on the wing, but they could not be prevailed upon to fire
themselves, nor even to pull the trigger when no powder
was in the pan.
6th of October.—After divine service- to-day on board
the Alceste, a long conference was held between Captain
Maxwell and the five chiefs, when, after a good deal of discussion,
it was agreed on their part to allow the Alceste’s
stores to be landed, for the purpose of getting a t the leak.
Our means of interpreting on these occasions are not the
best that could be wished; but Johrij our Chinese, is nevertheless
a keen fellow, and very ready with answers when
pressed. We generally explain as fully as possible to John
what our wishes are, and then leave him to communicate
them the best way he can. An instance of his quickness
occurred to-day,- which seems worth mentioning. John
had communicated to them, by Captain Maxwell’s desire,
that as the leak complained of was in the magazine, it
would be necessary to land the powder: they debated a
long time upon this, and then asked John “ Why the powder
was not pu t on board the little ship?” John, who was not
aware of any good reason, affected to be surprised at this
question, which he refused to interpret, saying that if
Captain Maxwell thought such a measure right, he would
surely not have waited till they suggested it. The light in
which he had thus pu t the question, made them earnestly
desire him not to mention any thing about it, declaring at
the same time, that they would willingly give a place for
the powder, and for any other stores which Captain Maxwell
might wish to land.
To-day for the first time they talked unreservedly of the
king, whose name even they had hitherto studiously avoided:
they spoke freely of his majesty’s having sent all the stock
and vegetables with which we were daily supplied. Captain
Maxwell, who of course was very desirous of opening a
communication with the court, intimated his wish to pay
his respects as soon as might be convenient. They heard
this with apparent satisfaction, and signified that his request
should be made known to the king. ; We are a t a loss to
discover what can have caused this change of manner. We
can only conjecture, that perhaps the king, ort hearing so
many reports about us, may have become desirous of seeing
us himself. At all events it is clear tha t some alteration in
the instructions to the chiefs must have been made, otherwise
they would have shewn their usual reserve when the
king’s name was mentioned, and would on no account have
allowed us -to talk of visiting him.
At one o’clock we went on shore to look at the place
assigned by the chiefs for the reception of the Alceste’s
stores f I t is a n oblong inclosure, sixty yards by forty, sur*