Journal of a residence in China and the neighbouring countries from 1830 to 1833.

Front matter

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JOURNAL

Introduction

contribute to the interest of his narrative, and prove acceptable to the reader : to which may be added a short notice of Penang, as one of the chief spheres of British Missionary effort in that part of the world.

Canton and Macao. — The unbridled insolence of the local government at Canton, towards all foreigners, has imparted to the population generally a contempt for Europeans which is not found among the inhabitants of either of the other maritime provinces*. This circumstance renders Canton a less promising field of labour than, from the amount of its population and the extent of its trade, it otherwise would be.

The jealousy of the Portuguese Government of Macao circumscribes the efforts of a missionary there also ; and, to the day of his lamented death. Dr. Morrison had little opportunity of preaching the Gospel openly to the Chinese : yet his invaluable labours have prepared the way for all future missionaries to the Chinese empire. By his two great works, the Translation of the Bible into the Chinese Language, and his English and Chinese Dictionary, together with the Grammar which he formed, he has rendered that language easily accessible to every student, has materially abridged the term during which a missionary to that country must be content to learn rather than to teach, and has provided the

* See Voyage of the Amherst; pp. 31 — 35, &c.

INTRODUCTION.

Vll missionary body with the very best means of communicating instruction to that reading people.

The existence of a small church at Canton, hkewise, proves that the Lord still works, according to His promise, with the ministers of His Gospel ^. / The Chinese converts who have made a Christian profession by baptism, assemble every Sabbath for Divine worship, under the care of Leang Afa, who has for some years given himself to the work of the ministry. Le Asin, a young convert, begins to be useful to his countrymen — Choo-Sean-Sang calls his family to join him in prayer, and reads with them the Scriptures — Agong, one of the converts, distributes Christian tracts among his heathen connexions — and Leang Afa is indefatigable in his ministry f.

In May 1830, with another Chinese Christian, he travelled into the interior, distributing Chinese books in the towns and villages. On the 11th of June he entered the town of Kaou-Chow-Foo, a hundred and twenty miles distant fromCanton, accompanied by three porters, who carried his Christian books. It was the day of the examination of the candidates for literary honours from all the adjacent country. Leang Afa distributed his books among the students who came to the examination, remained in the place till July, and then returned to Canton J. In October, 1833, a

* Matt, xxviii. 19, '20; Mark xvi. 20. f Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Reports of London Missionary Society. I Missionary Ancual for 1834, p, 117.

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INTRODUCTION.

similar meeting was held in this city for the district of Kwang-Chow-Foo. On this occasion Leang Afa and two of his friends distributed the Scriptures and religious tracts to multitudes of the literary candidates, some of whom had come from towns and villages a hundred miles distant. The books were given publicly, and were eagerly received. Some even returned to beg for more ^.

The ministry of Leang Afa is rendered the more interesting by the fact that soon after the commencement of his Christian labours he was called to endure persecution. Having written an essay entitled The True Principles of the World's Salvation/' he printed at Canton a hundred copies for distribution. Before, however, he was able to distribute them, the blocks and the books were seized by the Police. He was then apprehended himself, and thus describes the treatment which he received from the authorities :— I was brought before a Mandarin for trial, who told me that my books about Jesus, and my believing in the doctrines of Jesus, were a violation of the law. After trial, I was put into a guard-room ; yet, while there, I thought to myself, ^ This is a book of the true doctrine of Jesus, the Saviour of the world, which exhorts men to turn from vice and become good : why should I be persecuted ? ' I afterwards induced the Minister (Dr. Morrison) to interest persons to speak to the Mandarin on my behalf, and to liberate

Fortieth Report of the London Missionary Society.

INTRODUCTION.

ix me. At length they hstened to my friends, and, after giving me thirty blows with the bamboo, and beating the soles of my feet till the blood flowed, I was liberated. To suffer thus was hard ; and, besides this, the mandarins and police-officers extorted from me seventy dollars. But, after I had suffered persecution and loss of property, I did not presume to turn my back on the Lord Jesus Christ, and the great mercy of his redeeming love and merits, but accounted myself a sinner, suffering the punishment due to sin*." Since that time he has only been more zealous in the cause of Christ.

Though the Mission has lost, by the death of Dr. Morrison, an experienced, prudent, and devoted head, yet Leang Afa is still sustained by the friendship and counsel of the two missionaries from the American Board of Missions, Mr. Bridgman and Dr. Parker -t-.

