women in Cassa's service were Doeff's spies; from them he learned what was going forward, and by threatening the interpreters to lay the whole truth, at all hazards, before the governor of Nagasaki, he car. ried his point, and again sent away his appointed successor. Sir S. Raffles did not apparently think it worth while, under the circumstances, to renew the at- tempt. He sent no more ships; and as some time elpased ere a Dutch govern- ment was reestablished and in full action in Java, Heer Doeff paid the price of his triumph in another interval of years without trade, emoluments, or European comforts. It was not till 1817 that Dutch vessels brought him a Dutch appointed successor, Heer Blomhoff.
All that need be added, upon the subject of these attempts, is, that Japan now possesses interpreters understanding English and Russian as well as Dutch, and that, since the year 1830, these interpreters are according to Siebold, stationed at different points all round the external coast, in preparation for the possible approach of any strange ship. It seems something singular that in Dr. Parker's account of his repulse in 1837, these interpreters are not mentioned; unless we are to suppose that they might be present, but finding Mr. Gutzlaff perform their
Notices of Japan, No. VIL
part, thought it well to conceal their own knowledge of English. If this were so, they might thus discover the missionary scheme, and hence the virulence of the hostile attack, without the vessel having been first ordered away-the usual course.*
Dr. Siebold speaks of squabbles in his time with English whalers, which neces- sarily or unnecessarily violated the Japanese harbors. Yet as it appears that some of these very offending whalers have since been supplied with wood and water, it may be hoped that the bitterness of animosity to England has subsided, unless revived by Dr. Parker's missionary views, as it must still and ever be difficult for the Japanese to distinguish between English and Americans.t
* [The account already given of this voyage in a previous volume (see vol. VI., page 353) obviates the need of any further remarks here as to its objects and doings, but when that article and Dr. Parker's Narrative were both before the writer of this paper, we think the character and intentions of the voyage might have been more fairly stated. It was not a missionary, but a commercial, voyage; and the medical services of the physician with the aid of interpreters, and the bringing back of shipwrecked natives, were made use of to obtain, if possible, an interview with the Japanese authorities, and learn their present feelings regarding a trade. It is indeed something singular, that if the interpreters mentioned by Siebold are stationed along the coast none came on board the Morrison, and the difficulty is most easily removed by concluding that there are none; for how are they to obtain the knowledge of Russian and English, two most difficult languages for foreigners to learn to speak, even with living teachers, while shut up in their own land and having never seen an Englishman, and very seldom a Russian? Even if there are such interpreters, they would have found great difficulty in discovering a 'missionary scheme' which had no existence. In the bay of Yedo, the vessel was fired upon before she came to anchor, or even her national flag could be seen or known; and at Kagosima, she was told that at Nagasaki, there were proper au thorities with whom she could treat; and the probable reason of her being fired at was from misunderstanding her intentions in laying at anchor after the officers had declined to receive the men. These very officers expressed the most lively sympathy for their unfortunate countrymen, and regretted that they were for. bidden to receive them.]
[If the Japanese government so sedulously guard their coasts from the ap proach of foreign ships, and forbid their people from going abroad, the winds which prevail on their coasts are constantly driving their vessels out to sea, and scattering the natives over the face of the earth, thus bringing them in contact with other nations. Last month we had occasion to mention the arrival in Ma- cao of three tempest-tost mariners picked up in the Pacific; and a ship from the Sandwich Islands this month brings an account of the arrival there of seven taken off a wreck in lat. 34° N., and long. 174° E., on the 6th of June, 1840, by captain Cathcart of the whale ship James Loper; this happened only three days before the rescue of the three men by captain Codman, the two junks being about 200 miles from each other. The seven men were sent to Kamtschatka. In Decem- ber, 1832, a Japanese junk anchored in the harbor of Waialua in Oahu, which had drifted about in the Pacific almost a year; it had on board only three men, who, after remaining at Honolulu for eighteen months were also sent to Kam tschatka. Besides these two instances, there are the two mentioned in vol. VI. of the Repository, page 209. In 1836, six Japanese were brought to Canton, by the Chinese authorities, who had been wrecked on the island of Hainan; and in 1838, four more were brought to Canton, who were supposed to be Lewchewans. The case mentioned by Siebold in No I. of this series of papers (see vol. IX, page 121,) is another that had like to have proved fatal. The men brought in the Argyle say that two junks left their village last year, which were never heard of after- wards. K'aproth, too, derived much of his knowledge of Japan from shipwrecked men, whom the Russians took up; and we cannot doubt that many more vessels are driven off from the coast which founder, or are never more heard of.]
Illustrations of Men and Things in China. MARCH,
ART. III. Illustrations of men and things in China: mode of
making walls and walks; a lampoon; a worshiper.
Mode of making walls and walks. The Chinese have a substitute for stone or brick pavements, called by foreigners chunam, derivep from an Indian word meaning lime, from the use of lime in its com- position, and which they call sha hwuy, or 'sanded lime.' It is made by mixing sifted sand with quicklime in the proportion of about 15 to 1, and thoroughly working them together with a hoe, occasionally sprinkling the heap. It is then thinly spread upon the ground, and beat very solid with a kind of wooden peels, now and then wetting the place to assist the solidification. The materials for walls are the same, but the gravel is rather coarser. In constructing a wall, boards are set within posts on each side of the foundation just the thickness of the intended wall, and the prepared gravel poured in and pounded down solid with long heavy beaters.
heavy beaters. When full to the top of the boards, additional ones are placed above them, and the process repeated, till by successive increments the wall is done. When thoroughly dry, it is coated with coarse plaster for preservation from rain, and if the coating is well done, the wall becomes in time very hard and stony. Besides the usual mode of laying brick to make the walls of dwellings, either plastered or not, houses are also con- structed in the same manner of this sanded lime; but more commonly tiers of bricks are loosely laid in to render it more substantial, and the whole covered with plaster, and whitewashed.
In places where burned bricks are expensive, the people have devised a substitute, viz., large blocks made of disintegrated felspar and lime. Localities often occur in the granitic strata in this region where the felspar predominates, and, by exposure, has disinte- grated and fallen down in the form of coarse clay. The workman brings his tools to the place, consisting of a sliding wooden form of the size of his intended bricks, and a long beater. He turns
He turns up the clayey felspar, and mixing more or less lime with it as he sees fit, pours the same into the mold, and pounds it in as solid as possible then opening the frame, he dries the mass in the sun. These blocks. are about 14 inches long by 6 square, and sell for $3 to $3≥ a hun- dred. Almost all the houses on the island of Hongkong are built of this material, which in dry situations answers well enough to sustain, a roof, and shelter the inmates from wind and rain; but when a freshet
Illustrations of Men and Things in China.
flows into a village of such dwellings, it soon causes them to be dissolved, an event by no means unknown in some seasons.
A lampoon. The following satirical piece was written and circulat- ed soon after the riot in Canton, Dec. 12th, 1838, to which the ninth and tenth lines refer. The two persons named in the third and fourth lines were notorious opium dealers, and while holding office were sup- posed to be screened by gov. Tăng, who, from them and others.of the inferior magistracy, is charged with having received three tens and six,' or 36,000 taels per month for the use of the revenue cutters for
purposes of smuggling. It is a pretty close translation.
In truth, there's no luck at all in Canton,
For Tingching in governor's hall is found,—
Who, of Cheih Shakwang, is the well known patron,
And Ta Luhchuh by him rose from the ground. The boats of Two Kwang are privily let,
For a monthly sop of three tens and six. Poor Ho Laoukin! he strangled him to death, Because his cash and coin could not suffice;-- How was the cross all broken down and lost, And the curtained tent quite overset and tost! He put a tell-tale cangue on Punhoyqua, And squeezed the pelf from uncle Howqua. He scared poor Fung Sühchang almost to death, And Lew Shoolŭh had well nigh lost his breath. If we hope for halcyon days of peace to come, Unbutton and dismiss this infamous Tăng ; For if he stays three years in power,
Canton will be just like one hot cauldron.
A worshiper. I was walking one day in the environs of Honan, when I came across two respectable elderly matrons worshiping be- fore a small shrine, which, from all appearances, they had themselves placed there among the graves by the wayside. No image was visi- ble, but my attention was arrested by the inscription over the shrine, kew tseih tih e, freely rendered by, ‘Ask and ye shall receive.' One of the women was kneeling on the grass, and devoutly praying, while her companion was making ready the paper to burn before the deity. In the streets of Canton, altars are erected, and before some of them, six, ten, twelve, and more, women, are sometimes seen worshiping, lighting incense sticks, kneeling, and endeavoring by repeated throws of the keën pei, or divining blocks, to ascertain the answer to their prayers. This worship in the streets is not deemed indecorous, nor does it appear to be done by them to be seen of men.
Rewards for British ships.
ART. IV. Rewards for British ships and. British subjects, offered by Eleäng, the lieutenant governor of Canton, in a procla- mation, dated February 27th, 1841.
BOUNTIES have again been offered for British subjects and British ships. Early in the summer of 1840, about the time the expedition arrived in China, the governor of this province issued a proclamation promising large rewards for the capture of Enghish vessels, and for the seizure of British subjects. One or two seizures were made, but no notice seems to have been taken of the proclamation by those against whom it was designed to operate. This second document holds out the promise of still larger rewards, and is apparently attract- ing no more notice than the first It is issued, however, under cir‐ cumstances which fix a very foul stain on the character of the pro- vincial government-none the less foul, because it may have been occasioned by the spirit and letter of the emperor's own commands. The document is chiefly deserving of notice on occount of the exhi- bition it makes of that bad spirit which is so characteristic of the Chinese government, especially in its relation to foreign countries. It was resolved upon, drawn ́üp, and made known in private circles, while ostensibly amicable negotiations were going on with those who were to be its victims-dead or alive. It is not simply a declaration of war, it is a call for hostilities in their worst forms. The emperor's edicts, given at Peking on the 27th January, show unequivocally what line of policy had been fixed upon by the imperial counsels. "There can only remain one course," says the emperor, viz., "to destroy and wipe them clean away, to exterminate and root them out, without remorse." Accordingly he instructs his high officers "to compel these rebellious foreigners to give up their ringleaders, that they may be sent encaged to Peking, to receive the utmost retri- bution of the laws;" i. e. to be cut into ten thousand pieces, to under- go death in the most ignominious and cruel manner.
Before introducing the proclamation, which we borrow from the Canton Register, a few things must be remarked concerning his ex- cellency, the lieutenant-governor, by whom it is issued. E, or Eleäng, is a Mantchou, and is said to be (as is evidently the case) much under the influence of Lin, to whose measures he adheres, and by whose policy he is guided. His proclamation of rewards is a mere second edition of that issued by Lin. Indeed, since Liu's de
Rewards for British Ships.
gradation, Eleäng has been the principal local agent in hastening on that collision which has been so disastrous to the military and naval forces and defenses of this province. To the rational and very pacific policy advanced by the imperial commissioner Keshen, he has been violently opposed, and very likely chief actor in causing his removal and recall to Peking. It is said, and on good authority, that he has charged Keshen with having received bribes from the British plenipotentiary! It is said also, that he compelled Keshen, before giving up the seals of governor, which he was temporarily holding, to affix them to this infamous proclamation,-which he him- self had issued, Keshen having declined taking any part in getting
that paper. The following is the translation.
E, lieutenant-governor, &c,, issues the following scale of rewards.
1.-If the native traitors can repent of their crimes and quit the service of the (English) foreigners, come before the magistrates and confess, their offenses will be forgiven; and those who are able to seize alive the rebellious foreigners, and bring them before the magistrates, as well as those who offer up the foreigner's heads, will be severally rewarded according to the following scale.
2.-On the capture of one of the line-of-battle ships, the ship and guns will be confiscated, but all that the ship contains, as clothes, goods and money, shall be the reward of the captors, with an additional reward of $100,000; those who burn, or break to prices, or bore holes through a line-of-battle ship's bottom, so that she sinks, upon the facts being substantiated, shall be rewarded with $30,000; for ships of the second and third class the rewards will be proportionably decreased.
3.-The capture of one of the large steamers shall be rewarded with $50,000, for the smaller, one half.
Those among the brave who are foremost in seizing men and ships, and who distinguish themselves by their daring courage, besides receiving the above pecuniary rewards, shall have buttons (official rank) conferred on them, and be reported for appointments in the public service.
4.-Fifty thousand dollars shall given to those who seize either Elliot, Mor- rison, or Bremer, alive; and those who bring either of their heads-on the facts being ascertained-shall get $30,000.
5.-Ten thousand dollars shall given to those who seize an officer alive, and $5000 for each officer's head.
6. Five hundred dollars shall be given for every Englishman seized alive; if any are killed and their heads brought in, three hundred dollars will be given.
7.-One hundred dollars will be given for every sipahe or lascar taken alive, and fifty for their heads.
8.-Those among you who, in their efforts to seize the English rebels, may lose their lives, on examination and proof of the facts, a reward of three hundred dollars shall be given to your families.
The foreigners of every other country are respectful and obedient, and do not like the English cause commotions; it is not permitted to seize and annoy them-thus will the good and virtuous remain in tranquillity. (February 27.) ·
Progress of the War.
ART. V. Progress of the war; battle of the Bogue and destruc- tion of the forts there and on the river up to Canton; armistice and arrangements for trade agreed on.
In our last number, we briefly summed up the proceedings of the expedition to China, from the time of its arrival on the coasts in June last, to the breaking off of negotiations, resumption of hostilities, and taking of the Bogue forts, on the 26th of Feb. The details of the battle at the Bogue we were then unable to give. That omission we now supply, by insertion of the following extract from a commu- nication made to our cotemporary of the Canton Press. After parti- cularizing the opening of hostilities, on the expiry of the time allowed for the conclusion by Keshen of the treaty arranged with him,—our cotemporary's correspondent thus proceeds: in his narrative, we have ventured to make a few changes and omissions.
Owing to the calmness of the weather, the progress of the fleet was very tedious; the steamers here came into requisition, and the forces now assem- bled consisted of the following vessels :-Calliope, Samarang, Herald, Al- ligator, Sulphur, and steamer Nemesis, forming the advanced squadron, which arrived at the Bogue on the 19th; the Wellesley, Blenheim, Melville, Druid, Modeste, and steamers Queen and Madagascar, which arrived be- tween the 23d and 25th, with the transports Sophia, Minerva, Thetis, Eagle. During the whole of the 25th, the note of preparation for the approach- ing struggle was sounded through the fleet. In the forenoon a landing was effected on South Wangtong, of three howitzers, and about 150 men of the 37th M. N. 1., with parties of the royal and Madras Artillery, under the superintendence of sir Le Fleming Senhouse. The landing was re- markably well managed; the Nemesis, having towed the troop-boats ashore, took up a snug berth, nearly shut in from the fire of Anunghoy and the fort on the western side of the river, backed out, and gave it to Anunghoy with her bow-gun, and to the western fort with her stern. Some of the shot from these forts fell pretty near her; from North Wangtong the Chinese could make nothing of it, their shot falling a long way outside of her. The position taken by the landing party was perfectly covered from the fire of the Chi- nese. It is singular, that with all the care with which they appear to have fortified and protected North Wangtong, they should not have seen how easily a landing could be effected on South Wangtong, without being exposed to their fire. This was a fatal mistake, for it gave us a position that com- manded their stronghold of North Wangtong.
"At daylight on the morning of the memorable 26th, the three howitzers opened from the sandbag battery, raised during the night by our men on South Wangtong-upon the Chinese fortifications on the northern island. The firing was kept up with spirit, and the shells told with great precision, for the buildings and wooden huts, under the walls of the custom-house fort, were perceived to be on fire, and were soon demolished. The shells, and rockets must have made considerable havoc in a large encampment, stretch- ing from the fort on the west end of the island, behind the round fort on
"Progress of the War.
the hill, towards the upper custom-house fort.* The whole defenses of North Wangtong were very strong, and exceedingly well covered and protected by Band-bag battaries, most regularly and neatly made, and had they been brave- ly served, would have cost a severe struggle, and the blood of many a gallant fellow, before them.
"It was arranged that a combined and simultaneous attack should be made on all the Bogue forts, shortly after daylight on the morning of the 26th, but owing to its falling calm, with a strong ebb-tide, it was found im- practicable, some of the ships that weighed being obliged to bring to again, and wait for the flood-tide to serve. About 11 o'clock a. m. the Blenheim was seen under weigh, bearing down for the great Anunghoy fort, accompanied by the Queen steamer, with three rocket boats, keeping a little away into Anson's bay, and followed by the Melville about one mile distant. The ships for the attack of Wangtong were also on the move. It was nearly calin, and the ships dropped down very slowly the suspense became oppressive; it was with breathless interest we watched the majestic gliding of the ships slowly to their work of destruction; not a sound breaking the ominous stillness that hung over the waters. The hills above Anunghoy, and stretching far away inland, were covered with large bodies of the enemy, posted at commanding points, covered by sand-bag batterics. On the opposite side of the river, along the ridge of the Tanan hills, the enemy also were seen in great strength. "The Queen steainer commenced the action, firing the first shot. The Chinese replied promptly from the strong sand-batteries lately raised towards Anson's bay, and the lower Anunghoy fort. The Blenheim coolly dropped down, without returning a shot to the brisk fire opened on her, till within 600 yards of Anunghoy, when she brought to, clewed all up, and opened her broadside. The Melville followed about 10 minutes later in the same gallant style, and took up an admirable position about 400 yards off the fort, a short way ahead of the Blenheim. Like the Blenheim she did not fire a shot till she had brought to, then she gave her starboard broadside in quick succes, sion. Her firing was splendid, and did considerable damage to the fort. The Blenheim's fire was directed more against the sand batteries than against · the people at the guns in the fort. The practice of the Queen and the rocket-boats deserves the greatest praise. During the heat of the action, a boat broke adrift from the Melville, and drifted close in under the guns of Anunghoy. A boat was dispatched to bring her back, which was effected in cool and gallant style without loss. After a few broadsides, the dragon hearted Tartars were seen flying out of the fort in great numbers, up the hill at the back of it, and around its base towards Anson's bay. Sir Le F. Senhouse then landed with about 300 men, consisting of the Blenheim and Melville's marines and blue jackets, and carried the forts, sweeping them clean from one end to the other. The British jack was hoisted, and the famed Anunghoy forts were in our possession at half-past one o'clock. The loss of the Chinese at this point was not so severe as one would have thought from the heavy broadsides of the 74s. They only lost about 20 killed, amongst whom were two officers, one of whom was a fine stout elderly man, lying near the officer-house, situated in the centre of the lower Anunghoy fort, with a bayonet wound in the right breast. By some he was supposed to be Kwan; one or two low officers were taken prisoners, but, after being taken
* To render clear what is here meant, it should be observed that North Wang- tong was strongly protected by a double fortification on the eastern side, near which was the custom-house, by a good and new battery, à fleur d'eau on the west side, commanded by a little old crumbling hill fort, and by recently erected batteries of earth and sand, on the northern and southern sides. In the centre of all these was the encampment referred to,
VOL. X. NO, III,
Progress of the War.
on board of the ships, were let go. On our side not a single casualty oc- curred. The rigging and spars of the ships were a good deal cut up, a few shot also hulled them. Two hundred and five guns were taken, spiked, and destroyed. It is almost incredible, considering the heavy fire maintained by the forts on these vessels, that they should have escaped without losing a
"Whilst the Blenheim and Melville were engaging Anunghoy, on the eastern side, the Calliope proceeded up the other channel, on the western side of Wangtong (or Thwart-the-way) island, and opened the action at North Wangtong, closely followed by the Samarang, Herald, Alligator, the advanced squadron being directed to take up a position, north of the island- while the Wellesley, Druid, and Modeste attacked the western defenses. The continued firing of the fleet and forts, produced a roar, echoed back by the neighboring hills, like incessant peals of thunder, perfectly awful, and formed the grandest spectacle of this memorable day! About 12 o'clock the Chi- nese fire on Wangtong slackened, and the Nemesis was seen towing the troops to the landing place, close to the fort on the western end of North Wangtong. The landing was soon effected, the gallant major Pratt leading, with detachments of the 26th and 49th, in two boats, under major Johnson, closely followed by the marines under captain Ellis, the 37th M. N. 1. under captain Duff, and the Bengal Volunteers under captain Mee. The force pushed rapidly up the ascent, passing in the rear of the first battery, and to the top of a steep hill. The fort here was expected to cost us a severe struggle and great loss to take, which it certainly would have done, had it been held by brave men. It was carried in splendid style, major Johnson, closely fol- lowed by captain Moorhead, leading the escalading party. The Chinese were driven out with considerable slaughter, and fled down the hill toward the custom-house fort, closely pressed by our force. It was an animating and cheering sight to see our brave fellows pursuing the enemy; but it was with feelings not unaccompanied by pity that I saw the poor flying wretches shot down. The whole of our force now pressed quickly on to the custom-house fort, and formed under the walls, opening a sharp fire of musketry on them. A few minutes more saw the British flag hoisted on the lower custom-house fort, which was greeted with cheers from the transports. Thus Wangtong was in our possession. The detachment for the service of the engineer department was furnished by the seamen of H. M. S. Wellesley, under com- mand of lieut. Birdwood, Madras engineer.
"The loss of the Chinese on North Wangtong amounted to about 250 kill- ed and 100 wounded; above 1000 were made prisoners in the custom-house fort, all of them excepting about 100, who were kept to bury the dead, were landed and set at liberty on the western side of the river.
"Whilst the vessels were dropping down to engage the forts, 4 boats were observed to leave the island, and stand away for Tiger island, the Chinese from the upper custom-house fort opening a fire upon them, but without effect. It was afterwards ascertained, that these boats contained most of the officers and their immediate followers, who fled panic-struck the moment they saw our ships under weigh, taking, it has been supposed, the base and cruel pre- caution of barring the gates, to prevent their countrymen from following their example.
"About 4 o'clock in the afternoon the Nemesis, having in tow several boats filled with the Wellesley's marines, proceeded to occupy the fort on the western shore under the Tanan hills. This fort had been previously silenc- ed by the admirable firing of the Wellesley. The troops effected a landing without difficulty, the Nemesis throwing an occasional shot or two to keep the Chinese in play. The force proceeded up the hills and dispersed the Chi-
Progress of the War.
nese, and destroyed and fired their encampments. The fire blazed long after dark, and formed a grand closing spectacle to this eventful day's work. The blaze must have been seen for miles off, and told the sad tale to the Chinese of the fall of the Bogue forts. It burned in a circle of nearly two miles, cast- ing a strong glare over the heavens and waters of the Bogue, forming, as it were, a vast illumination in commemoration of our triumph over the back- haired race of Han! I did not hear the number of Chinese killed in this fort
stated; they lost 30 guns. All the fortifications, those on Wangtong ex- cepted, are now being dismantled and leveled.”
On the morning of the 27th, the advanced squadron, under captain Herbert, consisting at this time of the Calliope, Herald, Alligator, Sulphur, and Modeste, (the Samarang having been sent to lie in Macao Roads, where the Hyacinth had previously remained,) pro- ceeded up the river, with the steamers Nemesis and Madagascar. In the evening was issued the following.
Circular to Her Majesty's Subjects.
A Chinese force of upwards of 2000 troops of élite (strongly intrenched on the left bank of the river at this point, and defended by upwards of 100 pieces of artillery), was entirely routed this afternoon, after an obstinate resistance, at- tended with great loss of life. The cannons were rendered unserviceable, the encampment and ammunition destroyed, and the late British ship Cambridge blown up, she having previously taken part in the action from a position close to the opposite side of a raft reaching across the river from the west of the intrench- ed camp. This signal service was achieved by an advanced squadron, consisting of the vessels named in the margin, under the command of captain Herbert of H. M.'s. ship Calliope. The casualties on the side of H. M.'s forces have been in- considerable, but are not yet accurately ascertained.
H. M.'s ship Calliope, at anchor off Brunswick Rock,
Whampoa Reach, 27th February, 1841, 9 P. M.
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M.'s Plenipotentiary. Vessels engaged: Calliope, Herald, Alligator, Modeste, Nemesis, Madagascar.
We have been informed, by an eye-witness, that two of the Chi- nese officers fell on the bayonet of the marines. When driven to the rear of their intrenched camp, some of the soldiers stood like men, fighting hand to hand. About 200 fell; and it was supposed that the chief officer in command was among that number, he having recently arrived from Hoonan. The steamers received a few shot, one grazing the top of the steam condenser of the Nemesis.
On Monday, 1st March, the raft that had been built across the river near the above-named fort, was taken away, and the ships pro- ceeded. The taking of the next fort was thus announced.
Circular to Her Majesty's Subjects.
Whampoa Reach, 3d March, 1841. A masked battery (situated on the N. E. end of Whampoa island) fired upon H. M.'s ship Sulphur and a division of boats yesterday morning, and was gallantly carried by the boats' crews. The advanced squadron, consisting of the ships mentioned in the margin, is at anchor off Howqua's Folly, and that place is oc- cupied by H. M.'s forces. H. M.'s plenipotentiary was this day visited by the Kwangchow foo, under a flag of truce, and there is a suspension of hostilities.
CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M.'s Plenipotentiary. Ships in advance: Herald, Alligator, Sulphur, Modeste, and two sail of trans- ports.
(Signed)
About twenty Chinese were killed here, and twenty-three guns destroyed. The Pylades from Chusan, Starling, transports, &c., joined the advanced squadron in the afternoon.
Progress of the War.
Sir Hugh Gough, major-general and commander-in-chief of the land forces, arrived on the 2d.
The several circulars and notices which follow bring down the narrative to the close of the month.
Circular to Her Britannic Majesty's Subjects.
The armistice granted to the enemy having expired yesterday morning, at 11 ▲. ., the works in immediate advance of Howqua's Fort were occupied. The ac- companying proclamation was then issued to the people of Canton.
CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M.'s Plenipotentiary.
(Signed)
"On board H. M. S. Calliope, Whampoa Reach, 7th March, 1841.
"By Charles Elliot, Esq., &c., H. M. Plenipotentiary in China,—a Preclamation. "PEOPLE Of Canton I
"Your city is spared, because the gracious sovereign of Great Britain has com- manded the high English officers to remember, that the good and peaceful people must be tenderly considered. But if the high officers of the celestial court offer the least obstruction to the British forces in their present stations, then it will become necessary to answer force by force, and the city may suffer terrible injury. And if the merchants be prevented from buying and selling freely with the British and foreign merchants, then the whole trade of Canton must immediately be stopped. The high officers of the English nation, have faithfully used their best efforts to prevent the miseries of war: and the responsibility of the actual state of things must rest upone beads of the bad advisers of the emperor. Further evil consequences can only be prevented by wisdom and moderation on the part of the provincial government.
"Dated off the fort of shamee, near to Canton, the 6th day of March, 1841."
Circular.
Macao, 10th March, 1841. A report has this day reached the undersigned to the effect that the authorities at Canton have granted pilot chops to ships other than British to proceed to Whampoa. The port of Canton, from its entrances to the opposite extreme, be- ing in the military occupation of her majesty's arms, there is no reason to believe that his excellency the commander-in-chief of the naval forces will under present circumstances admit the efficacy of passports or papers granted by the Chinese government; the undersigned, therefore, apprehensive that disappointment may be created, considers it right to give notice that it is highly improbable that ships will be allowed permission to enter the river under any authority other than that of the commander-in-chief. It should also be stated, that a close embargo will very shortly be laid on the city and trade of Canton, unless and until the whole foreign trade proceeds upon a perfectly equal footing.
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M.'s Plenipotentiary.
Public Notice.
Macao, 13th March, 1841.
At the request of his excellency the naval commander-in-chief, notice is hereby given that British and foreign merchant ships will not be permitted to proceed higher than North Wangtong until further notice.
By order of H. M.'s plenipotentiary, Edward Elmsli¤, Sec., &c.
Circular to Her Majesty's Subjects.
H. M. S. Calliope, Whampoa Reach, 15th March, 1841. The fort in the Macao passsage near Canton, which had been considerably strengthened and supported by flanking field works, was carried on the evening of the 13th inst., by the force mentioned in the margin, under the command of cap. tain Herbert, of H. M. ship Calliope; the enemy manifesting more spirit than has been observable since the affair of the 27th ulto. The fort has been since garrison. ed and the Modeste is at that point. On the morning of the same day, the Nemesis with the boats and marines of H. M. ship Samarang, and a boat from the H. C.'s steam ship Atalanta, proceeded from Macao towards Canton by the Inner Pas. sage. Seven small works or batteries have been carried, 105 pieces of cannon des- troyed, and 9 sail of men-of-war junks blown up, between Macao and Tszenai; the
Progress of the War.
chop-house at the last place was burnt down. The briefest notice of this service would be unsuitable, which failed to mention the admirable steadiness and ability displayed by Mr. William H. Hall, R. N., commander of the Nemesis, in the navigation of that extraordinary vessel. She was moved onwards for some suc- ceeding miles in her own depth of water, and with the breadth of the river so near her own length, that it became necessary on several occasions, to force her bow into the bank and bushes on one side to clear her heel of the dry ground on the opposite. Formidable obstructions to the navigation were removed by the steam- er with characteristic energy.
EDWARD ELMSLIE, Secretary, &c.
By order.
(Signed)
H. M. ships Modeste, Starling, and the H. Co.'s steamer Madagascar: boats of H. M. ships Blonde, Conway, Herald, Alligator, Hyacinth, Nimrod, Pylades, and Cruizer.
Circular to Her Majesty's Subjects.
