before, which resembles in all respects the tombs of China.,
On this similarity being pointed out to Jeeroo, he became
anxious to explain that it was a Loo-choo tomb, and not
exclusively Chinese | meaning probably tha t Loo-choo persons
were contained in it. He informed us that these tombs
did not contain a single person only, or a single generation,
but were used as cemeteries from age to age. The bodies,
according to his account, are 'put into coffins, and allowed
to die untouched for seven years, by which time the flesh is
entirely decayed | the bones are then collected, and being
p u t into cases are preserved by the families of the deceased
with great care.
25th of October.—This being the anniversary of His
Majesty's accession to the throne, the ships were dressed in
colours, and a royal salute fired. Upon the natives this
produced a great effect; they had never seen any other
flags than the single ensigns hoisted on Sundays, and this
display of several hundred flags was well calculated to surprise
and delight them. They were informed some days
before that there would be some ceremonies in honour of
our King, and great numbers of people had assembled on
the shore in consequence. This morning had also been fixed
upon for returning the Prince's visit; accordingly we left the
Alceste a t one o’clock, forming a procession of four boatsv
with flags in each. Captain Maxwell took twelve of his
officers and young gentlemen, and six accompanied me
from the Lyra, all being dressed in full uniform. We
entered the harbour, and landed at the same part of the
causeway as before, where the chiefs were in attendance, as
on the occasion of our visit on the 23d ult.
The Prince advanced a few yards on the outside of the
gate, and having taken Captain Maxwells hand, conducted
him to the temple, where an ingenious device was adopted
to preserve the etiquette, requiring that none of inferior
rank shall sit down in the Prince’s company. The temple
was divided into three rooms by ranges of columns, which
were deemed a sufficient separation; and, at the same time,
no person in the other rooms could feel himself slighted by
the exclusion, since the division by the pillars was merely
nominal. The feast was sumptuous, consisting of twelve
regular courses, besides tea and sackee. There were many
new dishes, principally of meat, dressed in various ways in
large bowls. We saw what seemed o to be wheaten bread
for the first time to-day. I t being necessary to make some
return for the presents brought on board by the Prince two
days ago, Captain Maxwell now gave him several pieces of
scarlet and blue superfine cloth, and samples of every
species of cloths, from the finest damask to the coarsest sail