Java. — Nearly the whole of this island is subject to the King of Holland. Throughout the whole of the Dutch territory there are Chinese settlers, most inadequately provided with missionary instruction. The Dutch Governors have been successively favourable to the labours of Mr. Medhurst, the missionary of the London Society, stationed at Batavia. The mission is of slow growth ; but Mr. Medhurst has surmounted many discouragements, and does the

* Mi ssioDary xAnnual for 1834, p. 115. t Missionary Register, Feb. 1835, p. 94.

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INTRODUCTION.- work of an evangelist with intelligence, assiduity, and zeal. He has two assistants, — Mr. Young, an European ; and Lucas Mouton, a native Christian. There are eight services during the week, attended, when the different congregations are reckoned together, by about five hundred persons, European, Malay, and Chinese. Of these about a hundred and twenty are native Christians. Six natives of Celebes, resident at Batavia, were baptized in the year 1833, and twelve more were desirous of receiving that ordinance. Six native Christians have been admitted to the Lord's Table, and six more have professed their desire to join them. The European communicants are nine. In a neighbouring place, visited by Mr. Medhurst, and without a missionary, there are sixty communicants. Two Chinese schools, attached to the mission, contain forty children. There is an Enghsh day school consisting of thirty children ; and a European orphan school, of fifteen orphans, has lately been placed under his superintendence. The missionary press is in active operation, and the books and tracts distributed in the year 1833 amounted to 18,092

Malacca, PENANG,and Singapore, as British settlements, are still more interesting to the English reader. They have all risen rapidly in population and importance since their connexion with England.

* Fortieth Report of the London Missionary Society.

INTRODUCTION.

Malacca was ceded to the British by the Dutch in 1825. The town is situated in X. Lat, 2 deg. 14 min._,and E. Long. 102 deg. 12 min. The territoryextends about forty miles along the coast, and about thirty miles inland ; containing an area of eight hundred square miles. The interior is mountainous ; the climate healthy; andthe thermometer ranges from 72 des;. to 85 deo'. throus:hout the vear.

In 1815 the population was 16,876; in 1817, 19,627; in 1822, 22,000; and, by the latest return at the India-House, it now amounts to 34,606. Of these 34,606 persons, 22,874 are Malays and Bugis, 4,748 Chinese, and 229 Europeans, or of European descent. The rest are Siamese, Battas, Arabs, Hindoos, Sepoys, Indo-Portuguese, Sec. &c.

As the experiment of Chinese female schools has been chiefly tried at Malacca, it may be interesting to the reader to see the following analysis of the Chinese population of the settlement in 1826.

Men, married 736 Vv'omen^ married. . . . 848

unmarried 1419 unmarried... 693

Boys 732 Girls 578

2887 2119 *

At this settlement there has been a mission of the London Missionary Society since the year 1815, when it was commenced by Dr. Milne. In 1816 Dr.

* Martin's History of the Colonies, vol. i. p, 422, &c.

INTRODUCTION.

Morrison and Dr, Milne founded the Anglo-Chinese College, to the erection of which Dr. Morrison gave 1000/. with an annual subscription of 100/. for five years. It was designed to facilitate the acquisition of the English language and of European literature by Chinese students, and to help European students in the study of the Chinese language and Hterature. It is open to European students of every religious denomination, as well as to Chinese ; and at the time of the latest accounts there were thirty students. The two missionaries of the station are Mr, Huglj^es and Mr. Evans.

The last accounts of the schools, published by the London Missionary Society, state that there were then four schools for Chinese boys. Besides these, there were five schools for Chinese girls, flourishing under the superintendence of Miss Wallace. That lady has since accepted the invitation of some American merchants at Canton, to become their agent in promoting female education in Siam ; but the Society for promoting Female Education in the East (a Society which is calculated to afford most useful assistance to the Missions in India and the Eastern Archipelago, and eventually, should China admit of Protestant exertion, to those which may be planted in that empire) is preparing to send out another lady, to take the place which she has left vacant. Besides the Chinese schools, there are four others for Malay

INTRODUCTION.

Xlll children, and the whole number of children under Christian instruction is five hundred^^.