H. M. cutter Louisa, at anchor off Canton, 19th March, 1841. A flag of truce having been fired upon from a work on the left bank of the Ma- cao Passage, near this city, on the 16th inst., captain Herbert, in command of the squadron in advance moved forward the ships and vessels named in the margin (Modeste, Algerine, Starling, Hebe, Louisa, Nemesis, Madagascar, boats of H. M. ships, Calliope, Blonde, Conway, Herald, Alligator, Sulphur, Hyacinth, Pylades, Nimrod, Cruizer, and Columbine), and a flotilla of boats under the com- mand of captain Bourchier of H. M. ship Blonde, formed into 3 divisions under the immediate charge of commanders Barlow and Clarke and lieutenant Coul- son of the Blonde, captain Bethune of H. M. ship Conway seconding and assisting capt. Bourchier in the general direction of this branch of the service. H. M. S. Hyacinth and a division of boats under the command of commander Belcher, seconded by commander Warren, were placed at the south entrance of a branch of the river re-communicating with the main stream at Fatee; this movement being made with the purpose to cut off the retreat of a numerous flotilla which had taken part in the aggression of the 16th inst. The necessary arrangements having been completed, the whole force was moved forward simultaneously yes- terday at about noon, carrying in the course of two hours all the works in im- mediate advance, and before the city (the Dutch Folly inclusive), and taking, sinking, or destroying the enemy's flotilla. The Chinese defended themselves with constancy at the main point of attack, notwithstanding the excellent fire of H. M. S. Modeste and the other attacking vessels, some of the people standing to their guns till they were dislodged by the musketry from the seamen and marines. H. M: S. Herald, brought over the flats by dint of great care and exertion, entered the reach during the engagement, and the appearance of such a reserve no doubt contributed to the success of the day. These important and admirably conducted operations have placed Canton under the guns of the squad- ron, and the vessels remain at an anchorage commanding all approaches to the city, from the southern and western branches of the river. The casualties on the side of H. M. forces have been inconsiderable.
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary.
Circular to Her Majesty's Subjects.
Canton, Hall of the British Factory, 20th March, 1841. A suspension of hostilities at Canton in this province has this day been agreed upon between the imperial commissioner Yang and the undersigned. It has further been publicly proclaimed to the people under the seals of the commis sioner and of the acting governor of the province, that the trade of the port of Cantoh is open, and that British and other foreign merchants who may see fit to proceed there for, the purposes of lawful commerce shall be duly protected. No bond will be required by the provincial government, but there will be no objection on the part of the British authorities to the like liabilities for the in. troduction of prohibited merchandize, or smuggling (duly proved), which would follow such offenses in England, detention of the person or penal consequences of all kind excepted. Pending the final settlement of affairs between the two countries, the undersigned has consented to the payment of the usual port charges and other established duties. Ships of war will remain in the near
Progress of the War.
neighborhood of the factories for the better protection of Her Majesty's sub- jects engaged in trade at Canton.
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary.
Public Notice.
Notice is hereby given that British and foreign merchant vessels have permis- sion to proceed to Whampoa, all consequences arising from the possible and sud- den resumption of hostilities of course remaining at the risk of the parties. Given on board the Wellesley off Wangtong, 21st March, 1841.
(Signed) J. J. Gordon Bremer, Commodore 1st Class, Commander-in-chief.
Proclamation to the people of Canton.
Yang, joint imperial commissioner, a noble of the second order, &c., and E, acting governor of the Two Kwang, &c.,-hereby issue a proclamation, to carry on commercial intercourse as usual, and peacefully to pursue ordinary avocations. Whereas, upon the 19th of the present month, the English plenipotentiary officially represented, that it was his desire to maintain peace, and he demanded nothing else, but only immediate permission for the trade to be carried on, as usual: and whereas the commercial intercourse enjoyed by various countries is owing to the good pleasure of the celestial court that all should cherish ten- derly men from afar: therefore, the English plenipotentiary having so repre- sented, that he demands nothing else but trade only; and the merchant ships of America and other countries having in consequence of the war, suffered deten- tion, so that their cargoes remain unsold, and there is no prospect to them of returning homeward:-a change cannot but be made, commensurably to these cir- cumstances, permitting them alike to trade, and thus displaying a compassionate regard. While the facts will be duly represented to the throne, these special com- mands are at the same time issued for the information of all. For this, then, it is proclaimed to all the tradesfolk, soldiers, and people in general, for their full infor- ination, that henceforward the merchants of all nations are alike permitted to repair to Whampoa and trade. You will hold intercourse with them, and pass to and fro, as usual; and there shall be no hindrance or obstruction made, nor any trouble created. After the English vesssels of war shall be withdrawn, it will yet more be right and seeming, to protect, and carefully to look to and well treat the merchant vessels at Whampoa, and the merchants dwelling at Canton. Let every one tremblingly obey. Oppose not this special proclamation. Taoukwang, 21st year, 2d month, 28th day. (20th March, 1841.)
To the foregoing brief enumeration of engagements and results, our limits allow us at present to add no details. It is worthy of spe- cial notice, that, during all these successive engagements, in which the Chinese have lost above 2000 men (counting from the engage- ment of 7th January, at Chuenpe), there have been killed by their shot, on the side of the English, only one man, a seaman wounded on the 3d of March, and who has since died of his wounds. Three others have been killed, by accidents with guns, and in the destruc- tion of the fortifications of the Bogue. We regret, however, to have to add the death of the master of the Pestonjee Bomanjee, transport, by the hands of the Chinese, at Chusan, since the evacuation of that island. He was sent out with stores, direct from England; and on his arrival at Chusan, finding no part of the force there, he landed to learn the cause, when the party was instantly attacked. He fell, and was supposed killed; some of the boat's crew were wounded, but succeeded in making good their retreat back to the vessel.
An attempt was made the next day to take the vessel, but wholly without
success.
On the 26th two officers of the Blenheim, proceeding to their ship in Macao Roads, were in company with another British subject, vn
Journal of Occurrences.
board a small cutter, when a dark night and contrary winds compelled them to anchor. About 3 A. M. a Chinese boat ran foul of the cutter, when these three, from alarm of sinking, or some other cause, jumped on board the Chinese boat-described to be a fishing vessel. The boat made off immediately, and nothing has since been learned of the fate of the three persons, thus unfortunately made captives.
ART. VI. Journal of Occurrences: the British expedition; major- general Gough; Keshen's degradation and recall; new commis- sioners; foreign factories in Canton; return of the shipping to Whampoa and of the foreigners to the city; evacuation of Chusan, release of the prisoners; war between the Cochinchinese and Siamese; renewed declaration of war.
REFERRING the reader to the preceding article for an account of the progress of the war, we will here briefly describe the situation of the expedition as we now find it, nine months after its arrival. Though no one of its great objects has yet been gained, it does not follow of course that it has been badly conducted, or that no advantages have been secured. By pursuing a pacific line of action, and reducing the demands to the lowest point, an experiment of great value has been made before all nations the Chinese have now proved them- selves to be what long ago many believed they were-false, faith- less, impotent, merciless, hostile to all the world, in a degree far be- yond what has generally been supposed. It is now clear,-clear as the sun, that the Chinese government will yield nothing to, nor keep any faith with, foreign states, except by constraint. Happily this constraint they already begin to feel; and it is devoutly to be wished, that this may be continued on them until they are well esta- blished in their right position among the great nations of the earth. We admire the moderation and generosity that have been displayed by the commander-in-chief and those who are with him. Such qua- lities exhibited in the exercise of overwhelming power are most salu- tary. Negotiate, treat-with whom and where?... Dictation must now become the order of the day. If possible, let there be no more destruction of life, no taking possession of empire; but henceforth, as in other countries, let direct access be had to, and intercourse maintained with, the emperor and his court; and let the foreigner enjoy the same protection and the same immunities here, and be held responsible in the same manner, as is usual among the most favored nations. Such an achievement, good as it may be to the foreigner, will be as life from the dead to the Chinese-it will wake them from the long slumber of ages and put them at once, in a day, on the great march of modern improvement. Let the son of heaven know that he is not above the other potentates of the earth. By the course pursued, notwithstanding any errors that may have been com- mitted, the expedition has gained high vantage ground; and though
Journal of Occurrences.
small numerically, and late in action, it has given a blow that will shake the empire to its centre. Its commanding attitude, however, must be maintained unwaveringly, till every just right be gained; and until the ratification of new arrangements, for permanent peace, shall have been signed at Peking.
The naval force at present is thus distributed: Wellesley, at the Bogue; Blenheim, in Maaco Roads; Druid, at Hongkong; Calliope, Blonde, Conway, Sulphur, Nimrod, and Columbine, at Whampoa; Alligator, Pylades, and Cruizer, at Howqua's fort, six miles east of Canton; Herald, Hyacinth, Modeste, and Algerine, in Macao Pas- sage, two miles south from Canton; Starling, Young Hebe, and Louisa, passing to and fro; the Atalanta with the advanced squa- dron; the Nemesis, at Macao. The Melville sailed for England on the 26th, the Samarang on the 29th, and the Madagascar for Cal- cutta on the 30th inst. The naval commander-in-chief, we hear, will proceed in the Queen to Calcutta this day, the 31st. The land forces and transports are in company, at various points, with the naval.
The arrival of major-general sir Hugh Gough, on the 2d instant, we have already noticed. He is an experienced officer, of high re- putation, and comes on, as we understand, from Madras, to command in chief the land forces.
Kesken, the late high minister and imperial commissioner, has been degraded, and recalled to Peking, to be put on trial for traitorous conduct towards his master. He left Canton on the 12th.
Of the new commissioners, only Yang Fang is known to have ar- rived. He is an old man of more than 70 years, deaf and doltish ; and, instead of exterminating the rebellious at the head of his 30,000 veteran troops, has been compelled to proclain, on the walls of the city, their admission to Canton, with protection for their persons and property. There is a rumor of Yihshan's arrival.
The foreign factories were approached and occupied by British arms on the 18th-just two years from the date of Lin's notable edict demanding the surrender of opium.
The foreign shipping, for months past anchored in the Roads off Macao, is proceding up the river, several sail are already at Wham- poa, and a few of the merchants in Canton, with the expectation that business will be immediately resumed.
Chusan was evacuated by the British troops, on the 24th ultimo. Some particulars respecting it, and the captivity of Mrs. Noble and others, intended for this article, must be postponed.
Early this year, a stockade belonging to the Cochinchinese on the frontiers of Camboja, was taken by the Siamese. The prisoners were released, on condition they would never again be found in artns against their conquerors.
A paper, purporting to be an imperial edict issued on hearing of the capture of the Bogue forts, has just reached us. The emperor, it appears from this, has sworn that he and such rebellious people as the English shall not stand together under the same heavens. He requires that they be entirely exterminated. For allowing the fall of the forts, he deprives of their rank, but retains in office, all the officers in and of Canton!
CHINESE REPOSITORY.
VOL. X.-APRIL, 1841.- No. 4.
Sketch of Kwanyin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy. Translated from the Sow Shin Ke. By J. L. S.
KWANYIN, originally called Shen, was the third child of Shekin senior, who dwelt in the mountains of Tsewling, situated in the district of Keshoo of the state Koochŭh-and by spiritual transformation of per- son was re-born in the state of Pihheuě. Her father was king Meaou- chwang, his surname being Po, and his name Heä, while the mo- ther was of the family of Pihya. The parents having hitherto had no inale issue, repaired for worship to a temple among the fragrant hills of the west. The celestial emperor,' however, declared to the father that he was at heart a murderer, and therefore his hopes of male posterity should be cut off, but that daughters should be granted to him. His eldest daughter was called Meaou Tsing, the next Meaou Yin, and the third Meaou Shen (Kwanyin). Now at the time of Meaou Sheu's birth a wonderful fragrance filled the apartments, and red clouds and brightness filled all parts of the house. When she was an infant she was remarkably intelligent, and had no desire to attend to human affairs. When she had reached her ninth year, she became strenu- ously disobedient to her father's commands,' and took oath that she would never marry. Afterwards, in consequence of her two elder sisters having taken husbands who could not succeed to the throne, her father then pressed her to conclude a matrimonial alliance, but Shen still positively refused. She was consequently placed under strict prohibitions at the back part of the garden, where she gave herself up to the hearty and sincere study of moral principles. On
VOL. X. NO. IV.
Sketch of Kwanyin.
her being released, she entered the district of Luugshoo, in the de- partment of Yuchow, and at the White Bird temple, she became a nun. Eyew, the chief of the temple, received secret instructions (from her father) to endeavor to change Shen's determination in relation to her vows of celibacy, but she continued steadfastly to refuse.
Meaou Shen was then (for her refusal) subjected to the most bitter drudgery. In the mornings, she was made to draw water from the well, and her evenings were spent in listening to the Budhistic doc- trines. At break of day she had to burn the incense, and sweep the apartments, while her noonday task was to bring the wood with which to cook the rice; but notwithstanding all these difficulties not a murmur escaped her. Heaven was aware of the sincerity of her principles, and dispatched three thousand of the celestial army to lend her their assistance and protection. The god Kealan brushed the halls, Teënwang swept the kitchen, Lŭhting offered incense, while Yaouyeih lighted the candles. The ke bird prepared the tea, a nimble monkey carried in the vegetables, a white tiger brought fuel in his mouth, and the goddess Feking and Maouchang entered the inner courts bearing flowers, while the genii offered up fruits. Dur- ing every night the noise of the clouds, as if shaken by the winds, were heard, and the rapid movements of these gods were observed. The whole company of the priests became alarmed, and conveyed the information to her father, who sent five of the city cavalry under Hwuhpeihleih, ordering him to hasten and with the soldiers sur- round the temple and set fire to it. But Shen prayed to the god Budha, and biting her forefinger spurted forth the blood, causing crimson colored rain to descend, which put out the fire, and thus rescued five hundred priests, not one falling a prey to the flames. Peibleih again fired the temple, and in like manner was it put out. Three times was it set fire to, and three times was it extinguished as aforesaid. The impossibility of burning the temple was announced to her father, and his anger being aroused, he ordered Peihleih to go and bind Meaou Shen fast with cords and bring her, under arrest, in- to the common execution ground, but at the same time intimated his willingness for her mother to rescue her; for toward the tender and amiable disposition of this his third daughter he felt very kindly af- fectioned, and his only wish was that she was married, and he had a son-in-law that might take charge of the affairs of the state.
This murderous design did not even change the color of Meaou Shen's countenance, but her intention became still more firin, and
Sketch of Kwanyin.
she was imprisoned in a cold and desolate room of the palace. Day and night the female attendants of the palace, as well as her father and mother pressed their intreaties upon her, but Meaou Shen remained inexorable, and becoming outrageous she railed in angry speech at her father. The father himself also became greatly enraged, and forthwith granted his permission to Peihleih really to decapitate her. The god Tooshin hastened and announced this intention to Yũh te, who gave her a red brilliant light to screen her body, and when the ax of the executioner attempted to do its work it broke in sunder; and trying to spear her the instrument was severed to pieces; and they then put her to death with a long red silken cloth. Just then a tiger leaped in and bearing the corpse upon his back ran off with it;-upon which her father exclaimed, "Unfilial child; it is right that you should obtain a woful recompense!" But he was not aware that Heaven had sent for her. This fierce tiger bearing the corpse as be- fore entered a forest of black fir trees, and verily was Shen fully allow- ed to be a genuine religious, contemplator. For a time she remained in unbroken sleep, and her spirit roamed in regions unknown. Sud- denly there appeared to her a lad holding a chwung fan in his hand, and making his obeisance, said, 'the Yenkeun have ordered me to make known their requests to your royal highness.' Shen said, 'what are they?' The lad replied, having heard that your royal highness" exercises the most enlarged mercy and benevolence, ten of the yen gods, are waiting your appearance at the Pooteen bridge.' Shep yielding to their commands accompanied him, and at the entrance of the gate of perdition she beheld a god with the head of a cow kneeling at the door, and saw the god Taycha holding a candle, while a god with an iron head was sweeping the yard. Entering per- dition she saw one prison house where punishment was inflicted by cutting the flesh from the body. Shen inquired about it, and she was told that such punishment was for unfaithful ministers, and unfilial children. She saw another den where punishment was inflicted by pounding with a pestle, and grinding in a mill, and they told, her that this punishment was for those who would throw away what they had to spare of the five grains rather than give it to the poor; and for those also who would take the life of any living thing. She also saw a place where punishment was administered by means of a large brass boiler, and was told that this was for those who prided them- selves in their overbearing wickedness. Shen asked, Why are your punishments, so very rigorous? They told her that they had punish- inents than still more severe even these. At present, said they, in
Sketch of Kwanyin.
these regions of the lost we have forests of swords in order to recom- pense those who make it their business to transgress with their mouths by everywhere dealing, out to vulgar eyes and ears, their insidious calumnies. We inflict the punishment of plucking out eyes, and extirpating tongues, in order to recompense those who sow discord among friends, and those also who curse and swear.
We have too the punishment of ripping out the intestines for the purpose of awarding retribution to those whose hearts are daggers, and whose tongues are spears (persons of dark and intriguing designs). Those who dash people into wells are rewarded by being plunged into a deep river; those who beat and flog both males and females receive the punishment of the whip and the club; those superiors who oppress inferiors, and who injure birds and beasts with stones and arrows, are punished by tigers and serpents; those who, when living, were not benevolent with their riches are punished by being made to become hungry devils, and those who inveigle their fellows are recompens- ed by means of a forest of spears. All the certain punishments of hell are innumerable, and who can say that the eyes of Heaven aré not discriminating, and who can escape from the net of hades?
All the kings of perdition who attended Kwanyin at the golden bridge had immense and ornamented umbrellas, and under foot was a red cloud colored carpet, while they also had a ruby chariot in which to receive Kwanyin, attended by singing girls. Shen express- ing her thanks to them, said, 'I have no virtue, and how dare I dis- grace your affectionate summons?' The kings all replied, 'We have heard of your vast mercy and tender compassion, and we wish to at- tend at the banquet of your sacred books that we may not lose the smallest portion of your instructions.' Shen then exclaimed, Ometo, the supremely excellent! and they beheld her folding her hands, and offering up prayers, upon which flowers indiscriminately fell from heaven, the earth became covered with the golden water-lily, the whole of hell's iron instruments and brass frames were shivered to pieces, and more than eight thousand regions of perdition were entirely annihilated, while all the guilty were released from hell, and permitted to ascend to the mansions of heaven. Then all the execu- tioners of the said punishments represented to Shen, saying, There is 'a superior and there is an inferior principle; there are those who are good and those who are wicked; if there is no hell what will be the lot of murderers? And what will there be for those to fear who com- mit wickedness in the world? Such places for repaying a guilty world should not be few, but you have come here, and in your a
Sketch of Kwanyin.
bounding mercy and compassion have delivered your doctrines, and hell has crumbled to pieces. Were you to remain long here, then even iron itself would be insufficient for a durable perdition. When the celestial emperor hears that this wrong has been inflicted he will at once call you to return to earth.
grass buried In a
All the infernal kings attended Kwanyin to Mangpo Ting, and there separating from her, commanded the troops of perdition to lead her to the black fir forest, and give her spirit back to her. Shen awa- kening said, I have ascended to the very borders of heaven, and how is it that I have returned hither? She sat upon in deep thought not knowing whither to bend her course. little time Budha came riding upon the clouds, and bowing and wor- shiping, playfully said, We can well endure to dwell together in a thatched cottage, and there together let us live. Shen answered, why profane me by such a sensual speech? Budha said, I am only jesting with you, my heart is really established toward you, and I desire to proceed with you to the fragrant hills. Shen making no reply, Budha farther said, I am no other than the real Sheihkeä (Budha), and specially proclaim to you the place to which you can repair. Shen bowing her head and expressing her thanks asked, Tọ what place? Budha replied, In the country of Yuě (present Chě- keäng), near the southern seas are the isles of Pooto Yen," which is the place to which you can repair, and I will, in your behalf, call upon the dragons of earth to create a water-lily stand upon which you can cross over the seas. At Pooto, a white tiger gnawed wood for her, the god Kealan opened out for her a pleasant piece of ground, eight dragon kings both day and night took charge of the rising tides, and four celestial kings arranged the stone pillars for her dwelling. Shen dwelt on the isle of Pooto Yen nine years, and hav- ing perfected herself in merit cut out flesh from her arm in order to rescue her father from illness, and she held a bottle containing a sweet dew in order to secure long life to all the people. She was attended on her left by Shen Tsae who possessed universal intelli- gence, and on her right by Lung New of unbounded virtue. Shen converted the whole of her family, and cultivating the principles of virtue, they all ascended to heaven. The supreme emperor, be- holding that Kwanyin's merits filled the world, and that her miracles were everywhere manifest, assented to the representations of the gods Laoukeun and Meaouyo, and proclaimed her the deity, of abounding mercy and vast compassion, the rescuer from distress and difficulties, the most faithful one, the spiritual assister, and the guardian sound of
Sketch of Kwanyin.
the world. The precious water-lily was given to her for a throne, and she became the sovereign of the isles of Pooto Yen in the southern Her father, the king Meaouchwang was allowed to become the god Shen shing seën kwan, and her mother Pibya, was made the goddess Keuenshen. Her eldest sister became the goddess Tae shen wăn choo, and sat upon a sky colored lion; and her other sister Meaou Yin was deified as the goddess Tae shen poo heen, and rode upon a white elephant.
1. The idea of the Chinese classics seems to be that
Hwang Te
is the emperor who has under his jurisdiction all the nations of earth, and
that 天帝 Teen Te, and 玉帝 Yiih Te, and上帝 Shang Te, are
only different designations of a supreme emperor who controls the heavens and the earth, and the gods.
2. Kwanyin is an exceedingly popular goddess among the Chinese, and her images and her shrines may be found in almost every temple of any note throughout the land; but Kwanyin's father, according to the published ac counts of her votaries themselves, was declared by the highest power of the universe which they acknowledge, to be a murderer at heart.
3. The Chinese notions of female baseness and inferiority are fully de veloped in this passage. This man was denied sons because he was ‘a mur. derer at heart,' while at the same time he was deemed sufficiently worthy of daughters. Female degradation is intimately connected with all the ramifica- tions of heathenism.
4. Two other characteristics in the history of the goddess Kwanyin's origin are disobedience to parents, and angry railing! Heathenism is as inconsis. tently absurd according to the principles of true reason as it is daringly blas. phemous according to the principles of true religion.
Yuh te, the Gem Ruler, considered as the god above all
gods, and the great director of all other deities.
6. The chwang fan are long streamers which are used in the temples of Budha. They are sometimes made of variegated silk with groups of fan- tastic figures of men, women and children wrought upon them with much tedious labor, and at great expense. The most beautiful and costly of these banners are only used on occasion of processions and feast-days in honor of the idol.
7. There are ten of the Yen keun gods, who are denominated
kings, and who have the entire supervision of the various regions of hades, as
well as all devils and evil spirits.
8. Kung choo is the title by which the daughters of emperors
and kings are addressed. Kwanyin being the daughter of king Meaou- chwang was consequently entitled to the epithet of kung choo. 1
9.. PPJ Ome is an epithet of Budan. Messrs. Modhurst and Stevens visited Pooto during their missionary, tour in the brig Hurón in the latter part of 1835, and Mr. M. thus refers to this phrase. "The only thing we heard out of the mouths of these dull monks was Ometo Fuh, or Amida Budha. To every observation that was made re-echoed Ometo Fuh and the reply to every inquiry was Ometo Fuh.' Each priest was furnished with a string of beads, which he kept continually fingering, and while he
Toss of the Ship Kite.
counted, he still repeated the same dull monotonous exclamation. The characters for this name met the eye at every turn of the road, at every corner of the temples, and on every scrap of paper: on the hills, on the altars, on the gateways, and on the walls, the same words presented them. selves, even the solid rocks were engraven with Budha's titles, and the whole island seemed to be under the spell of this talismanic phrase, as if it were devoted to the recording of Ometo Füh.'” Ometo Fuh is a phrase used also by all devout Chinese as well as priests when they wish to express a strong affirmation of solemnity or serious concern, and also by the careless and profane swearer.
10. The island of Pooto is a part of the Great Chusan archipelago, and is entirely devoted to the religion of Budha. The island is said to contain five thousand priests; and two of the largest and handsomest temples are covered with yellow tiles in order to show that they were erected by imperial patron. age. Mr. Stevens refers to the island of Pooto in his account of the voyage of the Huron; see Chi. Rep. vol. IV., page 333.
ART. II. Loss of the ship Kite, and Mrs. Noble's narrative of
ker captivity and sufferings in prison in China in 1840–41; in a letter to a friend..
Ningpo prison, Feb. 19th, 1841. MY EVER DEAR FRIEND.-On Sunday, the 14th, I received your kind letter, containing the glad tidings of peace, and the joyful hope of a speedy release from prison; and in which you so sweetly and affectionately offer a home to the homeless. The Almighty alone, who searcheth the heart, knows how deeply grateful I feel for all your abundant goodness towards me in my great afflictions, but as my last letters were sent publicly, I could not express my feelings; I sincerely hope you have not thought me ungrateful. As I may now do so with safety, I will try to write to you the sad particulars of the dreadful wreck of the Kite, and of following events, as far as memory and the few notes I have been able to make from time to time, will euable me to do. May the Almighty in mercy strengthen me for the truly melancholy duty.
I shall infer, that you know all our affairs up to, I think, the 10th of September, when the Kite was again on her way to Chusan; all went well till the 15th, and we then hoped to reach Chusan in two days. Alas for earthly prospects; they are indeed fallacious. About twelve o'clock in the forenoon, the vessel struck on a quicksand, laid down in the chart. The shock was as sudden as it was dread-
Loss of the Ship Kite.
ful; all efforts at the moment were used, but in vain, and in a few moments, almost before we could think or speak, or alas! even have time to fetch my sweet child from the cabin, the vessel went over with a tremendous crash on her broadside, and every creature on board (except my dear child) was precipitated with great violence into the sea. The moment was so dreadful I saw nothing, and, whether my beloved husband, who was giving orders till the last mo- ment, ran to the cabin to save his darling child, or whether he fell with the rest, I know not; but he was never seen or heard of more; his last words to me were 'hold on, Anne!' Never, never shall I forget them. My child must have perished in his cradle. I trem- ble to think of the sufferings of them both. Oh! how often have I wished I had shared the same grave, yet the will of God was other- wise, and I know it is very wicked, but when you know my almost unparalleled sufferings you will not wonder at it. To return to the wreck; after struggling under water for some time, I caught hold of one of the iron bars that hold the boat on the quarter, to which I clung, my body being still in the water, and the breakers coming over me with great force. A poor little dog saved itself on my breast for some time, but at last I was obliged to put it off; oh! had it been my child, I would have died rather a thousand times. Lieutenant Douglas arose close by me, and although for a time he could not help me, yet I shall ever remember with the deepest gratitude the kind manner in which he stood by me, doing all in his power to soothe me, and, by his orders, to save the lives of all. Oh! could I picture to you the scene at this moment, the vessel on her broadside, her masts and sails in the water, numbers of persons rising and clinging to the wreck, the horror of every countenance, and the dreadful noise of the breakers: but it is too much even to tell you I saw it all; never, never shall I forget the sight. Lieut. Douglas, with Mr. Witts the chief officer, who now kindly came forward to my aid, did all in their power to save me, and they were, by the blessing of God, the means of preserving my life. These two gentlemen, with the poor cabin boys, got into the boat. I had just strength to raise my foot, of which one of the gentlemen took hold, drew the boat to, and lifted me in. The boat being nearly full of water, and the breakers still coming over it every moment, the gentlemen were obliged to cut the rope to prevent her sinking. The current imme- diately took her, and nothing could prevent her from leaving the wreck. The people got on the upper side of the vessel. I strained my eyes in vain to find those so dear to me. I saw all but them. I
Loss of the Ship Kite.
tore my hair in despair, and called till they could hear me no longer, telling them to seek my husband and child. Hour after hour the wreck was seen; at last we lost sight of it entirely. You will fancy me weeping and screaming all this time; I assure you, No; my trou- ble was too overwhelming; I could not shed a tear, although my heart was fit to break; I sat more like a statue, my eyes seeking in vain for the wreck. The boat's little kedge was thrown out, and the water rushing by was almost like a wall on either side of our boat. We saw many things washed from the wreck pass us. About 4 o'clock the current turned in our favor, and after some hours of anxi- ety we came in sight of the wreck; as we drew near, we found the vessel had sunk in the sand, and only her maintop was now in sight, to which all the poor sufferers clung for life. Efforts were made to reach the wreck, but it was impossible. Lieut. Douglas spoke to the men and told them to make a raft, hoping on the morrow to be able to render them some assistance. We now again left the wreck and night began to set in; the gentlemen lay down in the bottom of the boat, and I sat and kept watch by the stars. It was a beautiful moon- light night, but I need not say it appeared very long, and often did I speak to lieut. Douglas who slept very little.
On the 16th, we again passed the wreck early, and, as before, strove in vain to reach the poor crew. A few words were spoken, until we were carried away by the current. In the afternoon we
passed the wreck for the last time; everything possible was done to reach it but to no purpose; and after speaking a few words, once more we had to endure the trial of being carried past. What our feelings were, none but those in a like situation can conceive. It was again night, and, as before, I kept my melancholy watch. After this we could not find the wreck, and we were obliged to come to the dreadful conclusion, that all the crew must have perished, or have been taken from the wreck by the Chinese. I now felt almost sure that I was a widow, and all alone in the world; but yet I think I hoped even against hope, and lieut. Douglas, who was most kind to me, rather led me to believe such happiness possible. Oh! could I only tell you all of the kindness I received from that gentleman. One remark he made, when I felt almost heart broken, was, "depend on it, my dear Mrs. Noble, the Almighty has preserved you for a future and a better purpose." Thus did he at all times, in the most kind and soothing manner, try to cheer my truly sad heart. Picture for a moment our situation,-five of us in a small boat: with little clothing, the gentlemen being but thinly clad, and myself in a thin
VOL. X. No, iy.
