CH AP . who had sent off a Loo Choo physician to administer to the health of
Mav,
1827.
our invalids, and in fact who would see whether our statement concerning
them was correct or not. A consequential little man, with a huge
pair of Chinese spectacles, being introduced as the Esculapius in question,
begged to be permitted to visit the sick and to feel their pulse.
The surgeon says—“ he gravely placed his finger upon the radial
artery first of one wrist and then of the other, and returned to the first
again, making considerable pressure for upwards of a minute upon each.
To one patient affected with a chronic liver complaint, and in whom
the pulsations are very different in the two arms, in consequence of an
irregular distribution of the arteries, he recommended medicine: of
another person affected with dyspepsia whose pulse was natural, he said
nothing: no other part of the animal economy attracted his notice. He
appeared to be acquainted with quicksilver and moxa, but not with the
odour of cinnamon.”
After this careful examination he returned to the cabin and wrote
in clumsy Chinese characters that one of the patients had an affection
of the stomach and required medicine: and inquired of another if he'
were costive. This report, which we did not understand at the time,
was satisfactory to An-yah, who immediately gave us permission to land
at Potsoong and Abbey Point, but with an understanding that we were
not to go into the town. He then produced a list of inquiries, which
he had been ordered to make, such as the dimensions of the ship, the
time we had been from England, Canton, &c., and lastly, what weather
we had experienced, as he said Loo Choo had been visited by a violent
tyfoong in April, which unroofed the houses and did much other mischief.
The permission to land was immediately taken advantage of by
several of the officers, who went to Potsoong, and were received in a
very polite manner by a great concourse of spectators, who conducted
them to the house in which Sir Murray Maxwell and his officers had
been entertained: and regaled them with (tsha) tea, and (amasa)
sweet cakes. Some of the party, instead of entering the house,
strolled inland to botanize, and to look at the country; but they had
not proceeded far before two or three persons ran towards them, and
intimated that their company was expected at the house where the
other officers were assembled drinking tea, and were waiting for them. C U A P .
This was the Loo Choo polite manner of preventing their proceeding
inland, or of making themselves acquainted with the country; and
May,
]827.
thus, whenever any parties landed afterwards, they were shown to this
house, where there was always tea ready prepared, and kept boiling in
a kettle, inclosed in a neatly japanned wooden case; there were also
trays of charcoal for lighting pipes, and a box to receive the ashes
when they were done with : the natives endeavoured, by every possible
means, to engage their attention at this place, by putting a thousand
inquiries, offering pipes, and pressing them to smoke, and to drink
tsha, which was always poured out in small cups, and drank without
milk or sugar, which, as it was quite new, and not of the best kind, or
much improved by being kept boiling, had a very insipid taste: it,
however, served to quench the thirst on a hot day.
On no account would these people receive any present, nor would
they sell any of their property in public: but if they thought we desired
to possess any thing they could spare, they would offer it for our acceptance.
I one day made a present to a person who had been very civil
in showing me over his grounds, which he at first refused, and when I
insisted on his taking it, and placed it in his pocket, he gave it me back
again : but finding I would not receive it, he threw it after m e : and it
was not until after I had returned it in the same manner, that he was prevailed
upon to accept it. Upon doing this, he first exhibited it to the
crowd around him, and then thanked me for it. On another occasion
one of the officers offered a man, named Komee, two Spanish dollars for
his pouch, which he declined, and could not be prevailed upon to accept;
but with perfect good breeding he presented to him the object he desired,
and insisted npon his keeping it. In private, however, they had less
objection to presents, and even asked for several things : small bargains
were also effected.
From this time wc visited the shore daily, and made many excursions
into the country, confining our rambles within reasonable limits,
to avoid giving uneasiness to our guides, who were very much distressed
whenever we strayed beyond what they considered strictly within the
limits prescribed by their instructions. AVe met many peasants and