BO OR Thefe people perfe&iy underflood our having been
>— —1 a t Typinfeti, but could not comprehend what we had
, j ufy.* done’ with our men; not conceiving we had been fitieb- j
- at China. This fuppofition may be feme reafon for
their not fullering us to go on Ihore, as they cdttld not
alfo underftand why we fhould be fo foon in want of
. provifions: of which circumftance we only made an.
excufe, that we might have feme communication with;
them.- I t will alfo prove how vefiefe' in diftrefe may
really benefit by the humanity and liberality of thefe
iflanders, who confer favours, as far as I can judge,
without expecting any return for fo doing. In every
other relpebl, except allowing its to land, they were
obliging, civil, and attentive f bringing off vegetables,
and fame of their fpirits called fafeki; and at all-times
behaving Avith a decree of politenefs, which rendered
their company very pleafmg. They were alfo open
and unreferved in their manners. We had only to
lament our ignorance of their language, which prevented
our acquiring any knowledge of their government.
Every boat that came off always brought different
people, feemingty to gratify their euriofity in feeing
the vefifel: and obferving our people" at their meals
. much excited their attention.
TO’THE-NORTB-PAClEB(>OC^AK. 241
As ourfriends were convinced we.had all oar wants
fupplied, they feemed ve% an^u^iofexnut failing; g p r
and we took out leave of fchgm iigflfe-afternoon. We Juit.
preferi teeb‘ them with: a Tpyitig-glafs, thé. only .thing
they appeared defoóus-cf, i’kid.- a,drawing ,©f the
véffel^with a memorandum easpreffing
and -arrival.
This ifland is called by,,the inhabitants Lieuchieux,
or Loo-choo; and extends from the latitude of 26° 4' M-
.to 26° 505’« ' and from 128° 12' E. to 12S° 45 E.
Its greateft direétion is N.;‘E. and S.W., nearly about
21 leagues. The harbour of' Napachan is the
S. W. fide, in latitude 26° 11' N. and longitude
128° 13' 30" Ei The town adjoining the hatbour is
fhe principal on the iiland, and, as we underftood, the
feat of government. The port is convenient for commerce,
and feemsto be the centre of trade between
Japan and the fouthem iflands. They alfo trade to
China and Eormofa. The inhabitants are, in every
refpe& of manners, cuftoms, an<l appearances, the
fame with thofe of Typinfan ; and referable more the
Japariefe than the Chinefo: fpeaking with very little
variation the language of the former, and writing after
their manner. They were alfo well acquainted with
.China, and fhewed us feveral articles from that
j j country;