Loss of the Ship Kite.
morning gown, no bonnet, no shawl, and no shoes, the latter having been washed off: no food, no water, no sail, only two oars and near an enemy's country. On this day, we went on board a fishing boat; the men were kind to us and gave us a little dry rice, some water, and an old mat to try to make a sail of. Soon after, we thought we saw a small English sail; never shall I forget the excitement we felt; but after a long time, we found we were mistaken. Towards even- ing we picked up a small pumpkin, of which I took a little,—the first food I had taken since the wreck. Whilst we were thus driven about from place to place, again we thought we saw a steamer, and we did all in our power to make them observe us, raising a signal of distress on one of our oars, and once more we were disappointed. On Wednesday night the breakers came over our little boat with such violence, that we thought she would have sunk; it washed away one of our oars, and we were all wet through; but still the Almighty preserved us. Thursday the 17th, we boarded another boat and asked them to take us to Chusan, which they promised to do, but to this the master of the party would not accede. However, they took us up a canal, and told us that was the way. It now began to rain a little, and at night we found ourselves in a small creek, with numbers of Chinamen round us. They appeared kind and brought us a little boiled rice. Wonderful to say, although we had been so long with- out food, not one in the boat complained of hunger, and of the rice now brought very little was eaten; the rain now fell fast, and we all lay down in the bottom of the boat, laying the old mat over the top. About 12 o'clock, I thought I heard footsteps, and on looking up. saw about twenty Chinese around our boat, carrying gay lanterns. awoke lieut. Douglas in alarm; however, they still appeared kind and gave us more food. In the morning, it being very wet, we went barefooted to a Chinese house. After sitting a short time, they told us, that they would get us something to eat, and then take us to Chu- We followed; they took us to a temple for shelter from the rain. One of the party now left us, and we began to suspect that all was not right, and set off to regain our boat. But it was too late. We had scarcely ascended the bank, when, on looking behind, we saw a large party of soldiers, an officer, and numbers of Chinese, pur- suing us. We saw at once we were betrayed; flight was impossible, resistance as vain. I was leaning on lieut. Douglas' arm; he stood boldly in my defense, but it was of no use, for they struck me several times. They then put chains around our necks, hurrying us along a path not half a yard in breadth, to a large city, through every street
Loss of the Ship Kite.
of which they led us. The people thronged by thousands to stare, so that we could scarcely pass. Their savage cries were terrific. From this they led us to a temple full of soldiers, and one of the wretches stole my wedding-ring from my finger, the only thing I treasured. Alas! that I was not to keep that one dear pledge of
my husband's affection. Never shall I forget that temple, their fierce grimaces and savage threats. Hitherto lieut. Douglas had been my only friend, and, I think I may say, that we have been a mutual comfort to one another throughout our sufferings. But we were now to part. The soldiers bound lieut. Douglas' hands behind him, and tied him to a post, and in this situation I was forced from him. We took an affec- tionate leave of one another, as friends never expecting to meet again, until we met in heaven. He gave me his black silk handker- chief to tie around my waist, which I shall ever treasure as a remem- brance of that truly sad moment. We anticipated instant death in its most cruel form, and I think I could say, surely the bitterness of death is past. I now felt indeed alone. Mr. Witts, one of the boys, and myself, were now again dragged through the rain, and my bare feet slipped at every step, so that they were at last obliged to bring me a pair of straw sandals. I was obliged to hang to the coat of a tall man, who held me by the chain. We must have looked wretch- ed in the extreme, our clothes being much covered with dirt as well as drenched with rain. My hair hung disheveled around my neck. In this state we must have walked at least 20 miles, and pass- ed through numberless cities, all the inhabitants of which crowded around us; their hooting and savage yells were frightful. We twice passed through water nearly up to our waist. After having reached a temple, we were allowed to rest ourselves on some stones. They here gave us some prison clothes and food. At night they laid down some mats and a quilt, on either side of a large temple. Mr. Witts and the boy took one side, and after a short prayer to my heavenly Father, I lay down but not to sleep; the chain round our necks being fastened to the wall. Would that I could describe to you the scene:-the temple beautifully lighted up with lanterns, our miserable beds, all the dark faces of the frightful looking Chinese (of whom I think there were eight), the smoke from their long pipes, the din of the gongs and other noises which they kept up all night. Long, very long, did this night appear. Morning at last dawned, the keepers brought us a little water to wash with, which was a great comfort; after which they led us to an open court, to be exposed to the public gaze of numberless spectators to come throughout the day. Here they
Loss of the Ship Kite.
took our height, the length of our hair, and noted every feature in an exact manner, and then made us write an account of the wreck of the Kite. In the evening I was taken to see the mandarin's wife and daughters, but although my appearance must have been wretch- ed in the extreme, they did not evince the least feeling towards me, but rather treated me as an object of scorn. This I felt the more, as I was enabled to make them understand, that I had lost both my husband and child in the wreck. We remained here two days and three nights, derided and taunted by all around us. On the morn- ing of Monday the 21st, they took the end of our chains and bade us follow them. They put our coats and quilts into small cages, just such as we should think a proper place to confine wild beasts,
in : mine was scarcely a yard high, a little more than of a yard long, and a little more than half a yard broad. The door opened from the top. Into these we were lifted, the chain around our necks being locked to the cover. They put a long piece of bamboo through the middle, a man took either end, and in this manner we were jolted from city to city to suffer insults from the rabble, the cries of whom were awful; but my God had not forsaken me, and even then, although a widow and in the hands of such bitter enemies, and expecting death at every moment, I could remember with delight, that Christ my Savior had said," I am the resurrection and the life, he that be- lieveth on me though he were dead yet shall he live." I need not tell you, my friend, how much I thought of my sweet and once happy home, and my fatherless child, and how fervently I prayed to that God of mercy, who had so wonderfully upheld me in all my sufferings, to bless her also. Death was nothing to me: I longed to be with my Savior to praise him for ever, and to meet again my affectionate hus- band and sweet child, who were more than life to me. Oh my dear friend! how often do my feelings at this and many other times of my suffering shame me, when I feel myself cold in my duty towards my Redeemer.
We again stopped at another city and were taken out of our cages, having heavy irons put on our legs, with a chain half a yard long. Mr. Witts and the boy had also irons on their wrists; although I saw mine, they did not put them on at that time. The former were car- ried on board one boat, and I myself put into another, and thus we proceeded two days and three nights on a canal, during which time I did not taste any food, as they would not permit me to get out of my little cage on any account, You may judge what my sufferings I believe it was Wednesday the 23d, that we arrived at Ning-
Loss of the Ship Kite.
po. You may imagine my happiness in finding my friend lieut. Douglas, and my delight to hear that he had been treated rather better than myself, and had arrived there a short time before. I also heard with gratitude and joy, that all the Kite's crew had been taken from the wreck by the Chinese and were prisoners in the city. But alas, alas! with all this good news my worst fears were confirmed, that all I treasured lay buried in the ocean. What can I say? My dear child could not have lived in an open boat and suffered as I had done, and my devoted husband, being of a warm and most affection- ate temper would not, could not, have lived to have seen me suffer as I have suffered, and how would it have torn my heart to have seen those, ten thousand times dearer to me than my own life, endure so much! I humbly pray to be enabled to say, "Thy will be done!" God has I believe in goodness and mercy taken my treasures,
was able to do for them more than I could even ask or think. And although I am left destitute and alone and far from home, yet in his mercy he has raised you up, my Christian friend, with many others for my comfort, on account of which I shall praise the Savior both in time and eternity; and want whatever I may, may I ever possess a thankful heart.
At Ningpo I was sorry to find another prisoner, captain Anstruther of the Madras artillery, who has since proved to me a most kind and true friend; there was also the comprador, whom I think you have some knowledge of. My most cruel sufferings were now at an end, and of course I felt more deeply my sad loss; yet I knew that I still enjoyed many blessings. Captain A.'s prison was next door to mine, and I had the pleasure of seeing him often. The mandarins gave me some Chinese clothes of the gayest colors; distressing as it was to my feelings, I was obliged to wear them, and I was put into, what the keeper styled, a clean prison, with a woman to attend on me in my captivity. After breakfasting with lieut. Douglas at the man- darin's, I went to my lonely cell,-a small dirty room, two sides of which were a mere grating, in many places daylight appeared through the rafters, and it was scarcely fit to live in, its only furniture being my cage, (in which I still slept at night, and 'into which I was put whenever I went to any of the mandarins,) a lamp, an old table, and a stool. For the first time after the wreck, I was enabled to undress myself and arrange my hair. I could not but rejoice when a large room was prepared for the three gentlemen to reside together in,-lieut. Douglas having been hitherto obliged to endure all the discomforts of the common prison. Subsequently we met only when we visited and
Loss of the Ship Kite.
dined at the mandarin's, which we did at first frequently, but after their curiosity was satisfied I seldom saw them. When at their house, they amused themselves by questioning us about H. B. M., and her government, the number of her navy and army, and the rank aud income of the officers. Often I had to repeat my sad tale, particu- Jarly on the arrival of other officers; this I thought a great trial, especially when alone. Their inquiries about our respective families were most minute, particularly what relatives we were to queen Vic- toria, and whether I myself was not her sister, which I was declared to be, notwithstanding what was said to the contrary. But it would be endless to repeat all the foolish questions they asked; however, they made notes of all our replies.
Two days after the removal of the gentlemen from the common prison, all the remaining captives were taken to a far distant jail under the pretence of better accommodations, excepting two who were sick. I had the melancholy satisfaction of seeing them passing my door, but was not allowed to speak to them; it made my heart bleed to observe their distressed looks and haggard countenances.
It was October the 8th, that captain Anstruther received some sup- plies from Chusan, with letters that held out hopes of release. He kindly sent me a large share of his clothes. The comprador was now taken away from us, which distressed me greatly, as I had now not a creature to whom to speak. They now gave me a bedstead, which I found a great luxury, having hitherto lain on a dirty floor. I was sometimes allowed to see and converse with the sick prisoners, and I almost felt a consolation in dwelling upon the dreadful past. Frequently my heart was sadly torn, on account of different reports about my late dearly beloved husband and child. I was once told, that he was seen going to his cabin to rescue his child, and was afterwards seen dead with the baby on his bosom. Many were the sleepless nights that such accounts gave me, but I found subsequent- ly,—when meeting all the prisoners at the mandarin's, and minutely examining into the fact,—that this rumor was unfounded, for they had not seen the captain after the ship had heeled over.
On the 8th of October I was far from well; two days afterwards I suffered much from violent pain, and was not able to lie down during the whole night, on account of the pain. This I felt deeply, not being able to speak to a creature, and being threatened to have irons put on my wrist; they had let them off only one night on account of my being so ill. On the 9th I was too glad to see the comprador return, who had been sent to Chinhae in order to ascertain whether
Loss of the Ship Kite.
the British delegate was really captain Elliot, and, if this was not the case, the individual who dared to appear under an assumed name was to be taken.
On the 14th, they sent another woman to wait on me, with a little cross boy about four years old, who cried the whole day long. This I felt to be a great trial, as 1 could not have a moment to myself. The other old woman brought also her girl, so that there were four dirty creatures in my dirty hovel. This was scarcely endurable, but, after many intreaties and the lapse of a considerable time, both the children were removed. On Sunday the 18th, I heard the melancholy tidings of one of our sailors being removed by the hand of death. I had seen the poor boy several times, and, as I felt sure he could never recover, the few moments we were allowed to speak, were spent in dwelling upon solemn subjects. Though he was a mere skeleton and weak as a child, still he wore his irons to the last. A day or two before his death, he told me he knew that he would never be well again, but his mind was calm, and I fervently hope that the Savior was present with him. As we parted for the last time, he said with much earnestness "God bless you, Mistress;" these words I still remember, they have been fulfilled, and God has remembered me. The two sick marines were much distressed at the death of the poor boy, and I was delighted to afford them some comfort, temporal as well as spiritual.
On the 26th, we were all summoned by the superior mandarins. I felt much grieved on my way being entirely alone,-little thinking what joy was in store for me. Clothes and letters had arrived from Chusan, clothes in abundance for myself and also for my dear boy, which I had not the least reason to expect, but for which, as I sub- sequently heard, I was indebted to dear Mrs. Proudfoot. The sight of clothes, intended for my dear lost one, was overwhelming. May the Almighty reward the kind donor, and, by his gracious and merci- ful providence, ever protect her from requiring such a comfort as she bestowed upon me. Among the above, I received a very kind note, with an acceptable present of shoes, from my friend captain Baily. The gentlemen received large supplies of clothes, wine, ale, and other articles, with 300 dollars from the plenipotentiaries; and all the prisoners had clothes given to them. All the Englishmen, except the two sick, were present, and to our great satisfaction our fetters were struck off; we were also informed, that we should be free within five or six days for a certainty. Gladness then pervaded every breast, but, as usual, mine was mixed with bitter grief,-to think how short
Loss of the Ship Kite.
a time since a happy wife and a joyful mother, and that I must now return desolate and alone. However, I could but be thankful to be freed from my fetters, having worn them, as I imagine aright, for 32 days; and on our way home,-if our wretched prisons deserve such a name, our hearts were much lighter and we began to put confi- dence in the glad tidings. But little did I then think, that we should be obliged still to drag on four long months of our existence in the dreary abode.
About the 1st of Nov., it was reported publicly that I should be sent to Chusan alone, and that the gentlemen would be sent to Canton. On the strength of this account, they wrote letters for their friends, which I was to have taken, but, like the many rumors we had before heard, this also proved groundless. Sometime afterwards the two marines, already mentioned, were removed to the other prison. I felt sure, that one of them was then dying, and I greatly feared that he would never reach the prison. His weakness was so excessive, that he once fell down on his way, though supported by a Chinese; after a few days, the news of his death was brought to me. Notwith- standing all the representations of lieutenant Douglas, the irons were not taken off this poor man, until he breathed his last. The prison was so excessively small that they could not turn around, without squeezing each other, and though their commander remonstrated and insisted upon their being allowed to walk about and enjoy the fresh air, they were never permitted to take any exercise in the court. I frequently wrote a few lines to the lads, for whom I felt. most deeply, as well as for the crew in general. Lieut. Douglas was now able to provide them with money, and once only, during the four months' imprisonment, was he permitted to visit his men: for, on seeing the deep interest he took in their welfare, and his great anxiety to better their condition, they never permitted him to see them any more. I was delighted to observe the noble feelings, evinc- ed by lieut. Douglas towards the crew of the Kite, who suffered great hardships.
Our joy was inexpressible, when a channel of private communi- cation with our friends at Chusan was opened, and when I receiv- ed from you, my friend, the first letter (Dec. 29th), which afforded us very great consolation. Before this we heard of the death of another marine, which affected us all deeply, and especially his master. Death has made sad havoc amongst us, and the Almighty alone knows the reason why he afflicted us, and I fervently hope that these many solemn warnings may be sanctified to us.
Loss of the Ship Kite.
On the 9th, I had again the great happiness of receiving two letters from you, from one of which I learned our then contemplated rescue, which at that time gave me great uneasiness, as I trembled at the idea of any of my countrymen running the risk of such sufferings as I had undergone. But it is wonderful how often we heard of our speedy release and were as often disappointed; still for the time being our spirits were kept up by such good news.
Your first letter was accompanied by a copy of the holy Bible, an inestimable treasure for which fer ad long and earnestly prayed; but, to avoid discovery, I had to read it during the night, so that it was in truth a secret treasure, and henceforth my constant compa- nion. On Tuesday, the 2d of February, I heard that the gentlemen had been summoned by the mandarins to receive clothes and letters, and with an anxious heart I watched the whole afternoon, expecting every moment a visit from them. However, I was obliged to con- tinue in suspense till the next day, when I was called to appear be fore the mandarins to obtain another most affectionate letter from you, my friend, with an abundant store of clothes and every comfort I could desire. Grateful and thankful as I felt for them, my spirits be- came deeply affected, inferring as I did, that so many things would not have been sent, if my captivity was not to be prolonged; yet the linguist cheered me by the assurance, that I should be free within three weeks, or a month. At this time they treated me with great kindness, and I went to see the mandarin's lady, who gave me some fruit and artificial flowers, the first mark of kindness I had received from a Chinese lady. They allowed me to remain until the evening, and I was once more gladdened by meeting my countrymen, and, after staying some time, we all went to my prison to write answers to our letters.
February the 8th, I had the pleasure of a visit from some Chinese naval officers, who told me, that we were to leave Ningpo within a fortnight. We thought there was truth in the news, but we were not certain until the 14th, when I received the glad tidings from yourself. It would be impossible to describe what our feelings were on that occasion. I had thought that the gentlemen had known it the day before, so that our meeting at the first moment was not so joyful as it otherwise would have been, but they had no sooner read my letter, than our mutual congratulations were warm and most sincere, and I again had the happiness of welcoming them to my prison, where we wrote answers to our friends.
VOL. X. NO, IV.
Loss of the Ship Kite.
On board ship Blundell, March 1st. On the 22d Feb., before I arose, my attendant came to my bedside, exclaiming "Chinhae, Chusan, get up!" and immediately the compra- dor called to me, saying that we were indeed to go to Chinhae. But he little thought that he was not to form one of the party; as to myself, I am sure, you will believe me, when 1 tell you, that I knew not which thing to do first. Numbers of people came around my prison, and I was obliged to shut the door to keep them out. After my morn- ing duties, I got all my boxerepacked with the comprador's aid. While thus engaged, he was sent for by the mandarins, who told him, that he was not like the other English prisoners; they would therefore not allow him to accompany them, but send him down to Canton. This threw an immediate gloom over my spirits, and I felt deeply, when, a few minutes afterwards, I saw him locked up in his prison, for he had long been my friend in adversity. I now with difficulty got through the crowd to the gentlemen's prison, where I received a hearty welcome and the warmest congratulations, and was forbidden to speak of past troubles. Captain Anstruther now insisted upon seeing the comprador to give him money, and, after many intreaties made to the officer, whom he had greatly offended by withholding a picture for some unkindness shown, he at last succeed- ed in beating his way through the crowd. We walked a great while in the prison-yard until, by dint of perseverance and much pushing among the immense crowd, we got into our palankeens. We had a guard to escort us, and, having crossed the river in our convey- ances, I looked back and was astounded at the dense mass of specta- Mandarins of every grade were in attendance. Indeed the excitement at Ningpo was indescribable. Our road to Chinhae led principally along the river side, and our traveling was anything but comfortable, the way being so bad, that I feared our palankeen bearers would slip. When near Chinhae, one of my bearers tum- bled, and the palankeen thumped on the ground. I struck my head, but the alarm was more than the injury. I thought my trou- bles would not be at an end, until I reached Chinhae. On the road we met several emissaries urging on the bearers to use all speed, to the mutual gratification of both parties. At last we arrived safely at Chinhae, where we were received with due honor by the mandarins. We had not breakfasted, and, when the gentlemen asked for food, a filthy fellow came in with an apron-full of cakes. Afterwards they brought us each a bason of meat. Captain Anstruther was now taken to see commissioner E, and, after remaining a little while, he re-
Loss of the Ship Kite.
turned telling us, that we should soon be sent for to hear the same story told him, namely, that we should not have come to China if the admiral had not sent us, and that we must now return and tell the commanding officer, he must get the ships away with all speed, as a great many soldiers were waiting to enter Chusan so soon as the English evacuated it, but at the same time, he intreated us to labor under no apprehensions, for they had no hostile intentions. At first it was concluded, that lieutenant Douglas was to accompany me to Chusan, while captain Anstruther should remain and see all the men embark; but when we were with E, lieutenant Douglas told him, that captain Anstruther had nothing to do with the people, and begged that he might be allowed to remain with his crew, and that captain Anstruther might accompany me. It was at length determin- ed, that both the gentlemen should stay behind, and only Mr. Witts accompany me. I made every inquiry for my only bonnet and other things which the mandarin had previously sent for to inspect, but in vain, as the officer had kept them and would not restore them. Soon after, I took leave of the gentlemen and reëntered my palankeen which conveyed me to the water's side, where the linguist presented me with a fan. On the mandarin's premises I had the pleasure of meeting all my fellow-prisoners, which relieved my mind, as I was not before aware that they had come down from Ningpo, and had not seen them for several months. I spoke a few words to them as my sedan passed. On our way we were taken to the soldiers' tents; it being a late hour, and quite dark, I could see but little of them, but they appeared to be numerous, and to occupy a very large space of ground. Every attention was now shown me; they carried me close to the boat, and fixed a chair in the sampan for my comfort. The mandarin, who accompanied me, showed me every attention. For some hours our boat lay at anchor, to enable the other prisoners to embark and, during the night, proceeded on her way to Chusan. About seven o'clock in the morning of the 26th, I was once more gladdened by the sight of an English vessel. Soon after, we were boarded by two naval officers, and Mr. Johnson was the first to welcome me to freedom. In a short space of time, we saw several other vessels which lay at the outer anchorage; a few moments more, and the whole fleet was before us. I thought I saw as great a change on Chusan as on myself; the tents were no longer on the hills and to me, at least, all things looked strange. As the boat drew near, captain Bourchier of the Blonde sent his gig to convey me on board, and glad indeed was I to step into it, and thus quit for
Loss of the Ship Kite.
ever a people, at whose hands I had received such bitter wrongs. When safely arrived on the deck of the Blonde, I received the warm- est congratulations of captain Bourchier and the many friends to whom I was then introduced. What my feelings were at that mo- ment none but one so long in captivity can conceive. Every one seemed a participator in my enjoyment, and each countenance wore the smile of heartfelt sympathy. I once more sat down to a comfor- table breakfast, but my joy was too exquisite to allow me to partake of it. I remained on board the Blonde until the arrival of my fellow-pri- soners, whom I was most anxious to see once more. Lieutenant Douglas and captain Anstruther soon joined us, and it heightened my pleasure greatly to see those, I so much esteemed, restored to their usual comforts and warm friends; and erelong, the European part of the crew came safely on board. I was much distressed at seeing their wasted frames and pale countenances, yet it was a cheer- ing certainty that every kindness would now be shown them. It is to be hoped, that, by the blessing of God, they will soon regain their wonted strength, and I trust the sad lesson they have so dearly learned will never be erased from their memories. Being most anxious to see you, my dear friend, and, Dr. Lockhart being in waiting to ac- company me, I lost no time in hastening on board the Blundell, where you had so carefully provided for my comfort. My dear friend lieut. Douglas did not leave me, until I was safely on board; and no sooner had I reached the deck, than I received the loud and hearty cheers of the whole crew, which not being anticipated was completely over- whelming, combined as it was with the cordial welcome of captain Trail and his officers. To describe our meeting would be needless, it is too indelibly engraven on the heart of each ever to be forgot ten; but I would not conclude without a sincere, solemn, and heart- felt ascription of praise and thanks to the almighty Father, the gracious Savior, and the all-sustaining Spirit, who has so truly fulfilled his promise, "I will not leave thee, nor forsake thee."
Anne Noble.
Notices of Japan, No. VIII.
ART. 111.
Notices of Japan, No. VIII.: character of the Japanese language; its various syllabaries; poetry, science, divisions of time, &c.
THE Japanese language was long supposed to be, if not a mere dialect of the Chinese, yet as closely connected therewith as the Italian and Spanish languages are with each other, or with their common parent, the Latin. This supposition, not based upon any knowledge of the two languages, was probably deduced from the fact, that the Japanese understood written, though not spoken, Chinese, whilst the Chinese reciprocally understood Japanese when written in the Chinese cha- racter-one of the many used in Japan: a circumstance perfectly intelligible, when it is recollected that the Chinese characters express, not letters or unmeaning sounds, the mere constituent elements of words, but the words themselves, or rather the ideas which those words signify; and therefore must convey the same ideas, expressed by different words, to whomsoever knows the meaning of the characters: just as the numerals 1, 2, 3, convey the same ideas of numbers, ex- pressed by different names, to the natives of different countries.*
The more profound and accurate knowledge of the oriental languages acquir ed of late years by the scientific philologists of England, France, and Germany, has thrown light upon this erroneous idea respecting the Japanese tongue. The erudite Klaproth explicitly declares, in his Asia Polyglotta, the Japanese to be so dissimilar to all known languages in structure, grammar, and every characteristic, as to prove the nation who speak it to be a distinct race. A disquisition on this subject would be out of place here; but a glance at the specimens given by Meylan and Fischer, is sufficient to show one essential dissimilarity between Chinese and Japanese. Every body knows the former to be a monosyllabic lan- guage, while Japanese is polysyllabic; nay, it might be called hyper-polysyllabic, since the simple pronoun I cannot be expressed in Japanese by a smaller number of syllables than four, watakusi; and to multiply I into we, requires the further addition of a dissyllable, as watakusidomo. At the same time, it must be admitted that, of these syllables, some are held so far supernumerary as to be dropped in speaking. Thus, in the Japanese dialogues given by Overmeer Fischer, who avows his knowledge of the language to be merely adequate to the common pur. poses of every-day life, the watakusi and watakusidomo of Meylan's gram. matical specimens are contracted into the less euphonous, but much shorter, watakfs, and watakfadomo.t
* [It is not quite correct to say that the Chinese understand Japanese when written in the Chinese character. A sentence written this way is nothing more or less than Chinese, and when thus expressed it can with propriety, no more be called Japanese than it can be called Corean, or Cochinchinese, or even English. The comparison introduced of the Arabic numerals is an apposite one; see also Chinese Repository, volume III, page 15. That the Japanese understand the Chinese language when written, after they have learned the meaning of the characters, although they cannot converse in it, is no more surprising, however, than that an Englishman comprehends French when he sees it in a book, but hardly understands one word of what a Parisian says to him when he first crosses the Channel.]
† [Like the Chinese, the Japanese have a great variety of terms for expressing
Notices of Japan, No. V111.
Fischer says that the sound of Japanese is soft and sweet; Meylan, that some of the letters cannot be articulated, save by native organs "to the manner born:" a matter that seems not unlikely, judging from the difficult contraction of the per- sonal pronoun. The president adds, that in Japanese there are no articles; and that the declension of nouns is by small words following the noun to be declined, like the domo following and attached to watakusi, for the purpose of making it plural. In fact, the name and nature of the preposition are simply reversed, by being made to follow instead of preceding. With respect to verbs, they remain unvaried by person or number, though changing with the tense and voice.*
The Japanese have a syllabary of forty-eight letters, which may be in a man- ner doubled, by affixing marks to the consonants that modify their sound, render- ing it harder or softer. This syllabary dates from the eighth century, and may be written in four different sets of characters. These are, the kata-kana, which is held appropriate to the use of men; the hira-kana, similarly appropriated to wo- men; the manyo-kana and the yamato-kana, the difference between which, in use or nature, is not explained, but they are said to show the original type of every letter. In addition to these four sets of characters, the Chinese is used as a sort of learned character; probably a symptom and consequence of the arts and sciences having been brought from China to Japan. In this Chinese character 'all works of science, or appertaining to the higher departments of literature, as also official papers and public documents, are still written or printed. But even learned men employ their own kata-kana in writing annotations upon books, the the personal pronouns, meny of which convey, in themselves, an intimation of the relative standing of the parties, or in some degree indicate deference to the person spoken to or spoken of, and respect from the person speaking. This feature of the Japanese language is not confined to the pronouns, but extends to many words indicating an action, decrce, a thing, a word, or aught else, of the high per- sonage, be it a divinity, emperor, or honored friend, who forms the subject of the sentence; so that a highly polished and deferential sentence is much longer than one in ordinary conversation. Thus, in speaking to a friend, they say, Konnichi omaiyewa nani no tokoroni yukuka? meaning, where are you going to-day? But to a superior, the phrase would be, Konnichi no kimiwa nani no tokoroni on ide asobasaruka? In the instance given above, wasi is the word for the first person speaking, among equals or to an inferior, while watakusi is used when speaking respectfully to a superior or to a stranger; so with wasidomo and watakusidomo for the plural we. The syllable that is dropped is not a supernumerary one, but is contracted in speaking, as is the case with words generally in conversation. for the Japanese, in rapid enunciation, frequently make an elision of the last vowel, wherever the euphony of sentence requires it, in this respect resembling the French.]
* [The examples of Japanese poetry given in this paper will somewhat illustrate the pronunciation of the language; it is, in truth, an agreeable tongue, and, more- over considerable changes are permitted for the sake of euphony. When it is written in English, almost every other letter is a vowel, and when consonants unite and the vowels are dropped, it is for the most part in words where they readily coalesce; thus shrano for shirano. There are, however, many exceptions to this apparently simple rule, and study is required before the student can read correctly even after he knows the syllables.-Thic contraction of watakfs is probably written by the Dutch to express a kind of aspirated clipping of the word, for there is no f sounded by those whom we have seen from other provinces, nor is it thus written in Rodriguez' Grammar. The language is very copious, for it has not only its own native stores to draw from in expressing ideas, but unlimited use is also made of the Chinese; and the two are combined, and separated, apparently altogether according to the fancy of the writer. The verb especially is very full in moods
Notices of Japan, No. VIII.
text of which is in the Chinese character. The Japanese, like the Chinese, write in columns, from the top to the bottom of the paper, and begin from the right side.* and voices. For some general remarks on the Japanese tongue, see Chi. Rep., vol. VI, page 105.]
