through Lymoon passage. I t was thought desirable to get well to the northward
before striking over for the south end of Formosa. The northeasterly
current, which is constantly setting with great rapidity round the south end
of this island, and with decreased velocity along its eastern coast, was
especially noticed during the voyage, and careful observations, the results
of which will he given in a future chapter, were made upon its force, direction,
and other characteristics, which resemble remarkably those of the gulf
stream on our own coast. The monsoon fortunately not having been very
strong, a very favorable passage was made, with the two store ships in tow,
as far as the northeastern point of Formosa, when they were cast off, with
orders to follow the steamers to Napha, where the latter arrived on the 20th
of January, and the former on the twenty-fourth of the same month. Here
were found the hi acedonian, Vandalia, and Supply. The Saratoga, however,
had not yet made her appearance.
View on the Pack-shan River.
CHAPTER X V I I .
Increased cordiality and friendly intercoorse on the p art of the Ml
modore to the palace a t S h ni-E ntertainment hy the B e g e n t-N o meWHc 5 £ n jW S ® T O » to h o
obtained.—Bev. Mr. Jones’ second exploration in search of coal.-Mnda rt at Shah bay. The mine
not valued by the nativea-Additional geological observations in Lew Chew.-Bemarkable salnbri y
of the island.—Tenure of landa-Agricnltnre.-Eice, potatoes, sugar, cotton, wheat, *” «y, miUet,
sago, beans, peas, tobacco, edible roots, fruits, trees, Bowers, eto.-Sugar mrlU.-Grain mills and gm
naries.—Population.—Ethnology.—Costume. Politeness of manner.-General mtelll
S i f l in naintimr and Bcnlnture.—Amusements.—Government—Beligion.
IX months had passed since
the Commodore’s last departure
from Lew Chew, and
now, on his fourth visit to
that interesting island, he
observed a very marked
change in the conduct of the
Lew ChewanB towards the
Americans. The authorities
readily furnished whatever
was required, and received a
due price for it, seemingly as
a matter of course, while the
people had evidently thrown
off somewhat of their reserve,
and were more disposed to
a friendly intercourse. The
men in the street grew quite
familiar with the sight of the strangers, and did not avoid them, while the
women, even, no longer fled from the market places, but remained in charge
of their stalls, apparently unmindful of the foreign intruders.
The Commodore, soon after his arrival, gave notice to the regent that it
was his intention before leaving Napha to visit the palace of Shui for the
second time, thinking it not amiss, as the Lew Chewans seemed to be gradu