Penang. — Penang, a picturesque island, situated about N. Lat. 5 deg. and E. Long. 100 deg., contains about a hundred and sixty square miles ; its greatest length being sixteen miles, and its greatest breadth twelve. Though the central region is mountainous, the island is generally fertile, clothed with luxuriant wood or rich vegetation. Georgetown, the capital, is^situated v^ithin a capacious harbour with good anchorage, on the East coast. It is a neat and wellbuilt town, of which the principal shopkeepers are Chinese. The climate is healthy, and the thermometer ranges from 76 to 90 degrees. When the island came into the possession of the East-India Company, in 1786, a few miserable Malay fishermen were the only tenants : at present the inhabitants amount to 33,560, of whom 500 are Europeans, and 8989 Chinese f.

In 1819 Messrs. Beighton and Ince were sent thither by the London Missionary Society ; Mr. Beighton as missionary to the Malays, and Mr. Ince to the Chinese. Mr. Beighton continues his useful labours to this day. Mr. Ince, a valuable and deyoted missionary, died in April 1825, and has been succeeded by Mr. Dyer. There are six Malay schools, in which

* Fortieth Report of the London Missionary Society, t Martin, vol. i. p. 411,&c.

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INTRODUCTION.

two hundred and six children are taught, of whom forty-three are girls ; and four Chinese schools, in which there are twenty-three boys and thirty-two girls. To the support of these schools the Government contributes thirty dollars monthly. A mission chapel has been built. There is a mission press, and many Christian books have been circulated. Thirteen natives have been admitted into the Christian church by baptism ; and the English congregation consists of about seventy, of whom nine are communicants ^,

Singapore. — -The island of Singapore is situated between 1 and 2 degrees N. Lat. and between 103 and 104 degrees E. Long. It has an area of two hundred and seventy square miles; its greatest length being about twenty-seven miles from east to west, and its greatest breadth fifteen. It is still generally covered with jungle, being at the same time low and marshy : yet the town has proved healthy. The thermometer ranges from 71 to 89 degrees. The settlement was finally ceded to the British in 1825, by the Dutch, and by the Malay Princes of the opposite coast of the Peninsula.

When the settlement was formed, in 1818, there were only 150 Malay fishermen on the island. By the census of 1833 the population had then amounted

* Fortieth Repoit of the London Missionary Society.

INTRODUCTION.

XY to 20,917: the Europeans being 119, the Indo- Britons 96, the Malays 7131, the Chinese 8517 (of which the males were 7650, the females 867), and the remainder were Armenians, Arabs, Hindoos, Bugis, Javanese, &c. &c. The town consists generally of stone houses, two stories high. On the east side of the harbour, enterprising British merchants are erecting substantial and ornamental houses fronting the sea. The ground is generally raised three feet ; and the mansions have a superb entrance, by an ascent of granite stairs ; then an elegant portico, supported by magnificent Grecian columns : the rooms are^lofty, with Venetian windows down to the floor, and furnished in a luxurious manner; each tenement provided with its baths, billiard-tables, &c.; while the grounds are tastily laid out with shrubs of beautiful foliage^."

The leading merchants, agents, shopkeepers, and auctioneers, are Englishmen. There are several wealthy Chinese merchants ; and the bulk of the shopkeepers, and the most valuable part of the citizens, are Chinese, nearly 5000 of whom arrive annually from China by the yearly trading j unks. About 1 000 remain at Singapore, and the remainder disperse themselves over the neighbouring^ islands f. Besides these junks from China, about twenty-six Chinese junks come from Cochin-China, Cambodjia, and xvi

INTRODUCTION.

Hainan From May 1830 to May 1831, thirty-six others entered the port from Siamf . Indeed, Singapore is the emporium of a trade with the whole Eastern Archipelago. At one part of the year, a hundred and forty native vessels have been observed to come in monthly from fortydifferent ports of Borneo, Celebes, the Moluccas, Sumatra, China, Cochin- China, Siam, and Malayala J. Altogether, the settlement exports goods to the amount of 3,000,000/. sterling §.

There is a mission chapel and printing press. An immense distribution has been made of Christian books, both among the heathen population of the settlement and among the Chinese sailors, who receive them eagerly. In 1832 there were three Chinese schools — two for boys, who were taught in the Canton and Fuhkeen dialects ; and one for girls. This last was then under the superintendence of Miss Martyn ; but as that lady has since married, the native female schools are now without a superintendant. The mission has suffered much by the sickness of the

* Martin, vol. i. p. 439. The island of Hainan, which must not be confounded with Hainam, a small island in the Canton River (mentioned at p. 70 of this journal), invites the serious attention of Missionary Societies. The inhabitants, who are chiefly descended from Fuhkien emigrants, are cheerful, kind, friendly, clean, and industrious. Mr. GutzlafF saw many of them at Bankok : they willingly conversed upon the subject of religion, eagerly read the Christian bobks which he gave them, and some of them invited him to visit their country. — Gutzlaff 's Voyages, pp. 82, 83. + Martin, vol.i.p. 436.