* We give a few additional particulars, concerning the syllabarics of the Japan- ese language, most of which are abridged from an article by Klaproth, in the Nouveau Journal Asiatique for Jan. 1829. The following is his account of the introduction of the Chinese literature into Japan.
“Up to the time of the sixteenth datri, named Ouzin tenwo,
the Japanese had no writing, all ordinances and proclamations being made vivá voce. Under the reign of this prince, Chinese characters began to be employed.
In the year 284 B. C., Oüzin tenwo sent an embassy to the kingdom of
Haku-sai, which then existed in the southeastern part of Corea, to obtain learned persons, who were able to introduce the civilization and literature of China into his dominions. The embassador, on his return, brought the celebrated Wonin or Wangjin, who perfectly fulfilled the object proposed. He was des- cended from the emperor Kaoutsoo of the Han dynasty, and on his arrival was appointed the instructor of two princes. His descendants subsequently filled high military dignities, and his own merit appeared so great to the Japanese that they afterwards accorded him divine honors. Since the time of Wonin, the Chinese characters have been in use among the Japanesc. In the form of pure Chinese, they are employed principally in works of learning; but this does not hinder their diffusion throughout the country.
"However, as the construction of the Japanese language differs materially from that of the Chinese, and as the same Chinese character frequently has many meanings, the need of a remedy for this inconvenience was soon perceived, and consequently, a syllabary was formed, in the beginning of the 8th century, from
parts of Chinese characters, which was called for this reason kata-kana, R
meaning 'parts of letters.' This syllabary is used, at the side of Chinese characters, to indicate their pronunciation or their signification in Japanese, or between them to mark the grammatical forms of the idiom rendered difficult by the use of isolated characters. It is not known certainly who is the author of this syllabary, but tradition ascribes its invention to the illustrious Kibi. An- other Japanese work called Wa Zi Si (Origin of Things in Japan), assures us that Kibi composed the kata-kana syllabary, and that he traveled to China, from whence he returned in A. D. 733. After his death, flourished the famous Koubo, the inventor of another syllabary, which could be used for the Japanese language alone, without having recourse to the Chinese. It is called hira-kana For 'equal writing,' and like the kata-kana is derived
from Chinese characters.
"Of the invention of the third syllabary, we read as follows: 'In the year
1006 A. D., a priest of Budha, called Ziäku sõ 寂昭 (or Shahchaou in Chi-
nese) went from Japan to carry tribute to China. He did not understand the spoken Chinese, but as he wrote it very well, he was directed to make out a list of Chinese characters with their meanings in Japanese. At this time it was he made some letters for his country, forty-seven in number; this number was adopt- ed because the syllabary brought from India had that number.' The forty-eighth syllable was added afterwards. This syllabary, which is used indiscriminately with the hira-kana, is called after the name of its inventor.
There is still another ancient syllabary, with which was written the collection of odes called the Myriad Leaves, and which for this reason is called Mānyo-kana.
Notices of Japan, No. Vlll.
Books intended for the instruction of either children or the lower orders are invariably printed in hira-kana letters; but we are told that, in those designed for
These characters are frequently mixed up with those of the two other syllabaries; it has the same order, and is composed of complete Chinese characters, written both in the common and in the running hand, and many characters are frequently employed to represent the same syllable. The following list contains the proto- types, but others are as frequently used as these; and it should be observed that the Chinese characters which compose this syllabary, as likewise of all the others, do not always represent the Chinese sound of the words that they designate. Thus, the Chinese character keang I a river represents the syllable ye, which in Japanese has the same signification; also neu a female is called me, mean- ing the same thing."
THE SYLLABARY CALLED
MANYO-KANA.
vei isin Falling Di
飛ˊˊ幾 ㄏㄨㄩㄝˊ 不 乃補
maou yew
毛已於奈與利ㄐㄩㄥˊ 波
Úll he, fe
tsängyuen
This syllabary commences on the right, and reads in the Chinese manner. The syllables in italic are the sounds of the characters according to the court dialect of China, as given in Morrison's Dictionary; the others are their Japanese sounds, written as they are expressed in a table given in the VIIth volume of the Repository, page 496.
"There is still another syllabary, made of Chinese characters considerably
contracted, which is call Yamato-kana 倭假名 or Japanese writing.” One
of the modes of employing Chinese characters in Japanese is here exhibited.
Yamato-kana is formed of three characters; the first one 倭 is an old name for Japan, and is read Yamato, though its sound is i; of the other two 假名,the
first is called according to its sound ka, the other according to its meaning in Japanese na, i. e. a name, and by the combination of the two is derived kana, a syllable or a character. The Chinese characters for hira-kana, kata-kana, and manyo-kana are all used in the same manner.
It may be added, that with the exception of the kata-kana, these various sylla baries are seldom used alone. Ordinarily, the characters of two or three are mixed together, without any rule, which renders the decyphering of the whole much more troublesome. And as if it was not already sufficiently difficult, Chinese characters are interspersed here and there, sometimes with and sometimes without the meaning or sound given on the side, just according to the whim of the writer. So that if we take into consideration the number of signs in each of the five sylla-
Notices of Japan, No. VIII.
the well-educated, all four kinds of letters are often indiscriminately used and intermixed with the Chinese ideographic characters; one word, or even one sylla- baries, with the variations (or synonymous characters as they may be called), all of which cannot be much less than three hundred, together with the unlimited use made of Chinese characters, both in the running-hand and in the common form, it must be conceded that the scholars of Japan have succeeded in making their language one of the most difficult to read of any in the world, if indeed it is not the first in this respect. So close and so extensive is the connection between the two languages, that before the native student can make much satisfactory progress in his own literature, he must acquire a knowledge of three or four thou sand Chinese characters, and ascertain how they are used by authors in his own country, the various modes of combining the two languages, and the different ways of writing the same character. Indeed, as it may easily be supposed, much of the time of the scholar is consumed in merely learning to read and write. We give a specimen of a common Japanese book, in which the hira-kana forms the ground. work as it were, intermixed with numerous Chinese characters, and with syllables from the yamato-kana. A translation of it can be seen by turning to vol. IX., page 90, bottom paragraph, on ‘roasting_ore.' The first three lines are read as follows:
Haku shekiwo yaku dzu.
Haku shekiwo yaku nite, hazhimete kanadowo tskuru; kanadoni ardshi guchi arri, hiwo towasu kuchi nari, kanado no sotoni takigiwo shiki, &c., &c.
It will be observed that many of the common Chinese characters are without either collateral explanations, or sound; and also that such characters as have been explained once are left unmarked when repeated soon after.
Specimen of common Japanese Writing.
焼くの先竃を作る寛ま嵐踊り 薪を
VOL. X. NO. IV.
Notices of Japan, No.
No. VIII.
ble, being written in one character, and the next in another: no small addition to the difficulty of making any progress in Japanese literature.
In order to bring the various syllabaries which are employed in Japanese writing into view at once, we have combined them together in a tabular form. This table is made out from those in Rodriguez' Grammar, and Siebold's Epitome linguæ Japonica. The list of synonymous Chinese characters employed to repre. sent the sounds of the syllables given by Rémusat in Rodriguez' Grammar amounts to 382; a few of them are, however, used to represent the sound of two syllables. Sounds of the Japanese Iroha, or Syllabary.
ra or la ya
ro or lo
ri or li
་སྦ ་ཌ་པ
hi or fi
ha or fa
re or leu
ru or lu
se or she ze or zhe
ho or fo
he or fe
si or shi
zi or zhi
This syllabary is read perpendicularly, commencing on the left side, and each space corresponds to a space in the table on the opposite page. In each square are inserted: 1. The kata-kana, which occupies the centre, having the inflected syllables immediately underneath them, as ha, ba, pa; the addition of two marks, (") called a nigori, changes the initial into a harder or rougher sound; the addi- tion of a maru (°) or circle, changes the initial h or ƒ of six syllables into p. 2. The Chinese characters, from which the kata-kana is derived, placed in the top corner on the left side of each square. 3. The yamato-kana immediately beneath it, in the left lower corner; it will be seen that this is sometimes a contraction of the preceding, and sometimes not. 4. The hira-kana occupying the upper right hand corner; a few of these syllables are derived from the Chinese charac- ters in the opposite corner. 5. The syllabary of Ziaku-so immediately underneath the hira-kana, together with some other forms used for certain syllables, as in ta, ma, no, na, &c. Many of the syllables in this are identical with those in the hira kana. There are also other forms of hira-kana besides these, for which see Ro- driguez' Grammar, or Klaproth in Journal Asiatique. The last and forty-eighth
Notices of Japan, No. Vill.
Notices of Japan, No. VIII.
Japan has long possessed the art of printing, after a fashion sufficient for the diffusion of literature, but not emulating the splendor of the London press, The Japanese printers are unacquainted with movable types, and they rather multiply manuscript copies by means of a very inferior sort of stereotype in wood, or by wood-cuts, than really print, as we understand the process. Still, they supply the public with books, and we are assured that reading is the favorite recreation of both sexes in Japan, especially at the mikado's capital.
Japanese literature comprises works of science, history, biography, geography, travels, moral philosophy, natural history, poetry, the drama, and encyclopædias. Of the merits of the productions of Japanese genius in most of these departments, the Dutch writers speak highly; but considering that the members of the Dezima factory are not likely in general to have enjoyed the most finished or scholarlike› education, we may be allowed to receive their judgment with some distrust. Nor is this want of confidence in the critical taste of these eulogists of Japanese liter. ature diminished by turning to the very few data upon which we, in this country, can form an opinion for ourselves.
syllable is an imperfect nasal sound, and was added subsequently to the formation of the preceding syllabary, (Klaproth says by one Saï-chiu, who employed the character king to represent it,) and apparently for the purpose of represent. ing Chinese sounds ending in ng. In composition its sound is always n (some. times m for sake of euphony in the middle of words), but alone it resembles a half enunciated ng, and is formed by putting the tongue on the roof of the mouth, and then making a sound in the throat.
The characters in the last square of the table are marks used in writing. The first, when used, shows a repetition of the preceding syllable; the second is placed between Chinese characters to show that they are to be read continuously, or joined together as a single word in Japanese; its use may be seen in the speci- men plate given below. It is also employed in kata-kana after a syllable to lengthen its sound. The last two niarks show that a dissyllable or word is repeated; for instance in the word kotogoto, this mark is written instead of goto, and with a nigori to show the change in the first syllable from ko to go.
The sounds of some of these syllables vary in different parts of Japan, and dif. ferent modes of writing Japanese words have also been adopted by scholars of different countries. Siebold writes lo, and Klaproth ro, for the second syllable, and so of ra, re, ri, and ru; those natives whom we have heard pronounce them, say ra, re, but yet cannot distinguish between the two sounds of ra or la. When either of these five syllables begins a word, the r is sometimes pronounced as if preceded by a soft d. Siebold remarks, “that the sound is difficult to express, but vibrates between 1 and r, something like the first efforts of children to sound it: in Yedo, the predominates, and in some principalities the obtains." Those syllables beginning with h, except fu, we have always heard pronounced ha, he, hi, ho, &c., but Klaproth writes fa, fe, fi, and fo, and this was the old Portuguese mode, now retained in Fatsisio, Firado, Figo, &c. Those whom we heard also Day
she and shi, but Siebold and Klaproth both writes se and si. There appears to be little or no difference between the sounds of the syllables i and wi, e and
and we have written them thus in this table because it can be hardly be supposed there are two syllables of precisely the same sound; the natives whom we have consulted, however, (and they are from three principalities,) make no difference between them either in sound or use.
In preparing Chinese books for the Japanese public, or when writing Chinese, the grammatical additions are more or less numerous according to the caprice of the editor or writer. Sometimes, however, the works are simple reprints. The cases of nouns, the terminations and tenses of verbs, and the marks to show the transposition of characters are seldom omitted. The perpendicular lines between characters, and the meaning of difficult and unusual characters or their sounds, are
Notices of Japan, No. VIII.
Klaproth has given a version of a geographical treatise, and Titsingh has trans- lated, or caused to be translated, Annals of the Daïri, and Annals of the Sin-
introduced into books which it is desirable to make very plain. In the specimen here given, the small figures at the right hand corner of many of the characters are the grammatical terminations; the catches and figures at the other corner of many others show that they are to be transposed in reading. For instance, the
first two characters 取鈹 are transposed, being read kawawo toru, and the
catch at the left hand corner of toru shows that it is to be read after the other. It will be observed that the second of the two has hira-kana syllables on the side; this is an instance of their use in explanations, for the character is an unusual one, and moreover is here used in an uncommon sense. The circles are marks of punctuation. A translation of this paragraph also will be found on page 96th of vol. IX.
Specimen of Chinese Writing with Japanese explanations.
加加灑浮火爐炭籥洪取
候水津力 頭。之 燻鈹取
其取津到手座。俗
宝墙假之 背燻壁,字波
Prefaces of books are frequently written in Chinese, while the body of the work is in hira-kana; in these cases, the running-hand is often employed, which mach
increases the labor of decyphering the text, if the reader has learned only the com- mon form.]
Notices of Japan, No. VIII.
gouns of the Gongen dynasty. Of these works, the first is by far the best; it is minute, and no doubt imparts accurate knowledge of the geography and form of administration of the three claimed dependencies of the Japanese empire, Corea› the Lewchew islands, and Yezo, including the Kurile archipelago. Its faults are dryness and dullness, unavoidable, perhaps, in a geographical description, and a great deficiency of statistical information. The Annals of the Dairi have been recently corrected and edited by Klaproth; and a more jejune account of births, marriages, accessions, abdications, and deaths, with a few sicknesses, pilgrimages, and rebellions—but even these last uninterestingly told-it would be difficult to conceive. The Annals of the Siogouns are similar in character, though inter. spersed with curious anecdotes; but even these are very heavily narrated, whilst some of them are evidently gleaned by Titsingh, or his Japanese translators, from other sources than the original Annals. Altogether, the three works, though valuable for the information they supply are such as it is a serious task to wade though.
Of the moral philosophy, all that can be gathered is, that it deals in cormmenta. ries* upon the moral precepts of the Chinese philosopher Kung footsze, or -Confu. cius, commentaries upon the Sintoo mythology, which the highest philosophy allegorizes into the epochs of creation. The encyclopedias (of which M. Rémusat has given an excellent speciment) appear to be little more than picture-books; with letter-press explanations, arranged, like other Japanese dictionaries, sometimes alphabetically, and sometimes according to a not very scientific classification of the subjects.
Of the Japanese art of poetry, of its metre or rhyme, or substitute for either, nothing is said by any of these writers; but presidents Meylan and Titsingh furnish some specimens, as far as prose translations can be said to afford a speci. men of poetry. A selection from these examples may be here introduced; and as these gentlemen give the originals, printed in Roman characters, the insertion of one or two of these will show the form of the stanza, rhyme, &c. They will also show that either the Japanese language has great power of compression, or the Dutch translation, from which ours is rendered line by line, is very diffuse.
Arta Kampei,
Kawo mita Kampei,
Mamani hanasiwo itasita Kampei,
Uchi siri tara yakamasi Kampei,
Sekenni waru Kampei.
Yes! eager is my longing
To look upon thy face,
With thee some words to speak;
But this I must renounce;
For should it in my dwelling
Once chance to be divulged, That I with thee had spoken, Then grievous were the trouble `On me would surely light. For certain my good name Were lost for evermore.
* Siebold and Fischer.
† MSS. de la Bibl. du Roi. vol. xi. p. 123,
Notices of Japan, No. VIII.
The following ethical stanza is likewise given in the original, because in it are some lines longer than in any of the other specimens; but whether this be ac cidental, or regulated by the nature of the subject, is not explained.
Kokorodani makotono,
Michi ni kanał naba, Inorazu totemo kamiya,
Mamoran.
Upright in heart be thou, and purc, So shall the blessing of God, Through eternity be upon thee; Clamorous prayers shall not avail, But truly a clear conscience,
That worships and fears in silence.
One of Titsingh's specimens, a short poem upon the murder of Yamasiro, a councillor of state, is both rather more poetical, and exemplifies the allusions to old stories or legends, and the play upon words, said to characterize Japanese poetry. This president, or rather his French translator, has added to his Dutch a Latin version, professedly literal, and no longer than the original; for which reason, it may be better to translate that (even if not literally, which the singular collocation of the words, dislocated beyond ordinary Latin dislocation, would, even more than the extreme compression, render difficult in English), than to copy the doubly and trebly translated translations; his work being published only in French and English, not in Dutch. It must be premised, that the constituent parts of the murdered man's name, being yama, a mountain,' and siro, a castle,' afford a happy opportunity for puns.
"That the young councillor is cut off at the castle on the hill by a new guard, exciting a tumult, I have just heard.
"Yamasiro's white robe being dyed with blood, all behold in him the reddening councillor.
"Along the eastern way, through the village Sanno, the rushing waters poured, burst the dyke of the swamp, and the mountain-castle fell.
"The precious trees planted in vases, the plum-trees and cherry-trees beautiful with their blossoms, who threw them into the fire? "Twas Sanno cut them down.' (This alludes to an old tale of one Sanno's still unbounded hospitality, when reduced to extreme indigence.)
"Cut down is the insane councillor. We might say, had such things ever before been heard of, this was the chastisement of Heaven."
These specimens may suffice; but as the compression and style of Japanese verse have certainly not been displayed in the Dutch translations, perhaps one stanza of the Latin, which professes to be line for line, may not be unacceptable.
Kiraretawa,
Bakadoshi yorito,
Kikuto haya;
Yamamo o shiro mo
Sawagu shinpan.
With the statement that ballads,
Præcidisse
Consiliarum minorem
Nuper audivi ;
In montis castello
Turbas excitantem novum custodem.
romances, and songs are said to constitute the greater number of Japanese poems, this subject may now be dismissed. Of the drama, all that could be found has already been given, in speaking of the theatrical representations at Ohosaka; and we turn from light literature to science.
Notices of Japan, No. VIII.
The only sciences that can be said to be cultivated in Japan, are medicine and astronomy, and upon these were are assured that original works, as well as transla. tions of all accessible European publications, are constantly appearing. Of the merits of the original works we have no means of judging, save by inference from the reports of the abilities and knowledge of the Japanese physicians and astrono mers; and on this head, those of the medical travelers are favorable. Dr. Von Siebold dwells eulogistically upon the zeal with which physicians from all parts of the empire thronged about him to acquire medical science of a higher character than their own; and his opinion of the intelligence and knowledge evinced by their questions has been already mentioned. The latter remark applies equally to the astronomers; and it may be added, that their sense of the scientific superiority of Europe, alone places the Japanese far above the self-sufficient Chinese.
Of the proficiency of the medical profession in Japan, some further notion may be formed from the assertion that acupuncture and moxa burning are native inven- tions. The former of these remedies, having been introduced into this country, needs no description; but it may be worth mentioning, that among the books brought to Europe by Heer Titsingh, is one containing accurate directions for its use, with an enumeration of the maladies it is calculated to relieve, and accom- panied by a doll, upon which is marked every part of the frame adapted to the operation, according to the several cases. Moxa burning is a means of blistering, or making an issue, by actual cautery, or burning balls of flaxen down, made by triturating the leaves of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), upon the skin.*
The drugs employed in Japanese pharmacy are mostly animal and vegetable, chemistry being for too superficially and imperfectly known to allow physicians to venture upon mineral remedies. But botany, as connected with the knowledge of simples, is diligently cultivated, and the medicines used are said to be generally. beneficial; the chief reliance, however, is upon diet, acupuncture, and the moxa. Superstition is the main obstacle to the progress of medicine and surgery; its baneful influence was apparent in what has been incidentally mentioned respecting the obstetric department of the science: and the pollution incurred by contact with death renders dissection, and consequently anatomical science, impossible.
In astronomy, the proficiency made is yet greater, perhaps, from there being no superstitious impediments in the way of progress in this science. The Japan- ese astronomers study the most profound works that have been translated into Dutch, and have learned the use of most European instruments. These they have taught Japanese artists to imitate, and Meylan saw good telescopes, barometers, and thermometers, of Japanese workmanship. In consequence, the almanacs, which were formerly imported from China, are now constructed at home, the cal- culation of eclipses included, in the colleges at Yedo and Miyako.
The measurement and division of time are in Japan very peculiar, and not very easy to be understood. For chronological purposes, cycles are employed; of these there are three, unconnected and concurrent. The one is formed by a somewhat complicated blending of astronomy with other branches of natural philosophy ; the remaining two are simple, and may therefore be first mentioned.
The cycle habitually used in history for dates is the nengo. This is a period of arbitrary, and therefore ever-varying length, from one year to any number of * [The use of the actual cautery is very common, acconding to Kæmpfer: and a great number of the people who crowded the decks of the Morrison had scars on their bodies showing where it had been applied.]
Notices of Japan, No. VIII
years. It is regulated by the pleasure of the reigning mikado, according to any remarkable or accidental occurrence that he thinks worthy of such commemo- ration; he may, for instance, appoint a new nengo to begin from the building of a temple, from an earthquake, or the like; and he gives it a name descriptive of its origin, either simply, or, in the oriental style, metaphorically, allegorically, and enigmatically. Thus, a mikado ordered a new nengo to begin on his abdication, and named it the nengo genrokf; literally, 'the nengo of the happiness of nature and art;' implying that he, in his retirement, should have leisure to enjoy both. The new nengo lasts till some new event induces the same mikado, or his succes- sor, immediate or remote, to terminate it and commence another.
The other simple mode of computation is by the reign or dat of every suc cessive mikado. This, as the most straightforward, is the one in common use. The only difficulty to which it seems liable, mamely, the interruption of a reign in the middle of a year, is obviated by the provision, that the whole year in which a mikado abdicates or vanishes is reckoned to him who begun it, and the dat of the successor calculated only from the next newyear's day.*
The third, the astronomical cycle of sixty years, is far other, and a very com. plex affair, being constructed by calculation out of the signs of the Zodiac and the elements. The former are reckoned in Japan, as perhaps wherever astronomy has been studied, twelve, and differ from ours only in their names. They are col- lectively called ziyuni no shi, or the 'twelve branches,' and run thus:
the rat, answers to Arics.
the cow, answers to Taurus.
3. Tora,the tiger, answers to Gemini.
5. Tats,
7. 'Mma,
8. HiteuziTM
9. Saru,
10. Tori,
11. Iñu,
the rabbit, answers to Cancer.
the dragon, answers to Leo.
the snake, answers to Virgo.
the horse, answers to Libra.
the goat, answers to Scorpio.
the ape, answers to Sagittarius.
the cock, answers to Capricorn.
the dog, answers to Aquarius.
the wild boar, answers to Pisces.
The + elements of the Japanese are more original. They are held to be five in number, excluding air, and including wood and metal as elementary substances. But these five are whimsically doubled, by taking each in a twofold character; separately as one in its natural state, and another as adapted to the use of man yet in each an element. This is so strange as to be worth giving at length, and in the proper order.
* [The year of the siogoun's reign is also employed as a mode of computing time, for the dates of all the Japanese books we have seen are reckoned by the number of years he has sat on the throne.]
+ Meylan.
VOL. X. NO. IV.
Notices of Japan, No. VIII.
1. Ki no ye [represented by the Chinese character is wood in its natural state, as tree; this is the first element, and becomes,
2. Ki no to [represented by ] when cut down and converted into timber. 3. Fi no ye [by, is the clement of fire in its original state, as appearing in the sun's heat, lightning, volcanic eruptions, &c.
4. Fi no to [by] is fire kindled by man, with wood, oil, incense, &c. 5. Touchi no ye [by is earth in its uncultivated state, on mountain-tops,
at the bottom of the sea, &c.
6. Tsuchi no to [by Z is earth as wrought by the hand of man into por
celain, earthenware, and the like. Tilled ground appertains to this element, and it is sometimes represented by a rice-field.
7. Ka no ye [by] is the metallic element in its native state of mineral ore ; sometimes also symbolized by manufactured metal, as a sabre or a bell.
8. Ka no to [by] is the metallic element smelted, worked into hammers, nails, shears, &c.
9. Midzu no ye [by] is water as it flows from springs and in rivers; and 10. Midzu no to [by the character is the other watery element, as stag. nant in pools and morasses: a curious deviation from the principle laid down, that adaptation to human use constitutes every second element. [It is, however, sometimes represented by water issuing from a pipe or reservoir.]
Now, these ten elements being five times combined with the twelve signs of the Zodiac, in some way more complicated than intelligible, sixty compound figures are said to be obtained, each of which stands for a year in this most scien tific cycle.*
The year is divided into twelve lunar months, but contains more than 336 days, because the mikado and his astronomers add a couple of days to several of the months, announcing always in the almanac of the year how many and which of the months they have thus increased. The difference between the lunar year, even thus lengthened, and the sidereal year, is corrected by inserting every third year an intercalary month of varying length, according to the number of days the mikado has been pleased to make requisite.t
[The mode of combining the ziyuni no shi, or twelve branches, with the five doubled elements, or rather with the ten characters which stand for them, collectively called shikkan, or the ten stems,' is the same in China as in Japan, and was no doubt adopted from the former by the latter. The subsequent adaption of the 'ten stems' to the five elements belongs to the Japanese, and has no con. nection with the original formation of the cycle; nor do the latter in numbering the years by it do more than express the Chinese characters which stand for any given year. The apparently complicated nature of the arrangement is chargeable more to its Dutch commentators than to the system itself. The mode of combin- ing the two is explained on page 122 of this volume.]
[The division of the year into months is the same in Japan as in China, and we rather suspect that the mikado, or his officer the Reki Hakase, who superintends the preparation of the almanac at Miyako, does no more han publish the already settled arrangement of the various lunar and solar periods of the year. The year is luni-solar, and consists of twelve months, except when by this mode of reckon. ing, the lunar time falls behind the solar time one whole revolution of the moon; then an intercalary month is added by the following rule: if during any laner month the sun does not enter any sign of the zodiac, (that is, if there are two full
Notices of Japan, No. VIII.
But perhaps the most whimsical, and certainly the most inconvenient, division of time in Japan, is that by hours. A natural day and night is there divided into twelve hours, of which six are always allotted to the day-that is to say, to the interval between the rising and the setting of the sun; the other six to the night, or the period between sunset and sunrise. Thus, the hours of the day and of the night are never of equal duration in Japan, except at the equinoxes; in summer, the hours of the day being long, those of night short, and in winter vice versa.
moons in any one sign) that month is intercalary, and the year consequently con- tains thirteen months. The intercalated year contains 384 days, and the common year 354; the 1st, 3d, 4th, 8th and 12th months have 29 days; the others 30 each. Besides these monthly divisions depending on the moon, the year is still further divided into twenty-four periods of about fifteen days each, the settlement of which depends on the time when the sun is in the first and fifteenth degree of any zodiacal sign. This division was also obtained from the Chinese.
The Japanese have a sort of descriptive term for each of the months called its wa miyo, or harinonizing name; they are thus explained in the chapter entituled, Nippon gets rei zen, or, All the monthly festivals of Japan, found in the work called the Mirror of Female Education.
1st month, or shiyo gwats, is called
mo tsuki, the amicable month because the hearts of people are then mild and goodnatured from the festivities of the newyear.
2d month, ni gwats, is called
ki-sara-gi, the month to change
clothes, because then the winter clothing is laid aside.
3d month, san gwate, is called
yayoi, the budding month, becausa
nature then revives from the slumber of the winter.
4th month, shi gwats, is called
the flowers are in bloom.
u dzuki, or flourishing month, when
5th month, go gwats, is called sa tsuki, or transplanting month, at which
time the crop of rice is transplantǝd.
6th month, roku gwate, is called mina dzuki, or dry month;
because no rain falls.
7th month, sicki gwats, is called ♬ fumi tsuki, or letters' month, be-
cause in this month an ode to the stars is written on papers and suspended on poles.
8th month, hachi gwats, is called ha dzuki, or leaf month, because
the leaves of autumn begin to fall.
9th month, ku gwats, is called naga tsuki, or the long month, for
the nights begin to grow long.
10th month, ziyu gwats, is called
kami-na dzuki, or godless
month, because it is supposed that all the deities leave their shrines this month, and go to Idzumo on the north of Japan.
11th month, ziyu.ichi gwats, is called
shimo tsuki, or hoar-frost
month, because the rains congeal into snow and hoar frost.
12th month, xiyuni gwats, is called shiwasu, the final or season-ending month. The number of festivals, and civic and religious ceremonies, occurring through- out the year, is very great, and the important ones are carefully observed by all classes. Titsingh has given an account of some of the great festivals, and others that are observed by the court; see his Annals, pages 114–144.]
Notices of Japan, No. V111.
Strictly speaking, the length of the hours should vary from day to day; but such extreme accuracy is dispensed with, and the variations are regulated only four times in the year, upon averages of three months.
Again, the numbering of these twelve hours, which seems so straightforward a matter for people who can count twelve, is in Japan so strangely complicated, that had not the expedient been adopted of bestowing upon each hour the name of a sign of the Zodiac, in addition to its number, it would there be no easy task to answer the seemingly plain question of “What's o'clock?" An attempt must be made to explain this abstruse and original system.
