Account of a voyage of discovery to the west coast of Corea, and the great Loo-Choo Island — John Shaqi
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
On returning from the village, we saw a party of the natives assembled
on a rising ground near us; they were invited, by signs, to join us at
dinner, but they kept their places unmoved. While we were at dinner, the
sailors, who had been rambling about, joined the natives, and in a few
minutes became very good friends with them; the natives giving up their
pipes, and the sailors in return supplying them with tobacco. We have
frequently remarked during this voyage, that the sailors make
acquaintance with the natives much sooner than the officers. This seems
the natural effect of the difference in our manners. On meeting with
natives, we feel so anxious to conciliate, and to avoid giving offence,
that our behaviour, thus guarded and circumspect, has an air of
restraint about it, which may produce distrust and apprehension on their
part; whilst, on the other hand, Jack, who is not only unreflecting and
inoffensive himself, but never suspects that others can possibly
misconstrue his perfect good-will and unaffected frankness, has an easy,
disengaged manner, which at once invites confidence and familiarity.
In about an hour after we had sat down, one of the natives hastily rose,
and without appearing to deliberate, but as if actuated by a sudden
impulse, strode rapidly down to us, and in the most unceremonious way
possible, presented his lighted pipe for us to smoke. We received him
as kindly as we could, and prevailed upon him to take a glass of wine;
which he had no sooner drank off, than he roared out, "Hota! Hota!"
This exclamation brought the rest down, who seating themselves by us,
drank freely, and became very cheerful and communicative, telling us the
Corean names of every thing we pointed to, and asking, in return, the
English names for our clothes.[5] But though the wine made these people
far more sociable than any we had yet seen, they never forgot the
principal object of their thoughts, and suggested, every now and then,
by pointing to our boats, the propriety of our going away. After sunset,
they became very impatient and uneasy at our stay; but when at length we
yielded to their entreaties, the whole party accompanied us to the
water's side, and took leave with the most lively marks of satisfaction
at our departure.
10th of September.--This morning, about ten o'clock, we got under weigh,
and stood to the southward. By sunset we were clear of all the islands,
and could just distinguish the island of Quelpaert in the south-east
quarter.
The shortness of our stay on this coast, and the difficulty we
experienced in communicating with the inhabitants, will account for the
scanty and disjointed nature of the information obtained. A future
voyager would do well to be accompanied by a person who can write the
Chinese character, and should have full leisure to overcome, by patient
management, the distrust of strangers evinced by this unsociable people.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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