X Missionary Register, Feb. 1835, p. 95. , § Martin, vol. i p. 440,

INTRODUCTION.

XVll missionaries ; and the labours of the present missionary, Mr. Thomsen, were, at the time of the last report, much restricted by debility ^.

SiAM. — The kingdom of Siam is an important sphere for missionary labour, not merely from the amount of its population, but also from its extensive intercourse with China. This empire has 2,790,500 inhabitants of different nations, of which 401,300 form the population of Bankok, the capital f. The Singapore Chronicle thus describes the capacities of the country : — " The tea-tree grows as luxuriantly here as in China. The silk-worm, too, abounds — also the mulberry-tree — all wild . . . • In this country there must be mines of silver and gold ; of silver, it is evident, for several told us that in the rainy season, when the ground is drenched, pieces of silver are found as large as a tickal. Indigo, too, is luxuriant f so also is the coffee plant. The fruits all grow wild ; still they are much finer and more numerous than I have met with elsewhere. ... Of the mangoes there are thirty species, most delicious. Several species of the mangosteen, oranges, 8cc. abound — all wild. In fact, this exuberant country, in the hands of Europeans, might become a perfect Paradise, and a mart for half the world. Cotton is plentiful, and as fine as silk ; it is short, but it is wild .... The country is quiet, the

* Fortieth Report of the London Missionary Society, t Preface to GatzlafF's Voyages, pp. xi. xii.

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INTRODUCTION.

productions are abundant, and the river at Bankok crowded with Chinese junks Hence it has attracted many Chinese settlers. Of the 401,300 inhabitants of Bankok, 310,000 are Chinese, 50,000 more are of Chinese origin ; and about eighty junks arrive annually from the different ports of China f.

In August 1828 Mr. Gutzlaff first visited that capital, and staid there for some months. In the beginning of 1830 he paid it a second missionary visit. There, in February 1831, Mrs. Gutzlaff was called to her eternal home, but not before she had prepared for the press a dictionary of the Annam language, a Chinese tract, and an English and Chinese dictionary. Meanwhile Mr. Gutzlaff had compiled an English and Siamese dictionary, and had translated the New Testament into Siamese. This work, which is read with ease, and understood by natives of all ranks, is now printing at Malacca J.

Since Mr. Abeel's departure from Bankok, the American Board of Missions have appointed Messrs. Robinson and Johnson, with Dr. Bradley, M.D., missionaries to that place. These gentlemen reached Singapore in the autumn of 1833, and entered on the study of the Chinese language §. Miss Wallace also has consented to undertake the superintendence of the female schools of the Siamese mission.

* Martin, vol. i. p. 436. t Preface to GutzlafF's Voyages, p. xi. J Missionary Register, Feb. 1835. p. 90. § Ibid. p. 95.

INTKODUCTION.

xix

From these slight notices it may sufficiently appear that in each of these places there is enough for the missionary to do. But these are not the only settlements of the Chinese in the Eastern Archipelago. By the last census, in 1825, which is with good reason thought rather to underrate the amount of the population, China Proper, exclusive of Tartary and of the colonies, is said to contain 352,866,012 inhabitants ^. This number gives a population of 288 to the square mile ; rather more crowded than that of England, and rather less so than that of Ireland ; the former being 257 to the square mile, and the latter 292. Hence the emigration from China, as from England and Ireland, is very considerable. Thousands annually leave the maritime provinces, Canton, Fuhkeen, Chekeang, and Keangnan, to settle in the Archipelago ; and the colonial settlers are already numerous : Mr. Crawford, the late Resident at Singapore, has estimated the numbers to be as follows : —

Philippine Islands 15,000 Penang 8,500

Borneo 120,000 Malayala 40,000

Singapore 6,200 Tonquin 25,000

Malacca 2,000 Total 734,700t

Many of these colonists return to China t — whence it appears, that, should any of them be brought to the knowledge of Christ, they may become missionaries

* Martin, vol. i. p. 447. f Ibid. p. 450. X Ibid.