Nine being esteemed the perfect number, noon and midnight are both called "9 o'clock"--the one of the day, the other of the night; while sunrise and sunset are respectively "six o'clock" of the day, and "six o'clock" of the night. If it be asked how nine can occur twice in twelve, the answer is, that the arithmetical impossibility is conquered or obviated by omitting the first and the last three num- bers, beginning with four and ending with the perfect nine. The intermediate numbers are laboriously evolved from the multiplication table, and the system is based upon the profound respect entertained for the number nine. Here is the
process :————
Nine, being the hour of noon and midnight, is the point from which the num- bering begins, and considered as the first hour. Twice 9 is 18; subtract the decimal figure and 8 remains, therefore the hour following noon or midnight, say the second hour, is 8 o'clock of the day or of the night. Three times 9 is 27; subtract the decimal figure and 7 remains, and the third hour becomes 7 o'clock of the day or the night. Four times 9 is 36; repeat the operation, and we find the fourth hour, which must invariably be sunset or sunrise, 6 o'clock of the night or the day. Five times 9 is 45; and the usual operation makes the hour following sunset or sunrise, fifth from either poon inclusively, 5 o'clock of the night or the day. Finally, six times 9 is 54; and by the same operation we obtain a 4 for the sixth and last hour, which becomes 4 o'clock of the night or the day. Then comes again the noon, or 9 o'clock of the night or the day. A table, which without previous explanations must have been unintelligible, will now place the sequence of the twelve hours of a natural day distinctly before the reader.
Midnight is kokonots or 9 o'clock of the night, the hour of the Rat.
2 A. M. is yats or 8 o'clock
4 A. M. is nanats or 7 o'clock
Sunrise is mutsu-doki or 6 o'clock of the day,
8 A. M. is itsutsu or 5 o'clock
10 A. M. is yots or 4 o'clock
Noon, is kokonots or 9 o'clock
2 P. M. is yats or 8 o'clock
Goat or Sheep.
4 P. M. is nanats or 7 o'clock
Sunset, is mutsu-doki or 6 o’olock of the night,
8 P. M. is itsutsu or 5 o'olock
10 P. M. is yots or 4 o'clock
* [Each of these hours is divided in eighths (equivalent to our quarters), and the notation of the intervals is done by additions to the word denoting the hour; thus, kokonots han is 1 a. m.; kokonots han sugi is half past one; kokonots han sugi maye is quarter past one, &c., &c. The use of the twelve branches' to desig. nate the hours is borrowed from the Chinese, but the other arrangement of num. bering the six hours as here explained is peculiar to the Japanese.]
Notices of Japan, No. VIII.
These hours are always sounded by the bells of the temples. The measuring them seems a more difficult matter, although lengthening and shortening the pendulum is spoken of as sufficient for this purpose* (of course, daily, or twice a day, at sunrise and sunset, must be meant). Two indigenous modes are also mentioned. The one, which may, evidently answer, by the burning of bodies of determinate magnitude-analogous to our Alfred's candles; the other, by a peculiar sort of clock, described, not very intelligibly, to consist of a horizontal balance, having a weight at either end, and moving backwards and forwards upon a pin. The subject of hours and clocks may be concluded with the description of a clock-not its mechanism, unluckily-ordered in 1826 by the governor of Nagasaki as a pre- sent for the siogoun, and considered as a master-piece of mechanical genius. As such it was proudly exhibited to the Dutch factory, and certainly indicates more skill than taste.
"The † clock is contained in a frame three feet high by five feet long, and pre- sents a fair landscape at noontide. Plum and cherry trees in full blossom, with other plants, adorn the foreground, The background consists of a hill, from which falls a cascade, skillfully imitated in glass, that forms a softly flowing river, first winding around rocks placed here and there, then running across the middle of the landscape, till lost in a wood of fir-trees. A golden sun hangs aloft in the sky, and, turning upon a pivot, indicates the striking of the hours. On the frame below, the twelve hours of day and night are marked, where a slowly.creeping tortoise serves as a hand. A bird, perched upon the branch of a plum-tree, by its song and the clapping of its wings, announces the moment when an hour expires, and as the song ceases, a bell is heard to strike the hour; during which operation, a mouse comes out of a grotto and runs over the hill.
Every separate part was nicely executed; but the bird was too large for the tree, and the sun for the sky, while the mouse scaled the mountain in a moment of time."
The Japanese possess some little knowledge of mathematics, mechanics, tri- gonometry, and civil engineering; they have canals, intended chiefly for irriga. tion, and a great variety of bridges; they have learned to measure the height of mountains by the barometer, and have latterly constructed very good maps of the Japanese empire. In mechanics, they have not got much beyond lathes and water-mills, nor do they desire to make further progress. The views entertained upon this subject were explicitly announced, upon occasion of the model of an oil-mill, forming part of the Dutch present one year, offered to the siogoun. The ingenuity of the invention and its admirable mechanism were highly commended, but the model was returned, because the adoption of such an aid to labor would throw out of work all those Japanese who earn their bread in the ordinary mode of making oil.
* Fischer.
+ Meylan.
Examination of Four Chinese Characters.
ART. IV. A short tract respecting four Chinese characters, which perform a very remarkable office in the writings of Mencius and his commentators, published at Paris, A. D. 1830. Trans- lated from the Latin of Stanislaus Julien, by S. R. WHILE reading and treating of Chinese books, it has long since ap- peared to me (and the opinion has every day become stronger), that some characters, in certain cases determined by a certain law, throw off altogether their primitive and accustomed signification, and then become merely the phonetic signs of regimen, by which the accusa- tive case is denoted.
Those we shall at present consider are four in number:
1st. The charactere, commonly signifying uti, utor, e, eĩ, etc., to use, I employ, of, from, &c.
2d. The character
3d. The character
yu, usually meaning a, ab, in, etc., from,
yu, commonly meaning in, causâ, propter, account of, &c.
etc., in, by reason of, on
4th. The character hoo, ordinarily importing in, propter, nota interrogationis, etc., in, on account of, a mark of interrogation, &c.
Until I shall attempt in a special dissertation more fully to set forth the doctrine from which flows a most copious abundance of princi- ples, and by the aid of which the greatest and most frequent diffi- culties are solved, I cannot refrain from submitting to my readers in a brief and compendious way the principal and most obvious uses of these characters, so far as they denote the accusative case; supported by some proofs from among the thousands which I have from time to time collected and arranged. For in my emendationes,' and espe- cially in the 4th section of Mencius, which embraces the V, VI, VII, and VIII chapters, many things occur which might justly be charg- ed upon me as faults, should I not openly avow my reasons for never having once declined from the royal way.*
* The Ewang taou, or regia via, is the great subject of the discourses of
Mencius, and we conceive that M. Julien here delicately compliments himself for his rigid adherence to the opinions of the best Chinese commentators, many of whose writings he has most carefully studied and compared, and without whose sanction he has never advanced any interpretation of Mencius. M. Julien cer- tainly deserves the thanks of all Chinese students for his translation of Mencius; and the industry and judgment, which are displayed in it, reflect the highest credit on the anthor. He gives us in his preface the names of eight editions of the Four Books, embracing the interpretations of more than forty authors, all of
Examination of Four Chinese Characters.
Of the charactere, commonly rendered uti (se servir), cum, ut, causâ, e, ex, etc., to use, employ, with, as, by reason of, of, from, &c.
§ I. All sinologues have plainly perceived and known that in the more modern Chinese books the characters pa and tseäng
(vulgo, to take, hold), when prefixed to words that precede the active verb by which they are governed, place those words in the accusative These characters so situated are very often prefixed to things that cannot be taken hold of, and they so entirely lose their usual signification that, to the mind of the reader or hearer, they appear to be mere potential characters, indicating the accusative case. It is almost the same thing as if in writing Latin, one should cut off the termination of the accusative, which is inseparably suffixed to the last syllable of the noun, and place it before the same noun. I beg leave to do this in the following examples, that I may more clearly and distinctly explain the peculiar property, as I regard it, of these cha-
racters.
I shall adduce first an example from the learned Grammar of the distinguished M. Abel-Rémusat; see 392.
A #pa 眞chin心 sin 話 haoa 說 shioǒ 了 Lerou
Literally: prehendens veri
I write : as
verba loquel-
enuntiavit. enuntiavit.
That is, veri cordis loquelas (sive verba) enuntiavit: "He spoke
the words of a true heart."
Another example ;
I write :
Literally: prebendens
A chung ▲ jin tow.
hominum-turbam
hominum-turb-
tow. 看 kan
aspiciebat.
aspiciebat.
That is, homines furtim aspiciebat: "He stealthily beheld the
men." Observe that
the plural number.
chung, (vulg. many,) a multitude, denotes-
That the charactere, which appears in theKoo wăn, or ancient style of writing, performs, in certain cases, the same office as that of the aforesaid characters pa and tseäng, will be evident from the following proofs.
which, he informs us, he has felt bound to read again and again, while he has admitted no sense, nor criticised any rendering of others, unless the authority of many, or at least some, of these commentators favored bim. And in addition to this he has studied and compared with equal care the two Tartar versions of the same books. The man who has the ability and patience to do all this, in order to expound the Chinese classics, certainly does not boast, if he says he has adhered to the royal road to true interpretation, though unlike the modern regia via it is long and tedious. Tr.
Examination of Four Chinese Characters:
Mencius, Book II. page 56, line 2d.*
humanitat.
Conservat
AĽA sin.
That is, humanitatem conservat in corde: "He (the superior man)
preserves humanity in the heart," which exposition three of the four editions of the Four Books which have been compared confirm.
Two of them explain the word e by pa, and the third by
tseäng, as indicating the accusative case, to wit in this manner.
D C. 將 tseäng
Compare I., examples A and B, and also Rémusat's Grammar, $346 and 392. Hence it appears that the learned Noel erred egre- giously, when servilely adhering to the usual signification of 》 • like a tyro he interprets the same passage "by the aid of humanity he preserves the heart," as if he had written, "using humanity he preserves the heart."
Respecting the office of e, each of the Tartar interpreters agrees with us.
gosin humanitat
moutsilen in-corde
That is, "he preserves humanity in the heart.
teboumbi. reponit.
For every one knows that in the Tartar language, the particle be, in construction with the direct complimept preceding an active verb, points out the accusative, as if it were a separable termination of the fourth case.
The reader will find it to his advantage if he can have access to the Tartarico-Chinese Grammar entitled
Tsing Wăn Ke Mung, where (Book 3d, page 6) the particle be just quoted, inasmuch as it denotes the accusative case, is explained by the cha- racters pa, tseäng, and e.
* The edition of the Four Books to which all the quotations in this tract are referred is the one styled Sze Shoo Ho Kang. The mode of reference is as follows:
The pages have been numbered as they are in our books, and thus the reference is to each page, and not to the sheet as in the Chinese mode of numbering. The lines are counted from the right to the left, and the space between every two black lines, which run from the top to the bottom of the page, is counted as two lines, whether it is occupied by the large character when only one line of cha- racters is found, or whether it is blank from occurring at the first of a section. Thus counted, every page has eighteen lines, and the reference is easy. This work has been chosen because it is a common one and supposed to be in hands of every student of Chinese; and because all the editions of it are very uniformly printed. Tr.
Examination of Four Chinese Characters.
Another example. Mencius B. II., page 167, line 12.*
utilitat-
That is, utilitatem (sequendam) regi proponere, "to propose to the
king utility (to be followed)." Both of the Tartar versions taking
以 e to fill the place of ‡ pa or
examples, render the passage thus:
Literally, utilitat- em
tseäng, as in the foregoing
kisourefi,
elocutus,
to the king
dchafafi wang
prehendens reg-
e, has two com-
§II. If an active verb, in company with plements, the one direct and the other indirect, three forms of con- struction may occur, which the following examples will elucidate.
1st. Either the verb is followed immediately by the complement indirect, and the complement direct, with Ve before it, is placed after the indirect complement; as Men. B. I. page 164, line 16.
dividere
hominibus
That is, hominibus divitias (suas) dividere, "To divide to men (comp. indirect) his riches (comp. direct). The Tartar version agrees with this.
houtîni-
oulin diviti-
dendeme dividendo
by dividing
poure dare.
to give.
2d. Or, the direct complement, preceded by the word e, is placed before the active verb, and the indirect complement is subjoin- ed. We will adduce an instance from Kanghe's Dictionary under the
物 wǔh wei jin 日 yuè 稅 shouy
homini dicitur
ill legare
to devise
to a man is called
Another example from Mencius, B. II. page 81, line 10.
Fteën Theä
That is, the kingdom to give to a man.
shwuy. shuuy.
* The translator ventures to suggest to those who write for the public, and who have occasion to cite examples from Chinese works, that in every case some standard edition of the work be selected, and page and line referred to as has been done in this tract, that the quotations may be readily found and read in the connection in which they stand in the respective books from which they are quoted..
VOL. X. NO. IV.
Examination of Four Chinese Characters.
The Tartar version renders in a like manner :
apkai fetcher gui ciel da dessous
“To give to a man that which is under the heavens (i. e. the empire)."
3d. Or again, the word e, is placed after the direct comple- ment preceding the verb, and then as we have seen above (§ II. A and B), the indirect complement is put after the verb; e. g. Mencius, Book II. page 89, line 4.
yeih Ikeae π puh
That is, unam festucam non dare homini, "Not to give a straw to à man."
In the same place there follows a correlative passage entirely like it in construction.
yerhπkeae puh ye tseu i jin
"Not to take a straw from a man." The Tartar versión
our interpretation.
agrees with
Another example. One interpreter, explaining a passage of Men-
éius, says,
to life.*
comparat
he compares
e, by the
* But if as is the custom of many with such passages, we render preposition ex, of, or from, then contrary to the opinion of the Tartar interpreters, it will be necessary to take the direct complement for the indirect, and indirect for the direct, viz.
I. Example C: ex humanite conservat cor.
"From or according to bumanity he preserves the heart." A: dividere homines ex divitiis.
“To divide men from riches.”
B: ex re legare hominem.
"Of or from a thing to devise a man."
E: ex pisce comparare vitam.
"From a fish to compare life."
In these examples, the Tartar interpreters, who, as every one knows, consider it a matter of conscience to give the Chinese words their genuine signification and
proper office in every place, oppose such an exchange in the regimen. We are
persuaded that P. Basile fell into an error which should be guarded against, when
wei, he renders We, the sign of the ac
in his Chinese dictionary, under
cusative by the preposition ez; e. g.
the straight
w facere
A neurtum:
the crooked.
Examination of Four Chinese Characters.
§ III. It often happens that e, in conjunction with the verb kaou (to tell), when no complement precedes it (the verb), repre- sents the remark of some one brought forward from above, although no mention is made of the remark, as if it (the remark understood) were the compliment of the verb kaou in the accusative case; e. g. Mencius, B. I., p, 171, line 6.
A 徐 Seu 子 tsze me kaou Ming 子 tsze
tsze sign of acc. dixit
Which passage the interpreters expound by subjoining the words
that are understood after e. Thus;
徐 Seu 子 tsze
以。 此 tsze
告 kaou 孟 Máng 子 tsze
That is, Seu tsze told these words (i: e. the speech of Ę tsze,) to Mencius.*
Mencius himself sometimes expresses the wordyen, which is
understood in the former example. Hence it is plain that his inter-
preters, justly supposed that the words
tsze yen, in the șen-
tence quoted above, were to be understood. E. g. Mencius, Book I, page 131, line 16,
氏 she Fisze
告 kaou 孟 Măng 子 tsze
That is, "the disciple Chen tsze narrated to Mencius the speech of She tsze."
The Tartarico-Chinese Grammar in an example precisely similar, e 真 chin weiked, (Gallice, rendre faux ce qui est vrai, “to render false that which is true,") translates the word e by the particle be, as denoting the accusative case and answering to the words pa and tseng, which point out the same case. Moreover, if in P. Basile's example above cited,
pa and tseang, which are signs of the accusative, be substituted for
the explanation will be:
將 tseang (or杷 pa)
Ú chin E wei
爲 zwei 曲 ketik
Literally prehendens
(or as ₫ 1A) um
rectum rect-
That is, rectum curvare, "to bend the straight," or that which is straight.
Compare Book I. page 69, line 14. Page 131, line 16. Page 135, line 12. Page 175, line 18. Book II. page 93, line 6. Page 160, line 8.
Examination of Four Chinese Characters.
Of the word in," &c.
yu, commonly, a, ab, ad, in, etc., “ by, from, to,
The word Ayu denotes the accusative case as often as
it is subjoined to an active verb that is separated from its direct complement by the intervention of one or more words, especially
when the latter are in the genitive; e. g. Mencius, Book I. page 125, line 12.
exhaurire
That is, "to exhaust the heart of a man."
assents.
The Tartar version
Another example. Mencius, Book II. page 21, line 12.
That is, "to change his disposition."
§V. But when the verbs
#ke 德 tih
The Tartar version assents.
tsin and keae are not separat-
ed from their direct complements by the interposition of one or more
words, Mencius omits the word
yu; e. g. Mencius, Book I, page
16, line 6.
exhaurio
That is, "I, the man of little virtue, exhaust my heart (in reliev-
ing the people).”
Another example.
Mencius, Book I. page 136, line 2.
shoo Like
幾 改 keae
forsitan
That is, rex forsitan illud animi consilium mutabit. jesty perhaps will change that purpose of the mind."
"Your ma-
VI. Still however instances occur, but they are rare, where yu, the mark of the accusative is prefixed to the direct complement following an active verb. But since in examples altogether similar, sometimes in the same passage, Mencius at one time uses the word Ayu, and at another omits it without at all changing the sense, is plainly redundant in all cases when it is placed before the direct
complement following an active verb. Mencius, Book II. page 19,
yue gaudio-afficere
That is, gaudio-officere (Tous) youtas, vel patentes, "to make glad one's parents." The Tartar version assents.
Examination of Four Chinese Characters.
In the same passage, a little above, the phrase occurs without A
yue gaudio-officiendi
parentes
That is, "there is a way of delighting parents." The Tartar
version assents. Compare also Mencius, Book II, page 43, line 16.
Another example. Mencius, Book II. page 206, line 12.
aspectat
That is," he who looks at the sea.' The Tartar version assents. See above § VI. A.
In the passage above quoted a little below line 18 we find,
aspectandi
That is, "there is an art in viewing water."
水 shzouy
Another example. Mencius, Book I. page 144, line 2.
interrogavit
That is, interrogavit Mencium, or "asked Mencius."
In another place we read, (see Book I. page 85. line 18.)
interrogare
magistrum.
"I presume to ask the master. Compare Mencius, Book II. page 159, line 18, where the name of the person inquiring is subjoined to the verb wăn, and the word yu omitted.
The reason is not obscure to me, why Mencius in the passages adduced above, at one time uses the word yu, and at another, without at all changing the sense, omits it. But it is not my purpose. to run at large over the domain of grammar and syntax, nor do my proposed limits allow me space to undertake it.
§ VII. Sometimes the word yu, placed before a noun preced-
ing the verb by which it is governed, places that noun in the accu-
sative absolute, to which the relative
noun is plainly governed by the verb
Mencius Book II, page 223, line 4.
che answers, so that the
next directly following; e. g.
humaniter-tractat illum.
That is, populum humaniter-tractat; "he treats the people hu-
Euamination of Four Chinese Characters.
manely." Tartar version assents. In this place, Ayu performs e in the following example, which may
almost the same office as
be referred to II. rule 2d, example B. Mencius, Book II, page 202,
(ribos) os
comedit.
Ê tăng đi che
This is, maternos cibos (seu a matre oblatos) non comedit, uxorios vero comedit.
"He would not eat maternal food (i. e. food brought
by his mother); but he ate food brought by his wife." This is con- firmed by the Tartar version.
Of the words
§ VIII. The words
yu and yu and
hoo have the same uses as
the word
yu of which we have treated in §§ IV., V. and VĮ.
"To save paper and time it will suffice to point out a few fit exam-
ples for the reader to refer to the principles already laid down.
Examples which answer to §IV.
An example of F yu; compare § IV. A and B. ·
An interpreter, explaining a passage in Mencius, says;
explicare
日 yeik che
not. gen.
That is, non possum (mihimet) explicare hujus diei animum, vel quisnam illo die animi sensus mihi fuerit; i. e. "I cannot to myself explain the mind of that day, or what emotions of mind I had that day. hoo; compare IV. A and B. Mencius, Book
An example of
I, page 89, line 4.
seik hoo F teën
sign of poss. intervall-
That is, implet cæli et terrræ intervallum: "fills up the interval
between heaven and earth.”
Examples that answer to § VI.
An example of † yu; (compare § VI. A, C, E.) Mencius, Book
1. page 187, line 12.
comprehendam
"I will seize the tyrant."
San Hwang Ke.
In the same passage we read (line 18) the letter F yu being
omitted;
comprehendam Toy
tryrannum.
"I will seize the tyrant.”
An example of hoo (compare VI. A, C, E). One of the
commentators explaining the passage in Mencius, at Book I. page 28,
line 2, says-
conservare
That is, conservare populum, " to protect the people; where Men-
cius simply writes paou min, conservare populum, “to pro- tect the people."
Another example. Mencius, Book I. page 77, line 14.
interrogavit UI
會 Tsáng 西
Tsǎngse-
That is, aliquis interrogavit Tsăngsium vel Tsangse. “Some one asked Tsangse."
Which indeed is the same as if Mencius had written
✯ kwo wăn yu Tsăngse (compare §VI. E); or Từ hài hước văn Trăngse (compare ( VI. F).
Not only on the words e, yu, Fyu, hoo, of some of the uses of which we have summarily treated, but also on many others of no less moment, at which tyros often stumble, we have at hand the greatest abundance of examples and rules; but these must be reserved for another work.
ART. V. San Hwang Ke, or Records of the Three august Sovere- ions, subjects of the early mythological history of the Chinese. CELESTIAL, Terrestrial, and Human sovereigns-Teën hwang, Tè hwang, Jin hwang-are the appellations of three august ones, often alluded to by the Chinese, but whose existence is, beyond all ques- tion, purely mythological. The authors of History Made Easy, commence this part of their work with a prefatory note, quoted from one of the learned writers of the Sung dynasty, who says, the desig
San Hwang Ke.
nation 'three august ones' appears in the Ritual of Chow, which however does not point out their names. The scholars of Tsin, about 246 B. C., are the next, who are found discoursing about the celestial, terrestrial, and human sovereigns. A writer of the Han dynasty, in the preface to his history, speaks of Fuhe, Shinnang and Hwang te as the three sovereigns, but he fails, unfortunately, to give any au- thority for his statement. In the Domestic Sayings of Confucius, all the sovereigns after Fuhe are called te. The author of the note in question, after adducing some further evidences, concludes that the designation 'three august ones' cannot be obliterated, and refers it to the celestial, terrestrial, and human sovereigns, spoken of above; but who these were or whence they originated, he has no means of ascertaining. Thus the question ends with mere conjecture.
The traditions respecting Pwankoo are briefly noticed by our his- torians. They say, "when heaven and earth were first divided asun- der, Pwankoo was born in their midst, able to comprehend the height and depth of heaven and earth, and also the principles of creation : hence the vulgar traditionary saying, Pwankoo divided asunder heaven and earth." Further they say, "Pwankoo was the first who came forth to rule the world." For the production of all the numerous orders of beings, which have appeared on earth, reference is made to
tue keih, or great extreme, identical with le, or reason. The operations in nature which were produced by the far famed but undefinable dual powers, were possessed of this reason, to which as master dominant they were subject. This tae keih produced two principles; the two principles, four forms; and by these operations were commenced; and great was the multitude of beings which then arose!
The celestial sovereign succeeded Pwankoo in the government of the world. Thirteen persons, all of one family name, as tradition goes, constituted this celestial sovereign (or sovereignty), that ruled in undisturbed tranquillity, while the manners of the people enjoyed self-renovation. The names of the ten stems and twelve branches, designed to mark the periods of the year, were now first formed. These names were different from those in use at the present time. The reign of this sovereign was 1800 years.
; ; Next in succession came the terrestrial sovereign, with eleven per- -sons all of the same family name, continuing through another period of 1800 years, during which the sun, moon and stars, night and day, became known.
The human sovereign, with nine persons of the same surname,
Journal of Occurrences,
succeeded; he inspected the hills and the rivers, and divided the world into nine parts, allowing one to each of the nine persons. All things were now multiplied in great abundance.
Yewchaou and Suyjin next appeared. "In high antiquity, the peo- ple, having dens and deserts for their abodes and dwelling-places, lived in friendship with the brute creation, and there was no disposition to injure or to harm each other." This happy age was not of long du- ration. The
people soon acquired subtilty and wisdom, but were unable to cope with the wild beasts, which had become numerous
and savage.
In this unprotected condition, Yewchaou built log-huts, and caused the people to live in them, so that they might escape from danger. Yet, still ignorant of husbandry, they ate the fruit of trees, drank the blood of animals, and clothed themselves with their skins. In this stage of their improvement, Suyjin, observing the times and seasons, and inspecting the elements, obtained fire from wood, and introduced the art of cooking. At this time there were no letters in use, and Suyjin formed cords, in order to preserve a record of passing events, and to aid in carrying on the affairs of go-
Schools, commerce, &c., also received attention.
vernment.
ART. VI.
Journal of Occurrences: return of British merchants to Canton; business of the season; H. B. M.'s plenipotentiary; new commissioners and governor; Keshen's memorial on the defenses of the province; court of inquiry at Hongkong; settle- ment on the island; Chinese troops; British forces; future ope-
rations.
IMMEDIATELY after the opening of the trade at Canton, by proclama- tion of the joint commissioner Yang Fang, and the acting governor Eleäng, on the 20th of March, British merchants with those of other nations repaired to their old residences at the provincial city, and the shipping, so long detained outside the Bogue in Macao Roads and its neighborhood, proceeded to Whampoa; so that at the beginning of this month, the river was again crowded with passers to and fro, and the foreign factories showed signs of becoming again what they for- merly were.
The business of the season, though commenced under many dis- advantages, has steadily increased throughout the month; and confi- dence that no further contest is to be carried on in this neighbor- hood has been daily increasing. Native capitalists and merchants, who had removed from the city, have returned, and their shops and warehouses are being reopened. The new governor has issued a proclamation, requiring the people in the city to remain quiet, advis-
VOL. X. NO. IV.
Journal of Occurrences.
ing those who had removed to return, and commanding them all to go actively about their own business. "Their families are as his family, and their bodies as his body;" therefore they are to be kept in perfect safety.
H. B. M.'s plenipotentiary returned to Canton and took up his temporary residence in the British Hall on the morning of the 5th instant, where he remained till the 17th. The day after his arrival, captain Elliot was called upon by the prefect, who came, it is said, to speak with him on various subjects of detail, and to convey to him the actual intentions of the high officers. The prefect repeated his visit on two subsequent occasions-the last being on the 16th, to convey a communication from the joint-commissioner Yang Fang, relative to the dispositions of his newly arrived colleagues, general Yeihshan, and the first joint-commissioner Lungwan.
The new commissioners, Yeihshan and Lungwan-with Ke Kung the new governor-entered the city on the 14th,-and in sedans from the land side, instead of taking the boats that had been sent out to meet them, thus avoiding any exposure of themselves to the British naval force on the river. On the same or the following day, the seal of a fourth member of the imperial mission-a third joint-commis- sioner-reached Canton: the officer for whom this seal is destined is coming on from Szechuen, of the troops of which province he has been for some years commander-in-chief. His name is Tseshin.
The following notices have been made public; No. 3. was publish- ed in Chinese at Canton, and printed copies of it were widely circu- lated by the people.
It is publicly resolved.-That on all commodities exported and imported in the 21st year of Taoukwang, the consoo charge called Hongyung ("for the use of the hongs,") profit, &c., shall all be the same as in the business arrangements of the 20th year of Taoukwang: nor shall there be anything taken in excess thereof. In witness of which this is given.
By the ten Hong Merchants.
(April 12th, 1841.) (Signed)
A satisfactory communication has this day been received from H. E. commis- sioner Yang, declaratory of the faithful intentions of his newly arrived colleagues concerning the arrangement concluded between H. E. and the undersigned.
The Kwangchow foo having also issued a proclamation by desire of their ex- cellencies intended to reassure the trading people, the plenipotentiary has, for a like reason (with the concurrence of the government), made public the accompa nying notice under his seal. (Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M. Plenipotentiary. A Notice. British Factory, Canton, 16th April, 1841. Elliot, &c., &c., learning that the quiet and industrious people of Canton are disturbed by constant rumors of warlike preparations against this town and pro- vince, upon the side of the British forces-clearly declares to all the people that these reports are false and mischievous.
The commissioner Yang and the high officers of the province, acting with good faith and wisdom, have now opened the trade; and whilst their excellencies are fulfilling their sealed engagements with Elliot, there will not be the least disturbance of the peace at Canton by the British forces.
The high officers of the English nation have clearly and manifestly proved, that they cherish the people of Canton, and if misfortunes befall the city and the whole trade of the province, assuredly the evil will not be justly attributable to them.
Journal of Occurrences.
No. 4. Public Notice.
Macao, 20th April, 1841.
Notice is hereby given, that all persons requiring passports for small craft pro- ceeding up the river after this date will receive the same, on application at the office of the superintendents of trade.
The passports must be exhibited on board the senior officer's ship off(North Wangtong, and it is particularly notified that all small craft attempting to pass with- out examination will be liable to be brought to by the ships of war or their boats. (Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M. Plenipotentiary. No. 5. Public Notice. British Factory, Canton, 17th April, 1841. To prevent general and serious inconvenience to the trade, notice is hereby given, that her majesty's plenipotentiary has applied to the senior officer in com- mand of H. M. ships on the coast of China (and received his consent), not to suf- fer any schooner or other small craft to pass inwards beyond North Wangtong without producing on board of the senior officer's ship at that anchorage a pass- port signed by the plenipotentiary. And it is further notified, that all small vessels without such passes will be liable to dismissal from the river by the commanding officer of H. M. ships. To except vessels furnished with his own passports from the visit or examination by the officers of the provincial government, upon the ground of protecting the revenue, or any other, the plenipotentiary has also pro- cured licenses bearing the seal of the Kwangchow foo.
