VOYAGE TO THE
sort o f song or yell a t each blow of the bamboo. This
speedy execution of justice was, no doubt, intended to
impress us with high notions of Corean discipline.
As it was now quite dark, we did not expect the Chief
to pay any more visits this evening; but we underrated h is
politeness, for the moment the above scene was concluded,
he steered for the Alceste. Captain iVlax wc 1 ], who during all
the time had been on board the Lyra, hurried into his boat to
be prepared to give him a proper reception in his ship, and
had ju st time to change his jacket for a coat and epaulettes
before the Chief arrived. After climbing up the ship's side
with some difficulty, and being received in due form on the
quarter-deck, which was lighted up, he was handed into the
foremost cabin, where he was met by Captain Maxwell, and
conducted to a seat in the after cabin. As he declined
sitting on a chair, he was obliged to wait for his mat, and,
in the meantime, looked round him in amaze at the magnificence
of the apartments. The change of dress made him
behave towards Captain Maxwell as to a perfect stranger;
but the moment he recognised him, he appeared much
amused with his mistake, and bis manners became less reserved.
He now turned about to see what was become of
his mat, and was astonished to find himselfalone withus.in
the -cabin. I t was then discovered that the sentry at the
door, in repressing the crowd of his followers, had found it
impossible to distinguish his more immediate attendants;
and had therefore allowed nobody to pass.
The door being opened, the mat-bearer and four of the
principal people were called in by the Chief; and when we
were all fairly seated on the deck, the secretary was directed
to prepare a writing, which was dictated and delivered much
in the same manner as before. Whether the presentation of
a written paper was considered by the Chief as a necessary
piece of etiquette, or whether he really had more hopes of
being understood on this occasion than before; was quite
uncertain; but the mode adopted by Captain Maxwell to
undeceive him was conclusive. He immediately called for
paper, and wrote upon it in English, % I do not understand
one word that you say,” and presented this paper in return*
with all the forms and ceremonies that had been adopted
towards himself. The Chief, on receiving it, examined the
characters with great attention, and then made signs tha t it
was wholly unintelligible, alternately looking a t the paper
and at Captain Maxwell with an inquiring air, and was
only made sensible of the awkward dilemma in which we
were placed, by observing Captain Maxwell repeat all his
looks and gestures as equally applicable to the Corean
writing which he held in his hand*.
* This paper, presentedby the Corean Chief, has been translated by Mr.
Morrison at Canton, and is as follows: “ Persons, of what land—of what