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INTRODUCTION.

to their own country ; and thus China may be indirectly evangelized, even though foreigners should continue to be rigidly excluded from her shores. The Missionary Leang Afa received the knowledge of the truth while resident at Malacca.

Mr. Abeel, however, in this work, expresses an opinion that China itself may be entered by European missionaries. Mr. GutzlafF has certainly spent whole months in the maritime provinces of that empire, making long excursions among the villages, freely conversing with the people, and distributing thousands of Christian books to persons eager to receive and read them. He is persuaded that other missionaries might do the same. And while he is himself meditating a journey through the whole of Central China, up to Thibet and Bengal," he says that another German, who has joined the Chinese mission, may possibly settle in one of the northern provinces ^. That which has apparently most contributed, under God, to his success hitherto, has been his perfect acquaintance with different dialects of the Chinese language, his familiarity with their most esteemed classical authors, and his knowledge of medicine. Any one possessed of these qualifications, with equal faith and equal kindness, might in all probabihty safely follow his steps.

May God, in mercy to that empire, raise up suitable agents for this great work ! And, if w^e may judge by

* Missionary Register, Feb. 1835, pp. 86, 87,

INTRODUCTION.

xxi the repeated experience of Mr. Gutzlaff along the whole Chinese coast, they may make the medical dispensary a better protection than the presence of a British seventy-four, and the affections of the people will be more than a substitute for the patronage of the Emperor. How much, apparently, of the future welfare of China, depends upon a few Christian men being now found, who, uniting capacity, courage, and devoted zeal, with prudence and gentleness, may perseveringly attempt to plant missions along her coasts. May the Lord of the harvest send forth labourers into his harvest " — constrain the despotic rulers of the land to favour them — and, beyond all our anticipations, guide that immense people to the savino; knowledo;e of the Lord Jesus Christ !

CO^fTENTS.

PREFACE page x

CHAP. I. — Departure from Ne \v- York. . Divine service on board .. Island of St. Paul.. Amsterdam .. Sandal- wood Island . . Ombay Passage, . Islands of Flores,Solor, Lomblem, Ombay, Timor, Cambing, Baby. . Early Roman Catholic missions on these islands. . Portuguese Xavier. . Dutch con-

- quests. . Dutch missions. . Zeal of the early missionaries.. Declension during the eighteenth century. . Present missions of the Dutch on Timor, Rotti, Letty, Moa, Kesser, and Roma. . Band a Sea and Islands. . Arroo group. . Booro. . Amboyna : Mr. Kara. . Manippa. . Ceram. .Ternati. . Efforts of the Netherlands Missionary Society. . New Guinea. . Waijoo . . Plans for the conversion of these islands. . Pelew Islands and natives

CHAP.II. — Chinese fishing boats. . Formosa. . Ladrone Islands . . Chinese pilots. . Lintin. . Opium-trade. . Macao. . Description and history of the city. .Catholicism. .Superstitions. . Passage in small Chinese boat to Wharapoa. . Foreign shippine. . Objects on the way. . Night scene. . Arrival at Canton . . Dr. Morrison c

' CHAP. III. — Description of Canton and its vicinity. . Religions of China. . Appearance of the women. . Beggars. . Foreign factories. . Open space before them . . Possibility of intercourse with the people. .Appearance of the river. . Crowds of boats xxiv

Contents

. . Island of Hainam. . Chinese temple. . Chinese merchants. . Mode of speaking English. . Appearance and dress of the men and women page 47

CHAP. IV. — Worship in English. . Ah-see. .Monthly prayer meeting. . Preaching at Whampoa. .Whampoa Island. . French ditto. , Danes ditto. . Processions, burial, hymeneal, and religious. . LeangAfa. . Drama. . Watune's-day. . Macao .. Procession .. Return to Canton. .Houses of the Hong mercliants. . Illuminated boats. . Festivals and ceremonies. . God of fire. . Decorations of the streets. . Ballad singing , . 77

CHAP. V. — Female infanticide. . Condition of the women. . Cruel punishments. .Number and condition of prisoners. . 108

Preface

and heard, and read, as far as the testimony appeared credible, has been freely appropriated. A considerable portion of what is stated has been derived from the experience and observation of his fellow-missionaries resident at the places which he visited. Of them he has said as little as possible ; both because their names are too few not to be known, and because it is doubtful whether any eulogies from one of their number would be of advantage to themselves, or to the cause in which they are engaged. The same silence has been preserved with respect to many families and individuals from whom much kindness . was received, and for whom the highest regard is cherished.