But the plenipotentiary, has at the same time pledged himself, not to issue his own or these passes of the government to any other than persons who shall afford him assurance, to his own satisfaction, that the boats shall only be employed in the conveyance of letters, passengers, or supplies of table provisions or conve- niencies for the use of H. M. ships in the river. The passports therefore will be canceled, whenever the plenipotentiary shall see cause to determine that such a course is necessary in discharge of his engagements. Subjects or citizens of fo- reign states, desiring passports for boats to be employed in the abovementioned pursuits, will be pleased to refer to their respective consuls, upon whose appli- cation to the plenipotentiary they will immediately be issued.
And notice is further given, that H. M. plenipotentiary with apply to the senior officer in command of H. M. ships, to remove out of the river any ship or vessel, proved to his satisfaction to be engaged in dangerous pursuits, calculated to dis- turb the truce, and interrupt the general trade. (Signed CHARLES Elliot, &c.
About Keshen there have been many reports and several docu- ments in circulation, some of which we know to be false. His me- morial, which we here introduce, will enlist the reader's feelings in his favor. Some of the other documents shall appear in our next number.
Memorial, from the minister, &c., Keshen, to the emperor, showing the posture of affairs, and the condition, offensive and defensive, of Canton.
Your majesty's slave,* Keshen, minister of the Inner Council, and acting governor of the two Kwang, kneeling presents this respectful memorial, setting forth, how that the English foreigners have dispatched a person to Chekeäng province to deliver back Tinghae,-how that they have restored to us the forts of Shakok and Taikok, in the province of Kwangtung, along with the vessels of war and salt-junks which they had previously captured, all which have been duly received back,-and how that the war ships of these. foreigners have already retired to the outer waters-all these facts, along with his observations upon the military position of the country, its means of offense and defense, the quality of its soldiery, and the disposition of its people, observations resulting from personal investigation,—he now lays be-
# Slave or nootsae, It is always the practice of the Tartar officers in ad- dressing the throne, to apply to themselves this humiliating epithet, except when associated with Chinese officers, and then for uniformity they use chin, a "miuister."
Journal of Occurrences.
fore your imperial majesty, praying that a sacred glance may be bestowed upon the same.
Previously to the receipt of your majesty's sovereign commands, your slave had, with a view to preserve the territory and the lives of the people, ventur. ed, rashly and forgetful of his ignorance, to make certain conditional concessions to the English foreigners, promising that he would earnestly im. plore in their behalf a gracious manifestation of imperial goodness. Yet, having done this, he repeatedly laid before your majesty the acknowledgment of his offense, for which he desired to receive severe punishment. It was subse- quently thereto, on the 20th of January, 1841, that he received, through the General Council, the following imperial edict.
“Keshen has handed up to Us a report on the measures he is taking in regard "to the English foreigners, under the present condition of circumstances. As "these foreigners have shown themselves so unreasonable that all our com- "mands are lost upon them, it behoves us immediately to make of them a "most dreadful example of severity. Orders have now been given that, with "the utmost speed, there be furnished from the several provinces of Hoonan, "Szechuen, and Kweichow, 4000 troops, to repair without loss of time, to "Canton, and there to hold themselves under orders for service.
Let Keshen, "availing himself of the assistance of Lin Tsihseu, and Tăng Tingching, take "the necessary measures for the due furtherance of the object in view. And "if these rebellious foreigners dare to approach the shores of our rivers, let "him adopt such measures as circumstances shall point out for their exter- "mination."
Again, on the 26th of January, your majesty's slave received the following imperial edict, sent him direct from the cabinet:
"Keshen has presented a report regarding the measures he is pursuing "against the English foreigners: which We have perused and on the sub- "stance of which We are fully informed. In conformity with our previous "commands, let a large body of troops be assembled, and let an awful display "of celestial vengeance be made. Whatever may be required for the expenses "of such military operations, may be drawn equally from the duties arising "from commerce, and the revenues derivable from the land-tax, the drafts being made after due consideration, and a correct statement being drawn "out of the expenditure. If these united sources do not afford a sufficient "amount, let it be so reported to us, and our further pleasure awaited.”
With respect, your slave, humbly, upon his knees, has heard these com- mands. He would remark, that, while he had indeed made certain condi- tional concessions to the English, these amounted to nothing more than that he would lay their case before your majesty; and thus, in the article of trade, though it was expressly said, that they desired the trade to be opened within the first decade of the first month of this year (23dJan. to 1st Feb.), he still has not, up to this time, ventured to declare it open. Yet have these foreigners, nevertheless, sent a letter, in which they restore to us the forts Shakok and Taikok, along with all the vessels of war and the salt-junks which they had previously captured; and, at one and the same time, they have dispatched a foreign officer by sea to Chekeäng, to cause the withdrawal of their troops, and have given to your slave a foreign document which he has forwarded to Elepoo, at the rate of 600 le a day, by virtue whereof he may receive back Tinghae;-conduct, this, which on their part shows a more meek and compliant disposition than they have evinced before. But alas! your slave is a man of dull understanding and poor capacity, and in his arrangement of these things, he has not had the happiness to meet the sacred wishes of his sovereign. Trembling from limb to limb, how shall he find words to express himself! He humbly remembers that in his own person he has received the imperial bounty. Nor is his conscience hardened. How theu should he, while engaged in the important work of curbing these unruly
Journal of Occurrences.
foreigners, presume to shrink from danger or to court unlawful repose! 80 far from thus acting, he has, froin the moment he arrived in Canton until now, been harassed by the perverse craftiness of these presuining foreigners, who have shown themselves every way obstinate and impracticable,-yea, till head has ached, and heart has rent, with pain, and with the anxiety, ere even a morning meal, quickly to exterminate these rebels. Had he but the smallest point whereon to maintain his ground in contest with them, he would immediately report it, and under the imperial auspices make known to them the vengeance of heaven. But circumstances are, alas! opposed to the wishes of his heart. This condition of circumstances, he has repeatedly brought before the imperial eye, in a series of successive memorials.
Now, after that these said foreigners had dispatched a person to Che- keäng to restore Tinghae.—and had delivered up all that had been captured by them in the province of Kwangtung,-after, too, their ships of war had all retired to the outer waters,-it so happened that Elliot solicited an inter- view and as your slave had not yet inspected the entrances of the port, and the fortifications of the Bocca Tigris,-as also the troops ordered from the several provinces had not yet arrived, it did not seem prudent to show anything that might cause suspicion on the part of the foreigners, and so to bring on at once a commencement of troubles and collision from their side. Therefore, the occasion of visiting, for inspection, the Bocca Tigris, was taken advantage of to grant an interview.
Having left Canton for this purpose, on the 25th of January, your slave had to pass by the Szetsze waters (the Reach from First to Second Bar): and here he was met by Elliot, who came in a steam-vessel, desiring that he might see him. His retinue did not exceed a few tens of persons, he brought with him no ships of war,-and his language and demeanor upon that occa- sion were most respectful. He presented a rough draft of several articles on which he desired to deliberate,-the major part having regard to the trou- blesome minutiae of commerce; and he agreed, that, for the future, in any cases of the smuggling of opium, or of other contraband traffic or evasion of duties, both ship and cargo should be confiscated. Among the number of his proposals, were some highly objectionable, which were at the moment point. ed out and refused,-upon which the said foreigner begged that emendations should be offered and considered of. It has now accordingly been granted him, that alterations and emendations be made, and when these shall be determined on and agreed to, the whole shall be presented for your majesty's inspection.-Your slave then parted with Elliot.
He now found that the Szetsze waters were yet distant from the Bocca Tigris about 60 le (or nearly 20 miles). Even there, the sea is vast and wide, with boisterous waves and foaming billows, lashed up into fury by fierce winds. Majestically grand! How widely different the outer seas are from our inland river-waters!-Having changed his boat for a sea-going vessel, your slave stood out for the Bocca Tigris: and, there arrived, he made a most careful inspection of every fort and battery in the place.
Such forts as did not stand completely isolated in the midst of the sea, he yet found to have channels, affording ready water communication, behind the bills on which they were situated. So that it were easy to go round and strictly blockade them; nor would it in that case be even possible to intro- duce provisions for the garrison. After this careful inspection of the place,- the depth of water in the river, beginning here and proceeding all the way to the very city, was next ascertained; and the soundings, taken at high water, were found to be irregular, from one chang (or two fathoms) and upwards, to three and even four chang. Hence, then, it has become known to all, that the reputation of the fortifications of the Bocca Tigris as a defense, has been acquired, first, by the circumstance, that merchant-vessels require a some- what greater depth of water; and secondly, because that in ordinary times,
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when the foreigners observe our laws and restraints, they naturally do not venture to avoid the forts by passing through circuitous courses. But when they bring troops, to resist and oppose rather than to obey, they may sneak in at every hole and corner, and are under no necessity of passing by the forts, to enter the river, and so can easily proceed straight up to the provin cial metropolis. For as soon as they may have in any way got beyond the Bocca Tigris, there are communications open to them in every direction. It is then clear, that we have no defenses worthy to be called such. This is in truth the local character of the country,-that there is no important point of defense by which the whole may be maintained.
In reference to the guns mounted in the forts, their whole number does not exceed some two hundred and odd, hardly enough to fortify the fronts alone, while the sides are altogether unfurnished. Moreover, those guns that are in good order, ready for use, are not many. The original model has been bad, and they have been made without any due regard to principles of construction :-thus the body of the gun is very large, while the bore is very small: and the sea being at that place extremely wide, the shot will not carry above half way. As regards, then, their number, they are not so many as are those which the foreign ships carry, and in point of quality they are no less inferior to those on board the foreign vessels. Again, the embrasures in which they are placed are as large as doors, wide enough almost to allow people to pass in and out: from a sustained fire from the enemy, they would afford no shelter at all to our people; and they may, then, at once be said, to be utterly ineffective. A founder of cannon has recently presented himself, who has already given in a model, and is about to make some experimental pieces of artillery. But, should he really succeed in casting good cannon, yet can he only do so as a preparation for the future, and in no way can he be in time for the business we have now in hand. These are the proofs of the inefficiency of our military armament, which is such that no reliance can be placed upon it.
Further, with reference to the quality of our troops: we find that the only way to repel the foreigners is by fighting them at sea, but to fight at sea it is necessary to have a good marine force. Now, we have at present to ac- knowledge the forethought and care of your majesty, in dispatching land forces from the several provinces to Canton: but these troops, before they can meet the foreigners in battle, will require to embark in ships of war and proceed to the outer waters. Though the objection be not maintained, that, being unaccustomed to the seas and waves, they needs must meet with dis- aster and overthrow; yet, seeing that the conduct and management of the vessels is a thing with which they are quite unacquainted, the services of the naval force still cannot at all be dispensed with. The recruits to the naval force of this province are, however, all supplied by its own sea-coast, by encouraged enlistment; and their quality is very irregular. Your slave had heard a report that, after the battle upon the 7th of January, all these men went to their tetuh (or commander-in-chief), demanding of him money, under threats that they would otherwise immediately disband. The other day, therefore, when on the spot, your slave made inquiries of the tetŭh on this matter,-when he answered, that the report was perfectly true, and that he, having no other remedy at hand, was obliged to pawn his clothes and other things, by which means he was enabled to give each of them a bonus of two dollars, and thus only could get them to remain until now at their posts. Hereby may be seen, in a great measure, the character of the Canton soldiery. And, supposing when we had joined battle, just at the most critical moment, these marine forces were not to stand firm, the consequences would be most disastrous. For although we should have our veteran troops serving with them, yet these would have no opportunity of bringing their skill into
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play. Still further, our ships of war are not large and strong, and it is diffi- cult to mount heavy guns on board them. By these observations, it is evident, that our force here as a guard and defense against the foreigners is utterly insufficient.
Your slave has also made personal observation of the character and dis- position of the people of this province. He has found them ungrateful and avaricious. Putting out of view those who are actual traitors, and of whom, therefore, it is unnecessary to say anything, the rest dwell indiscriminately with foreigners, they are accustomed to see them day by day, and after liv- ing many years together, the utmost intimacy has grown up between them. They are widely different from the people of Tinghae, who, having had no previous intercourse with foreigners, felt at once that they were of another race. Let us reverse the circumstances, and suppose that the English had craftily distributed their gifts and favors, and set at work the whole machi- nery of their tricks, here as at Chusan; and it might verily be feared, that the whole people would have been seduced from their allegiance; they would certainly not have shown the same unbending obstinacy that the people of Tinghae did. These plain evidences of the want of firmness on the part of the people here, give us still more cause for anxiety.
We find, on turning over the records of the past, that, when operations were being carried on against the pirates of this province, although these were only so many thieves and robbers, with native vessels and guns of native casting, yet the affair was lengthened out for several years; and was only put an end to by invitations to lay down their arms under promise of security. And it is much to be feared, that the wasp's sting is far more poisonous' now than then.
Your slave has again and again revolved the matter in his anxious mind. The consequences, in so far as they relate to his own person, are trifling: but as they regard the stability of the government, and the lives of the peo- ple, they are vast and extend to distant posterity. Should he incur guilt in giving battle when unable to command a victory, or should he be criminal in making such arrangements as do not meet the gracious approbation of his sovereign, he must equally bear his offense; and, for his life, what is it, that he should be cared for or pitied!
But if it be in not acting so as to meet the gracious approbation of his Sovereign that he becomes guilty,-the province and the people have yet their sacred sovereign to look to and rely upon for happiness, protection, justice, and peace. Whereas, if his guilt should lie in giving battle when unable to command a victory, then will the celestial dignity of the throne be sullied, the lives of the people sacrificed, and for further proceedings and arrangements it will be, in an increased degree, impossible to find resource.
Entertaining these views, a council has been held of all the officers in the city; namely, the general and lieutenant-generals of the garrison, the lieuten- ant-governor, the literary chancellor, and the commissioners, intendants, prefects, and magistrates, as also the late governors, Lin Tsihseu and Tăng- Tingching; all of whom agree, that our defenses are such as it is impossible to trust to, and that our troops would not hold their ground on the field of battle. Moreover, the troops ordered from the different provinces by your majesty having yet a long journey to come, time is still necessary for their arrival; nor can they all arrive together. The assemblage of a large body of troops, too, is a thing not to be effected without sundry rumors flying about, our native traitors are sure to give information; and the said fo- reigners will previously let loose their contumacious and violent dispositions. Your slave is so worried by grief and vexation, that he loathes his food, and sleep has forsaken his eyelids. But, for the above-cited reasons, he does not shrink from the heavy responsibility he is incurring, in submitting all these facts, the results of personal investigation, to your celestial majesty,
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And, at the same time he presents for perusal the letter of the said foreign- ers, wherein they make the various restorations before enumerated. He humbly hopes his sacred sovereign will with pity look down upon the black- haired flock-his people,-and will be graciously pleased to grant favors beyond measure, by acceding to the requests now made. Thus shall we be spared the calamity of having our people and land burned to ashes, and thus shall we lay the foundation of victory, by binding and curbing the foreigners now, while preparing to have the power of cutting them off at some future period.
It is humbly hoped that your sacred majesty will condescend to inquire regarding the meeting in council, and state of circumstances, here reported. And your slave begs, that a minister of eminence may be specially dispatched hither, to re-investigate matters. Your slave has been actuated entirely by a regard to the safety of the land, and the people. He is not swayed by the smallest particle of fear. And still less dare he use false pretexts, or glozing statements. For the real purposes herein declared, he humbly makes this report (which he forwards by express at the rate of 600 le a day),—in the hope that it may be honored with a sacred glance.-A most respectful
memorial.
A court of inquiry, concerning the mortality of the British troops in Tinghae last year is in session at Hongkong.
A British settlement on that island is about being commenced, and captain W. Caine of the 26th or (Cameronian) regiment of foot, is to enter on the duties of chief magistrate.
Chinese troops to the number of some say-50,000 are collected in and near Canton. Not more than one fourth of these, judging from all we have seen, are fit to bear arms. Many of them are wandering as vagrants about the suburbs. Even those on guard at the gates of the city appear unarmed.
The position of the British forces is nearly the same as at the close of the last month-the guns of the advanced squadron commanding the whole city, the Union Jack waving over the factories. General Gough, and the senior officer of the squadron, sir Le Fleming Sen- house, visited Canton on the 4th. Some officers and a small guard of marines are daily at the factories.
The late hostile movements of the expedition seem to have stopped at the right point. It must have been hard, when at the gates of the defenseless metropolis, the heights in its rear covered with troops, to stop short of actual possession. Such possession, however, would most assuredly have broken to pieces the provincial government, and thrown the whole of this part of the empire into anarchy-a state of things as much to be deprecated by the foreigner as by the native.
The future operations of the expedition are becoming a subject of daily increasing attention. Recent operations here, notwithstanding the wrathful edicts of the emperor, have induced H. I. M.'s high officers to act with good faith and wisdom,' and open Canton to whomsoever pleases to go thither for lawful purposes.
Similar ope- rations, at other points along the coast, will very likely lead to simi- lar results. If the emperor is wise, he will hasten-with grace to yield, what otherwise force will erelong demand of him-to open his empire, and treat foreigners, and receive the plenipotentiaries of other states, as they are treated and received elsewhere.
CHINESE REPOSITORY.
VOL. X.-MAY, 1841.- No. 5.
ART. I. The historie of the great and mightie kingdome of China, and the situation thereof; togither with the great riches, huge citties, politike gouernement, and rare inuentions in the same. Translated out of Spanish by R. Parke. London. Printed by I. Wolfe for Edward White, and are to be sold at the little north doore of Paules, at the signe of the gun. 1588.
SOME months have now elapsed since any of the old writers on China have been served up for the entertainment of our readers. In the meantime several authors have fallen in our way, the oldest and the rarest of which is the one here introduced. The reasons assigned by Parke for translating the historie' out of Spanish and putting it into print, two centuries and a half ago, would be a sufficient apolo- gy, if any were needed, for our now taking the work in hande.' As the good courteous reader' may like to know these reasons, we introduce them here entire. They are addressed, "To the right worshipfull and famous gentleman, M. Thomas Candish esquire, increase of honore and happie attempts." And thereupon the trans- lator thus proceeds.
"It is now aboue fiue and thirty years passed, right worshipfull, since that young, sacred, and prudent prince, king Edward the sixt of happie memorie, went about the discouerie of Cathaia and China, partly of desire that the good young king had to enlarge the Chris- tian faith, and partlie to finde out some where in those regions ample vent of the cloth of England, for the mischiefs that grew about that time neerer home, aswel by contempt of our commodities, as by the
VOL. X. NO. V.
Historie of the Mightie Kingdome of China.
arrestes of his merchantes in the Empire, Flanders, France, and Spáine: foreseeing withall how beneficiall ample vent would rise to all degrees throughout his kingdome, and specially to the infiuite number of the poore sort distressed by lacke of worke. And although by a voy- age hereuppon taken in hande for this purpose by sir Hugh Willobie, and Richard Chauncellour a discouerie of the bay of St. Nicolas in Russia fell out, and a trade with the Muscouites; and after another trade for a time with the Persians by way of the Caspian sea ensued, yet the discouerie of the principall intended place followed not in his time, nor yet since, vntil you tooke your happie and renowned voyage about the worlde in hande, although sundrie attemptes, at the great charges of diuers honorable and well disposed persons, and good worshipfull merchants and others haue beene made since the death of that good king, in seeking a passage thither both by the northeast and by the northwest. But since it is so (as wee vnderstande) that your worshippe in your late voyage hath first of our nation in this age discouered the famous rich ilandes of the Luzones, or Philippinas, lying neare vnto thecoast of China, and haue spent some time in tak- ing good view of the same, hauing brought home three boyes borne in Manilla, the chiefe towne of the said ilands, besides two other young fellowes of good capacitie, borne in the mightie iland of Iapon, (which hereafter may serue as our interpretors in our first traficke thither) and that also yourselfe haue sailed along the coast of China not farre from the continent, and haue taken some knowledge of the present state of the same, and in your course haue found out a nota- ble ample vent of our clothes, especially our kersies, and are in pre- paring againe for the former voyage, as hee that would constantly perseuer in so good an enterprise: we are to thinke that the know- ledge and first discouerie of the same, in respect of our nation, hath all this time beene by the Almightie to you onely reserved, to your immortall glorie, and to the manifest shew of his especial favour borne towards you, in that besides your high and rare attempt of sail- ing about the whole globe of the earth, in so short a time of two yeares and about two monethes, you haue shewed yourselfe to haue that rare and especial care for your countrie, by seeking out vent for our clothes, that ought vpon due consideration to moue many thou- sands of English subiects to pray for you, and to loue and honor your name and familie for euer. For as you haue opened by your attempt the gate to the spoile of the great and late mightie, vniuersall, and infested enimie of this realme, and of all countries that professe true religion: so haue you by your great care wrought a way to imploie
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the merchants of Englande in trade, to increase our naiue, to benefite our clothiers, and (your purpose falling out to your hoped effect) to releeue more of the poorer sort, then all the hospitals and almes houses can or may, that haue beene built in this realme, since the first inhabiting thereof.
"And sir, if to this your late noble attempt, it might please you, by your incouragement, and by the help of your purse to adde your pre- sent furtherance for the passage to be discouered by the northwest, (for the proofe whereof there bee many infallible reasons, and diuerse great experiences to be yeelded) our course with our commodities to the rich iland of Iapon, to the mightie empire of China, and to the ilandes of the Philippinas, for the vent that you haue found out, should be by the halfe way shortened, and you should double and many folde treble the credite of your fourmer late enterprise, and make your fame to mount, and your self to liue for euer in a much higher degree of glorie, then otherwise it might be, or that by any other mean you could possibly deuise: in which action, so highly importing the generall state of this lande I haue perfect experience that many worshipfull and wealthie marchants of this citie and other places would most willingly ioyne their purses with yours: and to play the blabbe, I may tell you they attende nothing with greater desire and expectation, then that a motion hereof being made by some happie man, your selfe and they might friendly and seriously joyne together for the full accomplishing of this so long intended dis- couerie. And to descende to some particulars, there is one speciall reason that giueth an edge vnto their desires, proceeding from the late worthie attemptes of that excellent and skilful pilot M. Iohn Dauis, made for the search of the aforesaid northwest passage these three late yeares, hauing entered into the same foure hundred lea- gues further than was euer hitherto thoroughly knowen, and returned with an exact description thereof, to the reasonable contentment for the time, of the aduenturers, and chiefely of the worshipfull M. Wil- liam Sanderson, whose contributions thereunto, although they haue beene verie great and extraordinarie, yet for the certaine hope or rather assurance that he conceiueth vpon the report of the captaine himselfe and all the rest of any skill employed in these voyages, remayneth still constant, and is readie to disburse as yet to the freshe setting on foote of this enterprise entermitted by occasion of our late troubles, euen this yeare againe for the finall perfection of so profitable and honorable a discouerie, a farre greater portion then in reason would be required of any other man of his abilitie. And all
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beit, sir, that you have taken in your late voyage, besides the know- ledge of the way to China, the intelligence of the gouernment of the countrie and of the commodities of the territories and prouinces of the same, and that at the full, according to the time of your short abode in those partes, yet neuerthelesse for that of late more ample vnder- standing hath beene in more length of time, by woonderfull great endeuour taken by certaine learned Portingals and Spaniardes of great obseruation, and not long agoe published in the Spanish tongue, I haue for the increase of the knowledge of the subiectes of Englande, and specially for the illuminating of the mindes of those, that are to take the voyage next in hande to Iapon, China, and the Philippinas, translated the same worke into English, and committed it to print, passing ouer Paulus Venetus, and sir Iohn Mandeuill, be- cause they wrote long agoe of those regions: which labour, to say trueth, I haue undertaken at the earnest request and encouragement of my worshipfull friend master Richard Hakluit late of Oxforde, a gentle- man, besides his other manifolde learning and languages, of singular and deepe insight in all histories of discouerie and partes of cosmo- graphie: who also for the zeale he beareth to the honour of his coun trie and countrimen, brought the same first aboue two yeares since ouer into this court, and at this present hath in hande a most excel- lent and ample collection of the sundrie trauailes and nauigations of our owne nation, a matter long intended by him, and serving to the like beneficial and honorable purpose, which I hope will shortly come to light to the great contentation of the wiser sort. In the meane season, hauing nowe at length finished according to my poore skill and leasure this my translation, I thought best to dedicate and commende the same to your worshipfull patronage, as the man that I holde most worthie of the same, and most able of our nation to judge aright of the contentes thereof, and to correct the errors of the author whensoeuer you shall meete with them; beseeching you to accept in good part the trauaile and good meaning of the translator: and so wishing vnto you, health, increase of knowledge, with fortu- nate and glorious successe in your further couragious attempts, I leaue you to the protection of the Almightie.
"From London the first of lanuarie, 1589.
"Your worships alwaies to command, Robert Parke." Bancroft, alluding to the anticipated discovery of a new and nearer passage to southern Asia, says:
"Thrice, at least, perhaps thrice by Cabot alone, the attempt at a north- western passage had been made, and always in vain. A northeast passage
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was now proposed; the fleet of Willoughby and Chancellor was to reach the rich lands of Cathay by doubling the northern promontory of Lapland. A. D. 1553. The ships parted company. The fate of Willoughby was as tragical as the issue of the voyage of Chancellor was successful. The admiral, with one of the ships, was driven, by the severity of the polar autumn, to seek shelter in a Lapland harbor, which afforded protection against storms, but not against the rigors of the season. When search was made for him in the fol- lowing spring, Willoughby himself was found dead in his cabin; and his journal, detailing his sufferings from the polar winter, was complete probably to the day when his senses were suspended by the intolerable cold. His ship's company lay dead in various parts of the vessel, some alone, some ín groups. The other ship reached the harbor of Archangel. This was "the discovery of Russia," and the commencement of maritime commerce with that empire. A Spanish writer calls the result of the voyage ‘a discovery of new Indies.' The Russian nation, one of the oldest and least mixed in Europe, now awakening from a long lethargy, emerged into political distinc- tion. We have seen that, about eleven years from this time, the first town in the United States' territory was permanently built. So rapid are the changes on the theatre of nations! One of the leading powers of the age, but about two and a half centuries ago became known to Western Europe; another had not then one white man within its limits.”
The work in hand is a small octavo, of 410 pages, printed in old German text, and is divided into three parts, which are further sub- divided into numerous books and chapters. It must have been in its day a notable production. The work opens with a description of China and the confines it hath belonging.' After a very few words, by way of introduction, Parke brings his reader at once in medias res.
"You shall understande that this mightie kingdome is the orien- talest part of all Asia, and his next neighbour towards the ponent is the kingdome of Quachinchina, whereas they doo observe in whole all the customes and rites of China. The greatest part of this king- dome is watred with the great oriental ocean sea, beginning at the iland Aynan, which is hard by Quachinchina, which is 19 degrees towards the north, and compassing towards the south, whereas their course is northeast. And beyond Quachinchina to- wards the north, the Bragmanes do confine, which are much people and verie rich, of golde, silver and precious stones, but in especiall, rubies: for there are infinit. They are proud and hawtie men, of great courage, wel made, but of browne colour: they haue had (but few times) warre with them of China, in respect for that betwixt both the kingdomes there are great and mightie mountaines and
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rocks that both disturbe them. And harde unto this nation ioyneth the Patanes and Mogores, which is a great kingdome, and warlike people, whose head is the Gran Samarzan: they are the true Scythas or Massagetas, of whom it is affirmed that they were neuer ouercome by any other nation: they are a people well proportioned and white: by reason they dwel in a cold countrie. Betwixt the west and the south is the Trapobana, or Samatra, a kingdome very rich of gold, pretious stones and pearles: and more towards the south, are the two lauas, the great and the lesse, and the kingdome of the Lechios: and in equall distance, are the Iapones: yet notwithstanding `those that are more indifferent to this kingdome are the Tartarians, which are on the selfe firme land or continent, and are alonely deuided by a wal, as shalbe declared in the 9 chapter of this booke.”
In Parke's day the empire was divided into 15 provinces, 591 cities, 1593 towns. The temperature of the climate and the fertility of the soil and its productions are carefully noted.
"The inhabitants in this countrie are perswaded of a truth, that those which did first finde and inhabite in this lande, were the neue- wes of Noe, who after they had traueiled from Armenia, (whereas the Arke stayed, which God did preserue their grandfather from the waters of the flood), went seeking a land to their contentment: and not finding a countrie of so great fertilitie and temperature like vnto this, wherein was all things necessarie for the life of man, without comparison: they were compelled with the aboundance thereof for to inhabite therein, vnderstanding that if they should search through- out all the world they should not finde the like: and I thinke they were not, deceiued, according as now it is to be seene, and what may be considered in the proces of this chapter, of such fruits as the earth doth yeeld. And although there is declared here of such as shall suffice in this worke, yet is there left behind a great number more of whose properties, as well of herbes and beasts, which of their particulars may be made a great volume, and I do beleeue that in time there will be one set forth." ✶✶✶
"In all parts of this kingdome, there is great store of sugar, which is the occasion that it is so good cheape: for you shall haue a quin- tall of verie excellent white and good sugar, when it is most deerest, for the value of five ryals of plate. There is great abundance of honie, for that their delight is in hiues, by reason whereof not only honie, but waxe is very good cheape: and there is so great quantity thereof, that you may lade ships, yea fleetes thereof. They do make great store of silke and excellent good, and giue it verie perfite.
