We found that there had been no increase in sociability, and no improvement in the manners of our friends, the Loo-Chooans; and probably with the view to reduce the length of our stay, they had diminished the supply of provisions to the ships—although well paid for them. They plead scarcity, even to sweet potatoes and watermelons, though they might easily be seen growing in their fields. They preferred our loving and leaving them, but the commodore had another interview with his coy-friend, the regent, in which he desired to know, why they wished to cut off supplies; also that their officers must cease to dog our steps on shore, and that they must open their stores. As a mouse in the talons of the eagle, they promised everything, and promised a bazar on a subsequent day, at which the Americans might purchase whatever they had to sell. While this forcible diplomatic wooing was going on, the younger officers, who had the opportunity, were enjoying the delightful walk to the Komooe at Sheudi, or killing wild pigeons and curlew on shore—a delightful gastronomic episode, after a stretch of salt-junk. At daybreak, on the 1st of August, in a public hall in Napa—the mayor’s office, I believe—the Loo-Chooan bazar (!) was open. The articles exposed for sale, were some Japanese fabrics, brought there by the junks, some domestic cotton-cloth, and specimens of Loo-Choo lacquer-ware, and chow-chow boxes. By nine o’clock, A. M.—having “opened a trade” with Loo-Choo, all were aboard, when the steam-frigates left for China, taking a look at the Amaccarima islands as we passed, during the day. The next evening, we espied a sail, which proved to be the United States sloop-of-war Vandalia, which saluted the commodore, and then laid to for her captain to repair on board of the flag-ship. We had hoped for some letters and papers from home by her, but she had none. After running separated for three days, in hopes of falling in with the Powhatan, the steamers came in company again, near the southern extremity of Formosa. At sundown on August 7th, the Mississippi and Susquehanna, after an absence of three months and eleven days, dropped anchor in the harbor of Hong Kong, China. CHAPTER X. The numerous publications upon China, from the large folios of the Jesuits, which record their triangulation of the empire over a century ago, down to the later books, which afford every detail of the strange people occupying the “flowery kingdom,” render an account, of what came under observation, during the time the Mississippi, lay in the waters of China, almost superfluous. Yet during our stay, the state of the Celestials was rather anomalous; owing to the efforts of a portion of the immense population under the lead of an insurgent chief, Thaeping, to overthrow the existing or Tartar government. This rebellion has been continued so long now, that it threatens to become _chronic_.