An interruption of the narrative of events to insert what" appeared worthy of remark, as well as an introduction of facts the knowledge of which was in a few instances gained after the date under which they are recorded, with other discrepancies of the same kind, would not deserve notice, were it not that they might be thought to derogate from the correctness of the observations. It is to be regretted, that many subjects of the greatest interest have been either omitted or passed over with a few unsatisfactory remarks, while others of far less importance have been inserted in their place. The omission was unavoidable, owing to a dearth of information on these points: the less important observations were substituted, in the hope that they may at least have the

PREFACE.

xxxi effect of drawing attention to these neglected regions, and thus lead to measures for their further investio;ation and spiritual benefit.

As many deficiencies will be detected in the style of this work, the writer must state, as an apology, that it was written under considerable disadvantages of circumstances and bodily health, and that the greater part of it he had neither strength nor leisure to revise.

Chapter I. Passage Indian Archipelago

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On Wednesday the 14th of October, 1829, the Rev. E. C. Bridgman and myself bade farewell to our friends and country, and embarked in the ship Roman, Capt. Lavender, for Canton, China. The tedium of the voyage was greatly reheved by the society of four fellow-passengers, citizens of New-York. Owing to calms, and a strong opposing current, we were detained two days within sight of the city.

Early on Friday morning we left our anchorage, and, with a light though favourable breeze, stood to sea. The wind freshened as we advanced, and, between eight and nine o'clock, the return of the pilot presented the last opportunity of communicating with the shore.

During the greater part of the passage nothing occurred which is not generally witnessed, and has not been frequently detailed. Divine service was established, from the first, on the morning and afternoon of the Lord's-day, and social worship every evening at the change of the watch. As no compulsory measures were employed to gain the attend-

B

PASSAGE.

ance of the crew, composed of a heterogeneous company, the number of worshippers varied with their fickle inclinations. Nothing proved so effectual in bringing them together, as frequent visits to the forecastle, and more private interviews with them, when disengaged, in their night-watch upon deck.

Nearly three months elapsed on our passage before we enjoyed a sight of land. The first stable object which changed for a moment our wearisome prospect, was the small island of St. Paul. It is remarkable for a pond, which furnishes to the voyager a well-stored larder, and a self-cooking kitchen. Fish of all kinds, which are taken in abundance, may be thrown from the hook into boiling springs, and thus prepared for the table without trouble or expense. The immense distance of this rocky islet, and its sister Amsterdam, from any continent, is another peculiarity.

On the 25th of January, Sandal-wood Island, the first land made in the Eastern passage, was descried. Before the island appeared, its proximity was indicated by large land birds, resembling eagles, majestically saihng in the air above us ; and butterflies, or winged grasshoppers, which, borne on the breeze, came and lighted upon the ship. The island is extensive, and produces many valuable articles, though very little is known of the physical, political, or moral condition of its inhabitants. No attempts have been made by Protestant Christians for its

PASSAGE.

conversion ; none to discover whether, with its populous neighbours, it is not waiting for God's law.

That the feasibility of establishing missions upon sotfie, or all, of these islands, might be readily tested, is evident to those who have sailed almost within hail of their shores, and whose timidity, or want of zeal, does not controul a laudable spirit of Christian enterprize. Our course was through the Ombay passage, and afforded a view of the islands of Flores, Solor, Lomblem, Pantar, and Ombay, on the lefc ; and of Timor, Cambing, Baby, and probably Wetter, on the right. As may be readily supposed, the greater part of our time was spent in feasting our eyes upon the cheering and changing aspects of land, and in suffering our imagination to expatiate where it would be more interesting, but perhaps more hazardous, to roam in person. Since it was not our object to land, we were by no means grieved to enjoy the coolness and impetus of a fresh breeze, and soon to leave these smiling spots to charm the hearts and eyes of our successors. Numerous huts were distinguished on the hills of many of these islands. One of our passengers, on a previous voyage, was becalmed for a day and a night within a short distance of Ombay. In addition to the dwellings he could discern by day, fires, probably for cooking, were lighted in the evening, which, bespangling the shores and hills of this and the adjacent islands, indicated a considerable population.