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colours, which dooth exceed very much the silke of Granada, and is one of the greatest trades that is in all that kingdome. The veluets, damaskes, sattens, and other sortes of webs which is there made, is of so small price, that it is a wonder to speake it, in especiall vnto them that doo know how their prises be in Spaine and in Italie. They do sell none of their silkes there by the yard, neither any other hinde of websterie, though it be lynnen: but by the waight, wherein there is least deceit. They haue great store of flaxe, wherewith the common people doo apparell themselues: also hempe for the cawlk- ing of their ships, and to make ropes and hasers. And on their drie and tough landes, although they be stonie, they gather great stoore of cotton wooll.”
"Besides the fertilitie of this countrie beforesaid, all the fields be verie faire to behold, and yeelde maruellous odoriferous smelles, by reason of the great quantitie of sweete flowers of diuers sorts. It is also garnished with the greene trees that be planted by the riuer sides, and brookes: whereof there is great quantitie. And there is planted there, orchards and gardens, with banketing houses of great pleasure: the which they doo use verie much for their recreation and avoyding the troubles of minde. The loytias or gentlemen doo use to plant great forrests and thicke woods, whereas doo breed many wilde boores, bucks, hares and conyes, and diuers other beasts of whose skins they make very excellent furres, but in espe- ciall of martas ceuellinas, of which there is a great number. There is great aboundance of muske, the which they do make of a little beast that doth feede of nothing else but of a roote which is of a maruellous smell, that is called camarus, as big as a mans finger. They do take them and beat them with blowes till they be brused all to peeces: then they do put them in a place whereas they may soon. est putrifie, but first they do bind very fast such parts, whereas the blood may run out of their brused bones all to peeces remaining with- in them. Then after when they thinke they be putrified, then they do cut out smal peeces with skinne and all, and tie them up like bals or cods, which the Portugals (who doth by them) do call papos : And this is the finest that is brought out of all Indies (if there be no deceit used in it), for many times they will put amongst it small peeces of lead, and other things of weight. There is also great store of kyne, that are so little worth, that you may buy a very good one for eight rials of plate: and beefes that are bought for halfe the mony: one whole venison is bought for two rials: great stores of hogs, whose flesh is as holesome and good as our mutton in Spaine. There
Historie of the Mignis Kingdom of China.
is great abundance of goates, and of other beasts that are to be eaten - which is the occasion that they are of little value. The flying foules that don breed about the lakes and riders, are of so great quantitie, that there is spent daily in small villages in that countrie many thousands, and the greatest sort of them are teales. The fashion how they do breed and bring them up shalbe declared in a chapter particularly for that which is said shal not seeme impossi- ble. They be sold by waight, and likewise capons and hens, for so smal value, that two pounds of their flesh being plucked, is woorth ordinarily two fuys, which is a kinde of mony like unto the quartes of Spaine: hogs flesh, two pounds for a foy and a halfe, which is 6 marauadiz. Likewise all other victuals after the same rate, as it doth plainly appeare by the relation made by the friers.
"There are also many herbs for medicines, as very fine reubarbe, and of great quantitie: and wood called palo de China: great store of nutmegs, with the which they may lade fleetes, and of so lowe a price that you may buy foure hundreth for a ryall of plate: and cloues, five pound for half a ryall of plate: and the like in pepper. Synamom, one roue which is 25 pound, for foure ryals of plate, and better cheape. I do leaue to speake of many other hearbs medicina. ble and profitable for the use of man: for that if I should write the particular vertue of euerie of them, it would require a great vo- lume. Of fish, both swimming and shell fish of all sorts, that they have with them is to be wondred at: not onely vpon the sea coasts, but also in the remote places of that kingdome, by reason of the great riuers, which be nauigable vnto such places. Besides all this it is verie rich of mines of golde and siluer, and other mettals, the which (golde and siluer excepted) they do sell it so good cheape that a quintal of copper, yron or steele is to be bought for eight rials of plate. Golde is better cheape there then it is in Europe, but siluer is more woorth. There is founde great store of pearles in all this kingdome: but the most part of them are not rounde, by the which you may gather and vnderstande the goodnesse and fertilitie of the same. And that the first that did discouer and inhabite that king- dome, were not deceived, for that they founde all things necessarie vnto the preserving of the life of man, and that in aboundance: for the which with iust reason, the inhabitants1may thinke themselves to possesse the best and fertilest kingdome in all the whole world."
To these descriptions of natural objects, our worshipful and fa- mous author adds several chapters respecting the antiquitie and big- nesse of the kingdome, its wonderful buildings, the mightic wal, the
Historie of the Mightie Kingdome of China.
dispositions, manners and customs of the people; and hazards the opinion that the time will come when all these things will be fully described so as to make a great booke! He then proceeds to dis- course of the religion that is among the people, and of the idols that they do worship, and of other things that they do use above nature.' Their temples and their various ceremonies, burying of the dead, mourning, marriages, &c., are all briefly noticed. Parke's account of the poor tallies badly with what exists in these degenerate times. The luxury of smoking opium was unknown in his day. Respect- ing the poor he says:
"Manie things of great gouernment hath beene and shall be de- clared in this historie worthie to be considered: and in my opinion, this is not the least that is contayned in this chapter, which is such order as the king and his counsell hath giuen that the poore may not go a begging in the streets, nor in the temples whereas they make orations vnto their idols for the auoyding therof the king hath set downe an order, vpon great and greeuous penaltie to be executed upon the saide poore, if they do begge or craue in the streetes, and a greater penaltie vpon the citizens or townes men, if they do give vnto any such that beggeth, but must incontinent go and complaine on. them to the justice: who is one that is called the justice of the poore ordayned to punish such as doo breake the lawe, and is one of the principallest of the citie or towne, and hath no other charge but only this. And for that the townes be great and many and so full of peo- ple, and an infinite nomber of villages, whereas it cannot be chosen but there is many borne lame, and other misfortunes, so that he is not idle but alwaies occupied in giuing order to remedie the necessi- ties of the poore without breaking of the lawe. This judge the first day that hee doth enter into his office, hee commaundeth that whatsoeuer children be borne a creeple in any part of his members, or by sicknes be taken lame, or by any other misfortune, that incon- tinent their fathers or mother's doo giue the judge to vnderstande thereof that he may prouide for all things, necessarie, according vato the ordinance and will of the king and his counsell, the which is, the: man child or woman child, being brought before him, and seene the default or lacke that it hath, if it be so that with the same it may exercise any occupation, they giue and limit a time vnto the parents, for to teach the child that occupation ordayned by the judge, and it is such, as with their larénes they may vse without any impediment, the which is accomplished without faile: but if it so be that his lame- nes is such, that it is impossible to learne or exercise any occupation,
VOL. X. NO. V.
Historie of the Mightie Kingdome of China.
this judge of the poore doth command the father to sustaine and main- taine him in his owne house all the dayes of his life, if that hee bath wherewithall: if not, or that hee is fatherlesse, then the next rich kinsman must maintaine it: if he hath none such, then doth all his parents and kinsfolkes contribute and pay their parentes, of give of such thinges as they haue in their houses. But if it hath no parentes, or they be so poore, that they cannot contribute nor supply any part thereof: then doth the king maintaine them in verie ample manner of his owne costes in hospitalles, verie sumptuous, that he hath in euerie citie throughout his kingdome for the same effect and purpose: in the same hospitalles are likewise maintayned, all such needie and olde men, as haue spent all their youth in the wars, and are not able to maintaine themselves: so that to the one and the other is minis- tred all that is needefull and necessarie, and that with great diligence and care and for the better accomplishing of the same, the judge doth put verie good order, and dooth appoint one of the principallest of the citie or towne, to be the administrator, without whose licence, there is not one within that hospital that can goe foorth of the limittes: for that licence is not granted vnto anie, neyther doo they demaund it, for that there they are prouided of all thinges necessarie so long as they doo liue, as well for apparell as for victualles. Besides all this, the olde folkes and poore men within the hospitall, doo bring vpp hennes, chickens, and hogges for their owne recreation and pro- fit, wherein they doo delight themselues. The judge doth visite often times the administrator by him appointed. Likewise the judge is visited by another that commeth from the court, by the appoint- ment of the king and the counsell to the same effect and to visite all such hospitalles as bee in the prouinces limited in his commission, and if they doo finde any that hath not executed his office in right and iustice, then they doo displace them, and punishe them verie rigo- rouslie by reason whereof all such officers have great care of their charges and liue vprightly, hauing before their eyes the straight ac- count which they must giue, and the cruell rewarde if to the con- trarie. The blinde folkes in this countrie are not accounted in the number of those that of necessitie are to bee maintayned by their kinsfolkes, or by the king: for they are constrayned to worke, as to grind with a querne wheate or rice, or to blowe smythes bellowes, or such like occupation, that they have no neede of their sight. And if it be a blinde woman, when she commeth vnto age, she doth vse the office of women of love, of which sorte there are a great number in publike places, as shall bee declared in the chapter for that pur
Chusan Archipelago.
pose. These haue women that doo tende vpon them, and doo paint and trim them vp, and they are such that with pure age did leaue that office. So by this order in all this kingdome, although it be great, and the people infinite; yet there is no poore that dooth perish nor begge in the streetes, as was apparent vnto the austere and barefoote fryers, and the rest that went with them into that countrie."
These extracts must suffice, The subsequent chapters of this first part of the book are occupied with moral and political topics. The remainder of the pages are filled with miscellaneous matters, curious and miraculous-at least, the author doth so aver. The story of Limahon, and the particulars of his attack on Manila, are related at great length. This roving pirate came into notice about 1570, and the narrative, 'done into plain English,' would be worth reading. The notices of several Spanish friars, who visited the coast of China about the same time, are not without interest and instruction. But we must close the book.
ART. II. Chusan Archipelago: sailing directions, derived from
nautical surveys, made by H. B. M.'s squadron in 1840-41. [We are proud of being able to lay before our readers the collection of valuable details comprised in the following article; as surveys progress and extend, we hope often to have the pleasure of furnishing them with many similar communications. While making grateful acknowledgement for this paper, we beg to solicit from friends (and from strangers also) such addition- al information as it may be in their power to communicate.] THE Kew shan (or Quesan islands) are eleven in number, besides several rocks. The largest is three miles long, and its greatest breadth 1 mile; in some places, however, it is not more than a cable * or a cable and a half wide: the others are much smaller, varying from to of a mile in extent. They are thickly populated, probably to the amount of 1500 inhabitants, who principally subsist on fish. They have goats, pigs, and fowls. The sweet potatoe is cultivated upon most of the islands, and forms during the winter their principal article of food.
The geographical extent of the group is from lat. 29° 21′1⁄2 N., to 29° 28′ N., and from long, 122° 10′ to 122° 16′1⁄2 E.
A cable's length is one tenth of a mile.
Chusan Archipelago.
Hĩh- Four small islets lie
Patahecock or Pătszekeo. The south-easternmost island is called Patahecock (
På tsze keō, or the 'letter Pă Point, so named from its resemblance to the form of the character ?} Its flat and table appearance will cause it to be easily recognised, when compared with the adjacent islands to the south, shan or Hesan, which are rugged and uneven. off its northeastern shore, and one off the southern. The summit is more than 450 feet above the level of the sea, and in lat. 29° 22′ N., and 122° 13′ 40′′ E. The northeastern islet of the group is a nar- row cliff, an islet uninhabited. To the westward are four small islands, inhabited and cultivated; and north of them, three cables, is a flat precipitous rock; its colored appearance renders it remarkable, being composed of red porphyritic hornstone. This face of the island may be approached without danger.
The westernmost island is the second in size and attains an elevá- tion of 400 feet. The body of the large island lies due south ‘from it. Between the two is a mud bank, gradually shoaling to the shore of the large island. By keeping the western extreme of the west islaud to the eastward of N.N.E., not less than 3 fathoms will be found and good holding ground without much swell. The highest part of the large island forms a sharp peak, near the western extreme, and is 490 feet high. The coast line of the island consists of steep high cliffs, with the exception of six small sandy bays.
South, and separated by a channel a cable and a half wide, there is another island, which is also high, with steep cliffs. Off the west- ern point is a half tide rock, and a reef runs off from its south
extreme.
Holderness Rock. The Holderness rock lies N. 88° W. 1 mile from the highest part of this island. It has 1 fathom over it, and breaks occasionally. From it, the highest part of the western island bears N. 24° E; a small peaked islet to the S.E.S. 52° E., and Pa- tahecock table, S. 66° E. The reef of rocks, lying off the south ex- treme of the nearest island, being in line with it.
Sunken rock. Another sunken rock, with only three quarters of a fathom on it, lies S. 20° W. three quarters of a mile from the summit of the island, south of the large Kewshan; and N. 70° W. from Patas hecock, the east extreme of the large island being in line with the east extreme of the nearest island bearing N. 509 E. The inhabi tants were civil, and sold their pigs, potatoes, and goats readily. Fresh water probably could not be procured in any quantity.
During the expedition against Chusan in 1840, H. M. ship Pylades
Chusan Archipelago.
encountered three piratical junks here, one of which was taken and burnt. The inhabitants did not appear to participate, at all in the crimes of these marauders, and expressed themselves well pleased at their being driven away,
Cape Montague. Several small islets lie off Cape Montague (or Szechaou shan), the depth of water close into them being 4 and 5 fathoms. The cape is in latitude 29° 10′ N., and longitude 122° 5′ E. A passage exists between it and the main, which is used by the junks. Between it and Buffaloe's Nose many deep inlets occur, which render the extremity of the continent doubtful.
Half Tide Rock. The half tide rock lays S. 32° W. from Pata- hecock 7.8 miles, being in a straight line for Cape Montague and from the Bear (an island called ★ Tamŭh shan by the Chinese,,
with a sharp peak at its eastern extreme), S. 42° E. 11 miles. It is uncovered two thirds of the tide. High tide and smooth water some- times prevent its being seen.
High Water. The time of high water in the neighborhood of the Kewsan islands is 2h. 30m. before the moon's transit, and the rise and fall 14 feet. The change in the direction of the stream does not take place until 2 hours subsequent to the change in depth. The flood tide comes from the southward and seldom exceeds 2 knots per hour. The variation of the compass (1840) is 1° 57′ westerly.
Between the Kewshan group and the Bear, the depth of water varies from 3 to 6 fathoms, gradually shoaling towards the latter. Two small groups of islands lie between the Half-tide rock and the Bear, lying 5 miles from the main. From the N.E. extreme of the Kewshan islands, Buffaloe's Nose bears N. 53° W., 16 miles, and a small rock called the Mouse (nearly level with the water's edge at high water) N. 24° W. 6 miles.
The Whelps. The Whelps are a group of four small islands, N. 70° W., 10 miles from the Kewshan.
Starboard Jack. Starboard Jack is a low flat reef with two rocks off its eastern ends, N. 47 W., 10 miles from the Kewsan.
- Corkers. Between Starboard Jack and the outer rock or the Cor- kers, (a number of isolated reefs lying between the Whelps and Buffaloe's Nose), the distance is 3 miles, with a depth of from 5 to 6 fathoms. The outer rock of the Corkers is occasionally covered, and bears from the extreme of Buffaloe's Nose S. 31° E. Two islets, a cable's length farther to the westward, are always above water; and
warning should the sea not break on the outer rocks.
will give
Chusan Archipelag4.
Gough i passage. This passage (by far the best of any leading to Chusan) is formed by Futoo shan on the east, and the Central is- lands (four in number) on the west. In the passage both shores are steep to: but south of the southern islet of the central group is a shoal, of which the lead will give warning. The passage is 1.4 mile through, and 5 cables wide.
Robert's passage.
'Robert's best passage' is formed by the Cen- tral islands on, the east, and the mud extending from Mei shan on the west, which dries que mile from the solid ground. The boundary of the passage westerly, therefore, is not known, except at low water, the lead giving no warning. The depth of water varies from 6 to 40 fathoms. The channel is 1.8 mile through, and 5 cables
Ketow or Kitto Mt). The course, after you are through these two passages, 旗頭) for Ketow point, will be N. 41° E, 9 miles. Anchorage will be
(also on some Chinese maps written
found anywhere along the Ketow shore, until one mile to the north- ward of Singlosan, a small islet near the Ketow shore, where the water deepens suddenly; and as there is no anchorage beyond this, until you get to Elephant island, ships are advised not to proceed, unless they have sufficient wind or tide to carry them in.
Tides. In these passages the first of the flood comes from the northward, and runs sometimes for three hours before it takes the same direction as the ocean tide.
Ten foot Junk passage. Between Mei shan and the Ketow shore there is a narrow passage 21 cables wide. It has deep water 5, 6, and 7 fathoms through, until you arrive at its southern extrem- ity, where it shoals considerably. There may be more than 10 feet, as only one line of soundings was run across the bar. There is how- ever no likelihood of its ever being used. Near the centre of the passage, on the Ketow side, there is a custom-house, and two canals which communicate with large villages in the neighborhood.
Kwŏkeu so
Two miles from the northern entrance is the walled town of Kwokeu, a military station; interruption to our sounding operations in 1840 was experienced from this quarter.
The several islands which form these passages may be here briefly described.
Lowang or Luhivangis 94 miles long, and 6 miles across, at the broadest part, which is the western extreme. Near the centre it is little more than two miles across, and very little elevated above the level of the sea. The southeast body of the island' rises to the
Chusan Archipelago.
height of 865 feet, being a conical bare hill. On the isthmus is an isolated peak. On the northwestern side of the island are five high peaks, the highest being 920 feet above mean tide level. The south- western coast has been already described: that to the west, in the Duffield's passage, has several small bays, with stone embankments stretching from point to point, by which means a considerable quantity of land has been gained from the sea. The points of these bays form nearly a straight line. Beyond the Bird rock, the coastline takes a sudden turn to the northeast. Cape Lowang, the northern extreme of the island is high and bold. The island is 26 miles in circumference, very populous, and well cultivated.
Futoo shan. Futoo shan is not quite three miles long and one broad: the southern extreme forms a narrow point, con- nected, at low water, with St. Andrew's. The channel between the point and Tree-a-top is 31 cables wide, and has deep water.
A spit runs off the northern extreme of Futoo shan, to the northward of which are three small islands.
Central islands. The south-westernmost of the Central islands is a small islet, connected by a reef and spit with the next, which is the largest of the group. This island is one quarter of a mile long, and is the resort of several fishermen, whose stakes and nets in 7 fa- thoms water will be seen in the neighborhood.
(or Plum island) appears formerly to have been eight islands, now however united by substantial stone walls, one of which is 1 mile in extent. The mud dries 11⁄2 mile from its southern extreme, and 21 cables from the northern. Off the northwest side are two small islands, from the northernmost of which a shoal extends northerly, there being 3 fathoms at the distance of 4 cables from the shore. By keeping the Central islands open of the two islands mentioned above, until your are passed them half a mile, the shoal will be avoided, and the Ketow shore may be approached with safety.
Teaouchowo Mun. The passage next to Buffaloe's Nose is called Teaouchow mun by the Chinese. The entrance to it is N. 8° E., 18 miles from the northeast extreme of the Kewshan islands.
The island called Beak Head (or Tunglo shan) forms
its southwest extreme, off the east end of which lie three small islets ;
and two hummocks near the end of the island, render it sufficiently remarkable. Between the Beak Head and Front islands are three islets and a rock, which, with Lowang, form Harbor Rouse.
VOL. X. NO. v.
Chusan Archipelago.
There is a narrow passage, having 34 fathoms, between. Lowang and the Beak Head, but there would be no object in using it, while there are other passages so much superior.
Beak Head is 5 miles long, and very narrow 1 mile from the east extreine. Two reefs lie close in shore upon the northeastern side. The distance across to Vernon island or Heäke is 2.8 miles, with 18 and 20 fathoms. Near the west extreme of Beak Head the channel narrows to 5 cables, and there is no bottom with 34 fathoms. A reef of rocks, the northerninost of which is always above water, bounds the channel on the south side; and an island with a conical hill and two small islets on its south side, bound it on the northern ; this island is situated midway between Vernon and Beak Head; be- tween it and the former are two small islets and a reef, which render the channel, on that side, more intricate.
Having steered N. 59° W., 81⁄2 miles from the entrance you will pass another island, to the northwest of which good anchorage will be found, in 9 to 10 fathoms. The same course, and 4 miles farther will carry you clear of the passage. On the north side of the chan- nel are four small islets, and between them and Taou-hwa shan is an archipelago of reefs and islands. There is a passage through into the Heäke mun, but it is awkward for sailing vessels. On the Lo- wang side is a reef, and an islet, with a small pinnacle on it. The reef bears S. 34° E. from cape Lowang, and is generally uncovered. The mud dries 7 cables off Lowang in the bight. Vessels, there- fore, beating through, should not stand into this shore, so as to bring cape Lowang to the northward of the bearing given above to avoid the reef. On this side of Lowang it will be found difficult to land, except at high water.
lies five
The southeast passage, or Heäke mun, miles further to the northward. It is formed by Vernon island on the south, and Taouhwa shan on the north. The east extreme of the former island is rugged, with large boulders of granite. · There is a cove at this end of the island, which runs in three quarters of a mile, and would afford good shelter for boats.
Vernon island (Heäke shanor Crab-cape island) is five miles long. On the northwest side of the island there is a long bay, where vessels may anchor in 4 to 5 fathoms, and procure water from the island of Taouhwa shan opposite. There are several cas cades, and the water might be obtained without removing the casks from the boats. The passage here is 11⁄2 mile wide. Six miles from the entrance it narrows to 3 cables. Two small islands and some
Chusan Archipelago.
rocks on the Taouhwa shan side, and an island with a sharp peak (half a cable off the northern extreme of which is a rock), form the boundaries.
Taou-hwa shan) shore is bold and precipitous. The peak rises to the height of 1680 feet. Near the western end the island becomes very low, rising however again towards the extreme, where it is surmounted by a peculiar crag, which will be recognized nearly throughout all the southeastern part of the archipelago.
The depth of water in the channel is 60 fathoms in some parts, and the tide is very strong. It will, however, be found a convenient passage to sea from Chusan during the northwesterly monsoon: the distance from Elephant island to the open sea, by this passage, being only 17 miles. It should not however be attempted in light winds, as vessels are liable to be becalmed, and to experience flaws, under the high land of Taouhwa shan. The passage is 8 miles through, and from its northeast entrance to Round-about island the distance is 5 miles, N. 41° W.
Sarah Galley passage. This passage is by no means so eligible as those already mentioned. The entrance is situated N. 12° E., 21 miles from the Kewshan group, near which will be seen the Jansen rock, a steep cliff islet with a reef 14 cable from the east extreme. Another rock, uncovered at half tide, bears from the Jansen S. 25° W., 1.3 mile. From it the highest part of Oswamong island bears N. 75° W., 1.8 mile, and the highest part of Taouhwa shan S. 5° E. The coast line of Oswamong is high cliffs, and off the southeastern extreme is a ledge of rocks.
Oswamong is called by the Chinese Woosha, or Usha, that is, 'Black sand.'
Two patches of rock. South of Oswamong, 5 cables, are two patches of rock, lying northwest-half-west and southeast-balanst from each other, not quite 2 cables apart. From the sonthe is?"}} patch the Jansen bears N. 52° E., and a flat peaked island between them and Taouhwa shan S. 16° E. Very high tides may cover them, but they are generally above water. The distance between thei and some rocks extending from the north extreme of the flat peaked island is 7 cables. There is no bottom with 31 fathoms in the vici- nity of the rocks, after passing which the course is west 24 mil«?, leaving two small islets with a reef between them to the southwyd The channel is here 7 cables broad, between Tangfow on the so sin,. and an island (with a hut on its summit and a reef of rocks off the southeast extreme) to the northward. From hence the course is S.
Chusan Archipelago.
50° W., 1.7 mile. The channel is now 1 mile broad, between a small island with two hummocks (nearly divided at the centre,) and an island to the westward with a building, something similar to a Druidical temple, on its summit; between this island and Chookeä tseën, the mud dries nearly all the way, leaving only a small passage for boats. In standing over to the Chookeätseën shore, vessels should not bring a small flat islet (with two rocks off its southeast extreme) to bear to the southward of S. 15° W., as the depth of water decreas- es very suddenly. Off the eastern end of the island, with the Druidi- cal temple on it, the small flat island (above mentioned), which is at the west extreme of the Sarah Galley passage, bears S. 21° W., 2.6 miles. Before reaching the flat island the southeast extreme of Chụ- san will be seen. There is a bulding constructed of slabs of stone (similar to the one already mentioned on the island,) on the hills over the point, and a small tower or a fort near the water's edge. From the flat island to Round-about island the distance is 7.7 miles, W. 7° S.
Between Chookeä tseen and Oswamong there is another navigable passage, two cables wide, which may be used with a fair wind, by which means the reefs in the entrance of the Sarah Galley passage will be avoided. Off the north end of Oswamong is a small island. The passage between Tangfow and Taouhwa shan is very narrow in one part.
Chookeä tseen (朱家尖, or Choo's Peak,) is 6 miles from east
to west. The west line has many deep indentations, some of which are inclosed from the sea by stone walls. On the eastern extreme are 4 remarkably high peaks; and near the centre of the island is a smooth cone-topped one, which is 1164 feet above the level of the sea, and forms one of the most remarkable features in this part of the archi- pelago. On the west face of the island are several sandy bays, and the hills in this neighborhood are covered with large isolated masses of granite. Off its northeast extreme is a group, consisting of five islands; and to the eastern are three small islets, the outermost of which is 83 miles distant. A half-tide rock bears N. 14° E., 7 miles From the summit of Pooto it bears S,
from the cone-topped hill. 78° E., and from the south-easternmost island of the northeast group, S. 49° W.
Tinghae,
The harbor of Tinghae is difficult of ingress
and egress, owing to the strong tides and narrow passages. The best entrance is that round Tower hill, and between Bell and Tea is- lands, in which no hidden danger has been found.
Chusan Archipelago.
Tower hill passage. The course for vessels intending to enter by this passage, will be west by north 8 miles from Ketow point. The depth of water in this part of the passage varies from 35 to 110 fa- thoms, and no anchoring ground is to be found unless close to the shore. Vessels, therefore, not having sufficient tide to carry them round Tower hill, or wind enough to stem the current, should re- main at anchor to the eastward of Round-about island, or in the neighborhood of Singlo shan. If possible the time of starting should be so arranged as to obtain the first of the ebb after rounding Tower hill. After having rounded Tower hill, Tea island may be steered for. The depth of water between Tower hill and Bell island varies from 30 to 40 fathoms. On the northwest side of Tower hill a bank ex- tends a cable's length from the shore with 3 to 4 fathoms on it. Spring tides set at the rate of 3 to 3 knots; and vessels, in light winds, should be careful that they are not set into the archipelago between Tea and Elephant islands, where the channels are narrow, and the water deep with foul ground.
Anchorage between Bell and Tea islands. Between Bell and Tea islands good anchorage will be found in 10 to 12 fathoms. Ships intending to remain here should not open the channel between Bell island and Chusan, as the tides are stronger and the ground loose. Proceeding from thence to the inner harbor of Tinghae, another an- chorage will be found on the Chusan shore. A sunken rock, with 24 fathoms upon
it at low water, lies due south of a small hillock in the valley, and 21 cables from the shore.
Anchorage on Chusan shore. Opposite to a canal entrance is a mud bank, with 3 fathoms in the shoalest part, and deep water be- tween it and the shore. The tides are irregular at this anchorage, but it is convenient for watering In light winds vessels should avoid the strength of the ebb, when passing through the channel between Tea and Guard-house island, which otherwise is liable to set them through the Straight or Southern Passage. A ledge of rocks extends off the northeast extreme of Tea island, 1 cable. It is steep to, and between the islands 40 fathoms will be found.
Middle Ground. After passing Guard-house island it is necessary to steer for Macclesfield island, in order to avoid the Middle Ground, which has two feet in its shoalest part. The 3 fathoms line extends within 22 cables of the latter island, and Tower hill on with the slope upon the south rise of Tea island will keep you in 4 fathoms, or not to open the fort on Trumball island, with the north end of Mac- clesfield.
Chusan Archipelago.
The middle ground is situated at the western extreme of the bar- bor. On all but the western edge the water shoals suddenly. The passage between it and Chusan is cable wide, with 12 to 14 fa- thoms. Between Guard-bouse island and it, the channel is 1 cable broad.
South passage. The South, or Straight, passage lies between Deer and Elephant islands. Two sunken rocks lie near the centre of the channel, which narrow it to 12 cable. It should never be at、 tempted without a commanding breeze. The tides in the vicinity of the sunken rocks flow from three channels, forming eddies which render a ship, in light winds, totally unmanageable. Intending to enter this passage, the course from Round-about island is northwest by north 44 miles.
· Elephant island is remarkable for a curious crag near the sum- mit, and cannot be mistaken. The tides or wind not suiting to go into the harbor, anchorage will be found abreast of it in 16 to 18 fathoms water; the bottom is gravel and not good holding ground. Beyond Round island, which is a small islet lying to the northeast of Elephant island, the water deepens from 28 to 34 fathoms, until you arrive at the Southern rock, which has 13 fathom on it at low water. The marks for it are the Cap rock, or with the saddle of Kintang, N. 75° W., and the joss-house on the hill near the suburbs showing between Trumball and Sarah Galley islands; it lies S. 63° E., 2 cables from the Black rock, and N. 75° E., 12 cable from the ledge extending off the island to the southward of Tea island.
