been on board some time, and had been taken 'care of by
the officers, as Captain Maxwell was not prepared to receive
them. A message was then sent to intimate that the Ta-yin
(a Chinese title, used also by these people to persons
of rank) was desirous of seeing the chiefs, and they were
introduced into the after-cabin, where they were received
in form. They objected to sitting down, making a t the
same time many low obeisances, which they did by stooping
the body,' and raising the hands, closed one over the other,
to their face. Their scruples about being seated were at
length overcome, and the first chief took his place on
Captain Maxwell's left hand, the next on my left, and a third,
who was evidently of a lower rank, sat beyond the second.
The chiefs sat respectfully silent, and Captain Maxwell
finding that he was expected to speak first, communicated
to them that the ships under his command belonged to
the King of E ngland; that they had gone to China with'an
Embassador, carrying presents to the Emperor, a t P ek in ;
tha t on their way back to Canton, they had experienced
very bad weather, and had been obliged to put in here-to
refit, and to procure supplies.
In reply, they expressed their willingness to assist us as
much as lay in their power, but said that the harbour was too
shallow for so large a ship, and recommended our proceeding
to, another harbour, called Kinching, which they described
as being secure and commodious, and only a few hours sail
from this anchorage: they offered to furnish pilots and a
boat to conduct us. Captain Maxwell, however, was
unwilling to quit this anchorage unless certain of finding a
better; he therefore proposed to send the Lyra to examine
and report upon the harbour alluded to. The chiefs paused
upon this, and said they could not take upon them to send
pilots to the Brig without consulting the Great Man on
shore. We were very curious to- know who this great
personage might be, but they evaded all our inquiries.
Captain Maxwell asked where the king resided, and intimated
his intention of waiting upon him; to this they strongly
objected, declaring moreover, that it was impossible, as his
majesty lived a thousand miles off. They did not seem
aware o f their inconsistency, when they undertook, immediately
afterwards, to get an answer from court about pilots
for the Lyra, in a few hours.
We had beeri led to hope, from the frankness and kindness
of these people, th a t no restraint would be imposed
on u s ; and we were the more disappointed a t observing,
th a t whenever we.spoke o f landing, or asked any questions
about the king, the chiefs became uneasy, and replied in a
piy sterious manner. We consoled ourselves, however, with