Napha, and as being on a large scale, covering about eight acres, but in a
state of utter ruin. I t seemed to have no regular plan, and the walls had
been erected upon various projecting points of the rock, and often parallel to
each other in several lines, for the purpose of strengthening the defences.
The neck of the headland connecting it with the hills behind had been separated
by a moat, which was, however, hardly perceptible from the profuse
growth of vegetation, which filled it up and concealed it from the eye. On
a lofty eminence of the headland there was an oblong space shut in with
walls, and thickly crowded with a dense thicket of trees and undergrowth.
This part of the fortress was in a better state of preservation than the rest,
and the original height of the wall, which reached about twelve feet, was discernible.
On the western side there was a massive arched gateway, with a
wooden door, closed by what appeared to be a Chinese lock. As a large
tree, growing on the summit of the arch, had sent down its twisted roots
among the stones which formed the sides of the entrance, a natural ladder
was thus formed, by which the party succeeded in clambering over into the
enclosed space. Following a narrow pathway through the otherwise impenetrable
thicket, a heap of ruins was reached, upon the summit of which were
.two stones marked with Chinese characters, and the remains of some joss
sticks. From these it was concluded that the present inhabitants of Lew
Chew still retain some forms of this worship. Tima-gusko is undoubtedly
the remains of the southern one of the three castles which were the strongholds
of the three several kings who at one time divided the dominion of Lew
Chew. The traditional account of the former dynasties, as given by Klaproth
in his translation of the “ Kan-to-sits,” seems remarkably confirmed
by the observations of our officers at Lew Chew. The two castles of the
north and the south were found in ruins, while the central one of Shui, now the
habitation of the present supposed young king, was seen to be in a perfect
state of preservation, and indicated that the dynasty of Lew Chew had been
finally concentrated in a single ruler.
In accordance with the arrangements between the Commodore and the authorities
of Napha, the bazaar was opened at six o’clock on the morning of the
steamer’s departure, (Monday, August 1.) The Kung-qua, the place selected
for the mart, was found duly prepared, with heaps of Lew Chewan productions,
a motley assortment of lacquered cups, plates and boxes, pieces of grass-
cloth, and the various articles of Lew Chew costume, such as cotton and silk
saBhes, sandals of straw, and hair pins of brass and silver, fans, chow-chow
boxes, which correspond somewhat with our sandwich cases, smoking pipes,
and a plentiful supply of tobacco. The interpreter, Ichirazichi, was the
presiding genius, or, rather, roguish Mercury of this market, who went busily
about performing his functions as general broker, accompanied by a group
of subordinate officials. The various parties from the ship soon commenced
a brisk business, and succeeded in spending, in the aggregate, about a hun