The North Rock lies due north of it 12 cable. The marks for which are a bushy tree on the eastern slope of Sarah Galley island, in line with the square beacon on the east hill, and the Black rock's north extreme on with the south part of the Cap; it bears from the former N. 63o E., 24 cables; it has 9 feet at low water. This patch is about 30 feet by 20, the water deepens suddenly on all sides of it.
To avoid these dangers, the best direction is to keep the western shore on board, taking care not to avoid the ledge of rocks which extend three quarters of a cable from the island south of the Cap and Black rock, the latter is steep to; at this part of the channel the bot- tom is rocky and the depth very irregular. Having passed Sarah Galley island, steer for Macclesfield, which may be rounded close, to avoid the Middle Ground, the marks for which have been already given, in the direction of Tower hill passage.
Inner harbor. The inner harbor of Tinghae is formed by the coast of Chusan on the north, Trumball and Macclesfield islands on
Chusan Archipelago.
the south, Grave island and the Beacon rock on the east, Guard. house and Tea islands to the west. It is 3 cables wide and 6 cables long, the depth of water varies from 4 to 8 fathoms; at the eastern extreme, is a patch of rocks with two fathoms, lying S. 85° W. 1 cable from the Beacon rock, which may be avoided by keeping the Chusan shore on board until Sarah Galley is open by Trumball.
Deer island passage. The inner harbor also may be entered from the eastward by passing between Deer and Sarah Galley islands, which are 1 cable apart. The Beacon rock, to the northeast of Sarah Galley, may be passed close on either side. The Chusan shore may then be steered for, keeping 1 cable to the eastward of Grave island, and when the harbor Beacon rock opens with Grave island it may be steered for: pass between it and Chusan, and keep the Chu- san shore on board until Sarah Galley island is shut in with Trum- ball. This passage is superior to the South or Straight passage, as although in some parts it is only 11⁄2 to 14 cable wide, the limits are always marked, except off the northeast end of Deer island, from whence a spit extends I cable northerly. It is also the only passage into the harbor, in which the flood tide is in your favor all the way.
Anchorage between Trumball and Sarah Galley. There is good anchoring ground between Sarah Galley and Trumball islands, in 8 to 10 fathoms. A spit extends from the southeast extreme of the lat ter, the 3 fathoms line being 3 cables from the shore. By keeping the south end of Macclesfield open of the summit of Tea island it will be avoided.
Suburbs. The suburbs called Taontow contain many houses, forming a long street, running parallel to the beach. To the east, and close to the water's edge, is a small hill, with a temple or joss-house on it (the mark for the south rock) 122 feet high.
The level ground intersected by canals extends 1 mile to the eastward, where it is terminated by a ridge of hills 642 feet high, extending down to the beach, upon which are 3 beacons, 2 round and I square; the latter is 595 feet high, and also one of the marks for the north rock. Westerly from the suburbs the level ground extends 1.1 mile, a ridge of hills 450 feet high run down to the coast, form. ing two points. There are also 3 beacons on this ridge, the central one is 323.7 feet above mean tide level.
The latitude of the eastern of these points (the one opposite Guard- house island) was ascertained to be 30° 0′ 20′′ N. and its longitude 122° 5′ 18′′ E.
Chusan Archipelago.
The variation of the compass was 2° 33′ E. in 1840: and high water, or fall and change days, 1 hour before the moon's transit.
Rise and fall of the tide 12 feet and 6 inches. Scarcely any change takes place in the depth of the water three quarters of an hour pre- vious and subsequent to high water. At low water the change in the depth occurred more rapidly. Ordinary tides rise and fall from 5 to 7 feet.
In all the channels, generally speaking, the change in the direc- tion of the stream does not alter until 1h. 40m. after the change has taken place in the depth. In the inner harbor, and along the coast of Chusan, the flood comes from the eastward; at the outer an- chorage, off the Elephant, from the southeast; between Bell and Tea islands, ships flood-rode tend to the northward. The strength of the tide varies from 2 to 3 knots. Strong breezes from the northward materially affect the rise and fall, the range in two conse- cutive days being sometimes 2 feet and 6 inches.
so called from
Chusan. The island Chusan (or Chowshan its supposed resemblance to a boat) is 51.5 miles in circumference, its extreme length being 20.8 miles; it lies in a northwest and southeast direction. The greatest breadth in any part is 10.5 miles. From the beach at Tinghae to the northern shore, the distance is 7 miles. Fowards the eastern end of the island it becomes narrower, never however being under 6.1 miles.
The city of Tinghae is a walled town 1.8 miles in circumference, situated 0.5 cables from the beach. There are four entrances situat- ed at each of the cardinal points, which are through double arched gateways at right angles to one another. The span of the outer one is 7 feet and 6 inches, and 9 feet high. The city wall is 14 feet and 9 inches high, surmounted by a parapet 4 feet and 6 inches. The width of the wall is 13 feet, and the parapet 2 feet. The southern face runs east and west. The western face north and south. The east face north 350 yards and then northwest. The northern face is irre- gular. On the northwest side the city is overlooked by a hill, part of which is inclosed by the wall. A canal 33 feet wide and 3 feet deep nearly encircles the city and enters it near the south gate. A canal and paved foot path communicate with the suburbs, but the principal means of communication with the sea is by a canal further to the
There are three other commercial ports in the island, viz., Shin- keä mun, (Singkamong), Chinkeäng (Singkong), and Shaou.
Shinkeä mun, 沈家門 or Singkumong. This is situated at the
Chusan Archipelago.
southeast extreme of the island. The town is situated at the water's edge, and is a miserable assemblage of huts. The principal occupa- tion of the inhabitants is fishing. About 35 junks, of 100 tons bur- den, and carrying from 30 to 35 men, with 250 smaller boats, each containing 5 men, are employed for this purpose. The harbor is form- ed by the island of Lookeä (which is divided into six islands at high water), and is 1 cable wide, with 4 to 5 fathoms abreast the town. The southwest extreme lies between Lookeä and Takan, and has not more than 14 fathom at low water. A reef and mud spit extend easterly from Takan one cable, and the mud extends westerly from Lookeä 4 cables.
H. M. ship Pylades laid between Takan (†) and Chusan in 5 fathoms, the width here being 24 cables. The high land (600 feet) on the Chusan shore, occasioned the squalls to be sometimes very vio- lent. H. M. ship Conway laid to the westward of Lookeä, with the small flat island (with two rocks off it), at the entrance to the Sarah Galley passage, bearing west 0.7 miles in 5 fathoms. The distance from Shinkeä mun to Tinghae is 11 miles. The channel along the Chusan shore has deep water. It is not, however, advisable for ships, owing to a number of small islands 3 miles to the east of the suburbs, which render the passage narrow and crooked.
Sheih-luh mun +✯, or sixteen passages, is the name given
to this narrow and crooked passage by the Chinese.
Several islands with extensive mud banks confine the channel be- yond this to half a cable, occasionally it is 1 cable wide. Vessels, therefore, bound from Tinghae to Shinkeä mun must use one of the passages already described, or must pass to the northward of Deer island and the island east of it: this passage is not above 1 cable wide. It has deep water, except at the southeast entrance, where there are only 3 fathoms.
Between Takan and Aou shan there is shoal water; to avoid which vessels should not stand so far to the northward as to bring the reef off the southern end of Aou shan in line with the crag on Ele- phant island. The channel between the east end of Chusan and Pooto has only 1 fathom at low water, and off the southeast end of Chusan it is only 2 cables wide, owing to a reef with a stone pillar on it, near the centre of the passage.
After rounding the flat island with two rocks, this Beacon' will be seen bearing N. 35° E, A course should be steered to pass between it and Chusan. Shoal water extends 34 cables from Lookeä, and 6
VOL. X. NO, V,
Chusan Archipelago.
cables from the island with the Druid's temple on the summit. To avoid which, do not stand further to the eastward, when a cliff islet off the east extreme of Chusan is in line with a building on the sum- mit of the flat peninsula at the northeast extreme of Chusan. The Beacon rock in line with the cliff ialet is a good mid channel mark. After passing between the Beacon rock and Chusan, keep the diff islet on with the building upon the peninsula, which will keep you in the deepest water. The flat is extensive, the 24 fathoms line extend- ing 1.7 mile. On it were several hard casts of the lead. Vessels therefore, should cross the flat under easy sail.
Pooto The island of Pooto is 3.4 miles from the south- east point of Chusan, and 1.6 mile from the east point. The channel is termed by the Chinese
Leenhwa yang, or sea of water-lilies. After passing the flat noticed above, the water deepens suddenly to 6 and then to 12 fathoms. There is also a good passage between Pooto and Tsing shanor Green island which is 7 cables wide. The flat extends within 5 cables of Pooto, which must therefore be kept on board. The island is 34 miles long. In one part it is only six tenths of a mile broad. A narrow projecting point extends from the west side, forming a deep sandy bay, with 3 fathoms in it. A stream runs into the bay, which might be used during the northwesterly monsoon, by vessels in want of water. There are two reefs in the bay, but they are always above water. This island and the Chookeä tseën group belong to the priests of Budha. The temples on Pooto are very numerous, the largest of which is situated on the western side of the island, and a broad flagged road leads to it from the south side.
Singkong or
Chin keäng. Chinkeäng harbor is situated at the western extreme of Chusan, and is distant 7 miles from Ting- hae. From the Inner harbor to the southwestern point of the island, the distance is 4 miles. The passage between Bell island and Chu- san is not recommended, owing to the strong tides which exist in it. Near the centre is a half tide rock, with a beacon on it; and to the southwest of it, two cables, a rocky patch with only 14 fathom on it. Vessels bound to Chinkeäng had therefore better use the passage between Bell island and Tower hill. Should, however, the other be used, that part of the channel between the Beacon and the Chusan shore will be found the best.
Between Kiddisol and Chusan there is no danger, the distance being rather less than a cable and a half.
Chusan Archipelago.
From the southwest point of Chusan the coast-line is mud (with the exception of a small islet) to the point of Chinkeäng harbor. Anchorage will be found along this shore in from 10 to 12. fathoms. A small islet (the Steward) lies midway between Chusan and Kini tang. There is 45 fathoms water in its vicinity : 2 cables to the eastward there is a rocky patch, on which 9 fathoms were found...
Chinkeäng harbor is formed by three islands, (Waeteaoù kJ, Chungteaou, and Letenou, i. e. Outer-hook, Mid. dle-hook, and Inner-hook,) and Chusan; a reef of rocks lies off the southwest point of the first island, and the mud extends from the island nearly to the reef. Between Waeteaou and Chusan the die- tance is 6 cables, with 7 to 8 fathoms. The mud extends half a cable from the island; on the Chusán shore is a circular fort, which: can only be approached along the embankments.
Opposite the island of Chungteaou, the channel is less than a cable wide, with 7 fathoms. The passage increases but little in width, until you have passed the island of Leteaou, opposite to which is the landing-place, and the entrance of a stream, which is naviga ble
to the town, distant 6 cables, at high water. Near the beach are a few houses.
Upon the islands forming the harbor, and also on the point near the entrance, are extensive quarries of stone. The passage through is 1.7 mile long, and being both narrow and crooked can only be avail- able for steamers and small vessels.
Kutsu 藝茨
or Koo-tsze. To the northward of Leteaou, is a flat island, Kootsze. A reef of rocks extends from it towards the island of Chusan, narrowing the passage to one cable, in which there is no bottom with 30 fathoms.
Channel between Blackwall and Chusan. Between Kootazé and Blackwall or Tsatsu (Tsih tsze) the distance is three cable. The eastern side of Blackwall has several deep bays and indenta- tions; a sunken rook lies off the northeast point, distant 14 cable, and between it and Chusan, the water varies from 12 to 19 fathoms.
Kintang. From the Steward, or Pwanyang tseaou (half- way rock), to Kintang, the distance is two miles; near the south- east extreme of the latter is a remarkable saddle hill, which with the Cap rock forms one of the marks for the southern sunken rock, in the South or Straight passage. There is a peninsula (connected by mud which is overflown at high water) at the southeast point, from which a ledge of rocks extends, the southwestern part of which is
Chusan Archipelago.
always above water. Nearly opposite to Chinkeäng, there is another, sharp peak on Kintang, which is 1519 feet above the level of the sea. Channel between Kintang and Blackwall. Vessels bound from Chin- keäng to Seaou Sha-aou, or to sea by the northwest passage, must bear in mind that there is no anchorage after leaving Chinkeäng, until to the northward of Blackwall, the distance being 6 miles. The channel between Kintang and Blackwall is half a mile wide. A small islet lies off the southwest extreme of the latter. Between the two there is deep water, and from the summit of the islet, Chin- hae (at the entrance of the river leading to Ningpo) may be seen over Kintang, which, abreast of this part of the channel, is very low. After passing the islet there is a long bay on Blackwall island, from the northern point of which a reef extends 12 cable. Off the north extreme of Kintang there is a group of 5 islands.
Broken island, or Mamuh shan The northern rock off Broken island bears from the northwest extreme of Blackwall N. 15° E., 61⁄2 miles. Between it and Broken island there is a good channel. The latter is connected with Chusan at low water; it is about 700 feet high. The ridge of hills at the northwest extreme of Chusan rises to the height of 761 feet, and on them are three beacons. The entrance to the harbor of Seaou Sha-aou is between Broken and Fisher's island (Chang pih shan), and is 6 cables wide- Broken island is steep to, except on the S. E. side, where it joins Chusan. A shoal extends 5 cables off the west side of Fisher's island.
The harbor is formed by Fisher's island and Chusan; it is 2 miles long and 1.7 mile broad, with a depth of water from 5 to 9 fathonis. This harbor is well sheltered from all winds, and easy of ingress and egress. The coast of Chusan is lined with a mud bank, which ren- ders landing (only at one spot, which is at the eastern extreme of the harbor) difficult except at high water. Near the landing-place is a small village; the principal town is situated some distance up the valley from the landing-place. The south shore of Fisher's island is also an extensive mud bank, a considerable portion of which has been inclosed from the sea. Off the southeast extreme of the island the three fathoms line extends five cables. The depth decreases gra- dually, so that the lead will give warning. The eastern entrance to Seaou Sha-aou harbor is 8 cables wide. A small islet and a rock lie off the north extreme. They may be rounded close, passing between the islets mentioned above and the islets to the eastward.
Passage between Sheppey and Chusan. Vessels intending to go to the eastward from Seaou Sha-aou may pass either between Sheppey
Chusan Archipelago.
(Lan and Lew shan) and Chusan, or to the northward of Sheppey, The latter is the more eligible. The former is 2 cables wide in the narrowest part. The Houbland islands lie between Sheppey and Fisher's island. Vessels should pass between them and two small islets, which lie off the southwest side, between which and Chusan is the narrowest part of the passage. Having passed this islet, vessels may either stand along Sheppey, or steer a course for the open sea.
Passage between Sheppey and Blackheath. To pass to the north- ward of Sheppey, a N. 56° E. course must be steered for a long bar- ren island, with a round peak upon it. The distance between which and Sheppey is 1.6 mile. The mud runs off the latter 0.5 mile. The barren island is steep, to, on the southeast shore. In the channel, between Kwan shan and Sheppey, are several islets; and in standing over to the Sheppey side of the channel the mud may be avoided by keeping the north end of the largest of these islands open of the northern extreme of Sheppey.
Having passed the barren island a course must be steered to pass close to Kwan shan, which lies west from the barren island 11⁄2 mile, in order to avoid a reef which is covered at high water. It is distant from Kwan shan 24 cables. From it the barren hill bears N. 85° W., and the highest part of Sheppey S. 26° W.
Having passed the reef, the large island, mentioned as the mark for avoiding the mud bank extending westerly from Sheppey, bounds the passage to the southward. A reef extends a short distance from its northern extreme.
Nine islands. Besides Kwan shan there are nine islands lying off the southeast end of Tae shan. A reef of rocks lies off the southern point of the one east of Kwan shan. The channel then lies between these Nine islands to the north, and the large passage island on the south. A due west course will carry you along Changtoo and the northwest group to the open sea.
Vessels wishing to anchor under Sheppey, which will be found a secure anchorage in the northwesterly monsoon, may haul to the southward, after passing the first island to the eastward of the large Passage island, and run between them and a cluster of rocks to the eastward. The east extreme of Sheppey is a low cliff, which may bẹ passed within a cable; good anchorage will then be found in five fa thoms, the water shoaling gradually towards the shore.
Sheppey. The island of Sheppey is 7.5 miles long, and 5.6 broad. On the east side are several deep sandy bays. A considerable por- tion of the east extreme is separated from the island by a narrow
Chusan Archipelago.
two (蘭山 Lan shan and
channel at high water. The island appears formerly to have been Sew shan) the land being very low and protected from the sea by walls, near the northern extreme.
H. M. ship Pylades anchored here in the month of Feb., in 5 fathoms, six tenths of a mile from the west point of Sheppey, bearing N. 8° W.; the island south of Sheppey bearing 8. 54° W.; and the highest peak of Chusan S. 7° E. To the eastward of Sheppey are two cliff islets, the nearest is 1.8 mile distant, and the further 4 miles. South from the western, 2 cables, is a ledge of rocks, which is occasionally covered; and 0.6 of a mile W.N.W. from the eastern, is another small islet. The mud bank from Sheppey gradually deep- ens to the eastward, the depth of water, when the island of Pooto bears due south being 8 fathoms.
Tae shan
To the northeast of Fisher's island, 54 miles, is the island of Tae shan, which is very populous. The centre of the island is an extensive flat with many villages near to its eastern ex- treme; the hills also separate, leaving a level plain across the island. Midway between Fisher's island and it are two small islets; and between Barren island and it are three others, off the south end of the westernmost of which is a sunken rock. Rocks also extend off the southwest and north points of the central one of the three. A mud bank extends from the northwest point of Barren island nearly to the first islet of the three, which lies to the N. W. of it. Between them and Tae shan the bottom is sandy with irregular soundings.
Kwan shan ŝ 14. The passage between Kwan shan and Tae shan is 3 cables wide; on the Tae shan shore are several small islets; the channel is deep. H. M. ship Pylades anchored in a small cove to the north of Kwan shan on the island of Tae shan, and rode out a heavy gale of wind. The cove, however, is too small to be recom- mended, and the deep water in its vicinity is also disadvantageous.
To the westward of Tae shan, the islands extend about 15 miles, and from the summit, the termination of the group northerly could not be defined.
Changtoo. To the eastward of Tae shan, and separated by a channel 1.5 miles, is another large island, called Changtoo by the Chinese, and is probably the Blackheath of Thornton's chart. The southe-n face of this island has many deep indentations, and may be composed of several islands. The time allotted for the ser- vice did not admit of a closer investigation.
'The breadth of the channel, between Changtoo and the two islands
Chusan Archipelago.
to the eastward of Sheppey, is 2.3 miles. The group of islands con. tinues to the eastward of Changtoo, and a little to the southward of the same parallel for 25 miles.
Eastern Group. The easternmost island of this group is in. lati- tude 30° 7′ 45′′ N., and longitude 122° 46′ BO′′ E. From the an- chorage under Sheppey it bears. E. 5° 8., 27 miles, and from the summit of Pooto E. 20° N., 21 miles. From the outer islet east of Chookeä tseën N. 29° E., 184 miles. It is five miles in circum fer-. ence, and about 500 feet high. There is a small village on its north- ́ western side. The shores are precipitous cliffs. The intervening islands between this and Changtoo were not examined, their outline therefore has only been inserted in the chart. Two small islets lie N. 74° E. about two miles from the eastern island.
Coast-line of Chusan. The coast-line of Chusan, after passing between it and Sheppey, trends to the northeast. At the distance of three miles there is a small island with a narrow passage between it and the shore, and a deep bay to the westward, in which the mud dries out a considerable distance, rendering it difficult to land, except at the extreme points.
Three miles and a half further to the southeast there is a larger island with a remarkable fall in the hills near its centre; a small islet lies half a mile west from its extreme.
To the eastward are three islands at the distance of, a half, one and a half, and three and a quarter,. miles. The nearest is the largest of the three, and has a patch of rocks 2 cables from it to the north- east, Northeast also from the centre of the three, is another reef 4 cables from the island. The outer island is a narrow cliff with a rock off its northeast end.. ¡
To the northward and northeast of Pooto are three islets, and three rocks, which are steep to, except to the westward of the southern and largest of the three, where there is a reef. To the northeast of these islands, and 3 miles from the summit of Pooto, is a small co. nical islet E. 8° S.; 2 miles from it is a group of 4 sharp pinnacled mocks, with several reefs among them. The reef already described (when treating of the island of Chookeä tseën) lies S. 42o E., 64 miles from these rocks, and is the last danger in the passage. The northeast extreme of Chusan is high, rising probably. 1400 feet, the hills approaching near the coast-line. A flat peninsula, with 2 build- ings composed of slabs of stone; forms the extremity of the island.
Ships bound to the north side of Chusan, ought to make the land in about latitude 30°, when the easternmost island of the northern
Chusan Archipelago.
group will be seen to the northward, and the high land of Chookeä tseën to the westward. On closing the land, three small islets to the eastward of Chookeä tseën will be made out, and also the island of Pooto, which may be known by a small lookout-house on its summit. Intending to communicate with Chinkeä mun (Sinkeamoon), the most eligible anchorage will be found to the southward of Pooto, for which purpose a course may be steered to pass between that island and Lookeä, taking care to avoid a half tide rock which lies E. 12° S., 9 miles from the highest part of Pooto. The best anchorage will be found opposite two sandy bays, near the west extreme.
It is re- commended not to open the passage between Chusan and Pooto, as by standing too far to the westward vessels may get on the flat be- ween Pooto and Chinkeä mun. Good water may be obtained from a well in the sandy bay near the temple.
If bound to Sheppey or Seaou Sha-aou, a group of sharp pinnacle rocks must be kept to the southward, a remarkable island near Chu- san with a sudden fall in the land near the centre, will be seen to the westward. There are three islands with rocks off them to the east- ward of it: when abreast the easternmost of these one course may be steered so as to pass between Sheppey and Kwanshan, in which case a vessel should get to the northward of a small cliff island one quarter of the way between Changtoo and Chusan, and keep mid- channel between it and Changtoo; 34 miles to the westward of the first cliff island, there is a second, which must also be kept to the southward, you will then bé abreast several small crooked islets, which lie off the southeast extreme of Tae shan; and Kwan shan, 24 miles to the W.N.W of the second cliff island, is high with a flat summit; keep it close on board to avoid the sunken rock near its south extreme, bearing from the highest part of Sheppey N. 26° E., you may then steer a west course to pass close to Barren island, from whence ́a S. 56° W. course, 5 miles, will carry you to Seaou Sha-aou barbor; or, instead of passing between the islands of Changtoo and Kwanshan, you may pass between Sheppey and Chusan, in which case keep the Chusan:shore on board, passing between it and a small islet (which lies S. 23° E. from the south end of Sheppey): course then lies between an islet on the Chusan shore and the south islet off Sheppey, from thence steer so as to pass to the northward of three small islets, and a reef which lies 2 miles to the westward, from whence a west course will carry you past a rocky point, and into Seaou Sha-aou or Small Sand-harbor.
Containing names of places in the Chusan Archipelago.
The list commences at the extreme south, and the places are given nearly according to their latitude proceeding northward.
Thornton's orthography.
Chusun Archipelago.
Sounds of the Chinese
characters.
in the court dialect.
Sounds in Fuh-
Latitude of
the places.
Longitude of the places.
Hesan island
Hih shan-
Cape Montague (h. p.
Szechaou shan
Sod-cheaou san
29° 10′ N. | 122° 5′ E.
Half-tide rock
29° 15′ 3′′
The Bear (peak) -
Tamuh shan
Tae-bok-san
29° 23′ 5′′
122° 0′ 4′′
The Cubs
Quesan island
Kew shan
Patahecock (h. p.)
Pǎtsze keŏ
Pat-joō kak
29° 21′ 9*
122° 13′ 7′′
Holderness rock -
Whelps (centre)
29° 29′ 4′′
122° 5′ 1′′
Allen island'
Shoo shan
Ch’hé-san
29° 32′ 7′′
122° 13′ 6′′
VOL. X. NO. V.
Starboard Jack
Castle rock
COURT DIALECT.
Szetseaou
FUHREËN.
LATITUDE.
LONGITUDE.
29° 36′ 5′′ N 122° 9′ 2′′ E
Chusan Archipelago.
29° 44′ 2′′
122° 18′ 8′′
Newpe shan
Gnêw-pit san
29° 36′ 2′′
122° 1′ 4′′
29° 37′ 6′′
122° 13′ 2′′
Leuk-hêng
29° 47′ 2′′
122° 7′ 5′′
Wǎnchow yu
Wan-chew-sẽ
29° 42′ 4′′
122° 0′ 5′′
Tunglo kwei
Keaoupei
Futoo shan
Tông-lô-kwuy 29° 40′ 9′′
122° 17′ 4′′
Kaou-poey
Hwut-toe-san
Mesan & Lanjett (h.p.)
Harbor Rouse
CHINESE.
Buffaloe's Nose (h. p.) 4 § 14
Front Island (high p.)
Lowang cape
Tree-a-top
Beak Head (E. ext.)
Footosan
Heäke shan
Hoone shan
Laoushoo shan
Kwŏkeu so
Laoushoo shan
Boêy-san
Kay-kê-san
Hoe-neeng
Lá ch’hé-san
Kokke-só
Ló ch’hé san
Ke-t'hoê
Ch'hwan-pit
六温 銅交佛梅蝦湖老霩老岐穿
横州 鑼盃肚山岐泥鼠渠鼠頭,
龜 山 山山山所
Vernon island (E. ext.
Jansen Rock
John Peak
St. George
29° 52′ 9′′
122° 7′ 7′′
Suburbs, temple hill
Round-about island
Bell island
Ch' hve ma-più
122° 25′ 3′′
Tēng-haé
Taeseay shan
Tae-sea-san
30° 0′ 4′′
122° 6′ 4′′
29° 53′ 7′′
122° 9′ 3′′
29° 52′ 2′′
122° 16'
Chew-san
Chowshan
Woosha shan
Chookeä tseën
Aou shan
Teihjo shan
Chetow shan
Seaoumaou shan
Ta maou shan
Tsze shan
Teng poè
Oe-say-san
Choo-kay-cheëm 29° 54'
Tek-jëȧk-san
Se-t'hoê-san
Seaóu-beaôu-san
Tae-beaôu-san
Ch'he-san
定大衢 馬舟燈烏朱楢崎小大艇亮小王 海榭頭 泰山埠沙家山箬頭猫猫山小家
Oswamong
Chuttatham (cone)
Elephant island -
Deer Island
Ong-kay-san
Leäng seaoumaou shan] Lëäng-seaóu
Seaoukeu shan
beaðu san
Sëáou-ke-san
Wangkeä shan
Chusan Archipelago.
海榭頭 秦山埠沙家山箬頭猫猫山小 定大衢 馬舟燈烏朱捌滴峙小大雕亮小王
山尖 山山山1 貓山山
Téng-haé
Taeseay shan
Tae-sea-san
Chowshan
Chew-san
Teng poë
Woosha shan
Chookeä tseën
Aou shan
Teihjo shan
Chetow shan
Seaoumaou shan
Ta maou shan
Tsze shan
Oe-say-san
Choo-kay-cheem
Tek-jeak-san
Se-t'hoê-san
Seaóu-beaôu-san
Taë-beaôu-san
Ch'he-san
Leäng seaoumaou shan Leang-seaóu
Seaoukeu shan
Wangkeä shan
beaôu san
Sëáou-ke-san
Ong-kay-san
Suburbs, temple hill
Round-about island
Bell island
Oswamong
Chuttatham (cone)
Elephant island
Deer Island
Chusan Archipelago.
CHINESE.
山山勝山奎奎山山山麓山山礁
大盤大蟹外大老小鴨寡關洋黄小金大半 渠峙王峙五五鼠竹蛋婦頭螺牛干塘干洋
COURT DIALECT.
Takeu shan
Pwanche shan
Taewangkeŏ shan
Heache shan
Waewookwei shan
Tawook wei shan
Laou shan
Seaouchůh shan
Yǎtan shoo shan
Kwafoo tseaou
Kwantow shan
Yanglo shan
Hwangnew tseaou
Seaou kan
Pwanyang tseaou
FUHKEEN.
LATITUDE.
Tae-ke-san
Pwân-se-san
Taê-ông-keak-san
Hey-sé san
Goey-gnóe-kwuy s. Tae-gnóe-kwuy-s.
Lá ch’hé-san
Së áou-teuk-san
Ah-tan san
Kw"á-hoo-ta
Kwan-t'hoê-san
Yang-lô-san
Hông-gnêw-ta
Sëáou kan
LONGITUDE.
29° 57′7′′
121° 54′ 2′′
30° 1′ 7′′
121° 54′ 7′′
Kim tông
Pwàn-yang-ta
30° 0′ 9′′
121° 57'
Tower Hill
Sarah Galley I.
Tea Island
Bell Rock
Bell Island
Macclesfield Island.
Trumball
Guard-house
N. W. Beacon
Kiddisol
Just-in-the-way
Kintang peak
Singka moon
Pilot fish
Lookeä yu
Shinkeä mun
Tsing shan
Sim-kay-bûn
Ch'heng-san
Chusan Archipelago.
30° 0′ 3′′
112° 28′ 5′′
Lëên-hwa-yang
Sheihluh mun
Sip-leuk-bûn