spot, was fixed upon for the Lyra's observatory; the
square building in the centre seemed well adapted for a
magazine. At the gate a notice was hung up, both in
English and Loo-choo, signifying that no person was to
enter without a written pass from Captain Maxwell, or from
one of the chiefs.
7th and 8th of October.—These days have been occupied
in carrying the arrangements of Sunday into effect. I t was
very interesting to observe the care which the natives took
of the sick, whom they assisted all the way from the beach
to the temple; a number of people attended to support
such of them as had barely strength enough to walk.
When they were safely lodged, eggs, milk, fowls, and
vegetables, were brought to them; and whenever any
of them were tempted by the beauty of the scenery to
walk out, several'of the natives were ready to accompany
them.
The powder was landed, and Mr. Holman, the gunner
of the frigate, began the operation of drying it on hides
spread in the sun round the magazine. The cows and
other stock were also landed. One of the cows calved
that night, to the surprise of every body, and the great
joy of the natives, who took a great fancy to the little
bull born amongst them. Mr. Mayne, the master of
the Alceste, took up his quarters in the temple, in order to
be near his observatory, which was in the centre of the
garden. The stores of all kinds were sent on shore from
the Alceste, which produced an apparent confusion, and
the chiefs, seeing so many valuable things lying about, began
to fear that they would be taken away; a t least, it was supposed
that they had such an apprehension, for the wall of the
temple was immediately fenced in by a sort of net-work of
long bamboo poles, the ends of which were fixed in the
ground at the foot of the wall on the outside, and the tops
made to cross one another four or five feet above the wall.
This contrivance, instead of rendering the place more secure,
made it more accessible; but as our opinion was not asked,
and we had no apprehensions of theft, we let them proceed
in their own way.
Mrs. Loy, wife of the boatswain of the Alceste, was
the only female in our squadron, and as such excited no
small interest at this place. She was a perfectly well behaved
person, and sufficiently neat in her dress, but without
great pretensions to good looks. The natives, who from
the first paid her much attention, shewed a t all times
their desire of granting her every indulgence. They even
went so far as to say she might go into the c ity ; but, upon
consulting with her husband, who was apprehensive of some