CHAPTER XV
Amakirima Islands.—State of feeling In Lew Chew.—Commodore’s measures for permanent arrangements
with the authorities.—Coal depot—Protest against espionage.—Trade in open market—Letter to the
Regent—Interview with the Regent—Entertainment of the Commodore.—During dinner the Regent’s
answer is brought—Unsatisfactory to the Commodore.—Letter handed back to the Regent, and
the Commodore prepares to leave the house.—Informs the Regent that he must have a satisfactory
answer on the next day, otherwise he will land and take possession of the palace at Shui and retain it
until matters are adjusted.—Probable effects of huuting up the old sedan chair on shore.—Commodore’s
propositions all accepted.—Coal depot built.—Visit to the castle of Tima-Gusko.—Purchases in
the bazaar.—Departure from Napha for China.—Plymouth left behind with orders to visit Sonin
Islands and make further surveys.—Captain Kelly’s report of the visit and surveys.—Form of government
and constitution of the settlers on Peel Island.—General effect of this last visit to Lew Chew.—
Arrival of the Vandalia ; of the Powhatan.—Overhauling of the vessels of the squadron at Hong
Kong.
HE storm which began to
blow soon after the departure
from the bay of Tedo,
continued for three days,
and the two steamers rolled
heavily, and were much
tossed by its violence, making
it necessary to send
down the topmasts and secure
the great guns by
strong lashings ; they, however,
rode out the storm in
safety, and finally arrived
at Napha on the 25th of July. On the approach to the coast of Lew
Chew the weather was so hazy that the land could not be discerned at any
distance, and, night coming on, it was thought advisable for the ships to
stand off, which they did, and were carried very much to the southward
and westward by the current. This current, according to the generally
received accounts, should have been setting in a contrary direction, and
consequently the allowance for a northeast set was wrongly made.
The atmosphere continued hazy throughout the night, and as the day
dawned the land was still concealed from view, and it was some hours
before the position of the steamers could be determined b j the sight at
last of the Amakirima Islands. At some distance from the islands a patch
of breakers was observed, which was duly noted in the chart. The discovery
of these breakers and other dangers among the Amakirima group show
the necessity of a thorough survey of the islands lying west of Great
Lew Chew, and a surveying expedition could not be better employed than
in making the proper investigations.
On coming to anchor in the harbor of Napha, at noon on Monday,
(25th July,) the storeship Supply was found there rolling in the swell of thé
bay like a great log, and the officers stated that the gale had blown with
great violence with them and had raged several days, while those upon the
land declared that it had been one of the severest storms they had ever experienced.
Upon the Commodore’s arrival at Lew Chew he lost no time in advancing
the chief purpose of his visit, and prepared at once to enter into negotiations
with the authorities for obtaining from them further relaxations in
their laws respecting strangers. Having been comparatively successful
with the Japanese, the Commodore felt confident of gaining additional
concessions from the Lew Chewans, and that too without resort to any act
of unkindness, or the adoption of their policy of deceit and falsehood.
The officers of the Supply, which vessel had been left at Napha during
the Commodore’s visit to Japan, stated that the people had evinced no
unfriendly feeling towards them, but were still very much reserved and as
tenacious as ever of their system of espionage. Supplies of provisions,
however, had been regularly furnished through the agency of Dr. Bettel-
heim, and payment had been also received through him.
The Commodore had no time to spare, as his present visit was intended
to be very short, and he was not disposed to be put off for a moment by the
usual temporizing policy of the slow-moving Lew Chewans, so he demanded at
once an interview with the regent; the demand was immediately granted
and a day appointed for the meeting. Previous, however, to the interview,
the Commodore had caused the regent to be made acquainted with
the nature of the propositions, upon a favorable concession to which he had
resolutely fixed his mind. Commander Adams was commissioned to lay
these propositions before the mayor of Napha and some of the authorities
and accordingly went ashore, accompanied by Dr. Williams, the Chinese
interpreter, bearing the following instructions from the hands of the Com-
modore :
Establish rate and pay for rent of house for one year. State that I
wish a suitable and convenient building for the storage of coal, say to hold
six hundred tons. I f they have no such building, I desire to employ
native workmen to erect one after the fashion of the island; or if the Lew
Chewan government prefers, it can be done under the inspection of the