Account of a voyage of discovery to the west coast of Corea, and the great Loo-Choo IslandHall, Basil
History
Account of a voyage of discovery to the west coast of Corea, and the great Loo-Choo Island
Hall, Basil
Korea -- Description and travel; Ryukyu Islands -- Description and travel
Of their manners, little need be added here to what every page of the
narrative will show. It ought to be particularly noticed, however, that
they are an exceedingly timorous people, and naturally suspicious of
foreigners. A stranger visiting Loo-choo ought therefore to keep these
features of their character constantly in mind. By imitating Captain
Maxwell's wise plan of treating the natives with gentleness and
kindness, and shewing every consideration for their peculiarities, he
will stand the best chance of gaining their good-will and confidence.
But if he should betray any impatience, or be at all harsh in treating
with them, he may rest assured that he will lose much time, and in all
probability fail at last in his attempts to establish an unreserved and
friendly intercourse.
As Loo-choo, however, lies quite out of the track of trading ships, and
does not appear to produce any thing of value itself, and as the
inhabitants seem indifferent about foreign commodities, and if they
wished to possess them are without money to make purchases, it is not
probable that this island will be soon revisited.
[Illustration: BRIDGE AT NAPAKIANG.]
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 11: We first discovered the meaning of this word by hearing
one of the natives apply it to the castle on the chess board: he used
the same term when drawings of towers and castles were shewn to him.]
[Footnote 12: The literal translation of the card is "Loo-choo nation,
extender of laws, Great Person (called Ko), Heang, bows his head and
worships," (the common visiting expression among the Chinese.) It ought
to be remarked, that the Prince's name is placed on one corner of the
card, which is the most respectful mode that can be used, according to
Chinese usage.]
[Footnote 13: See Broughton's Voyage, Book II. Chap. 2. for a very
interesting account of the natives of Typinsan, who appear to resemble
the people of the Great Loo-choo Island. In Book II. Chap. 3. Captain
Broughton gives an account of his visit to Napachan. He was received by
the inhabitants with great kindness; they supplied his wants, but
objected to his landing, and sent back to the schooner some of the
officers who had been sent on shore to examine the town. We found
Captain Broughton's account of the people quite accurate.]
[Footnote 14: At Manilla we found that the Great Loo-choo Island was
known only by name. There appeared to be no intercourse between the two
places.]
[Footnote 15: LIST OF SUPPLIES RECEIVED AT LOO-CHOO BY H.M. SHIPS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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