book I t will be obferved haw little opportunity we had
to make any remarks upon the cuftoms and manners
- c&obet. of theft; people, from their avoiding as much as
poffiMe any intercourfe with us. Indeed this treatment
we have been univerfally accuftomed to, both
a t the land of Infoo and the Lieuchieux iflands. It
appears by their behaviour they are by no means
defifous of cultivating any intercourfe whatever with
ftrangers. They fcemed to look upon us with great
indifference, which I fuppofe was owing to the infig-
nificancy of our veffel; or perhaps, their not comprehending
what nation we belonged to, or what pur
purfuits were, made them felicitous for our departure,
probably from a fufpicion of our being pirates ; or
feme other reafon we could not divine.
The land furrounding the harbour was much in-
fulated, rifing in parts to very high hills, deftitute of
wood and verdure in general; but in feme places
were a few fcattered pine trees. On the fouth fide,
which is a peninfula, it was better wooded ; and
amongft the pines were other diciderous trees, but
o f what kinds we were unacquainted, as the jealoufy
of the people entirely prevented pur acquiring any
knowledge of the productions of the country. . Indeed
in no inftance would thCy admit our refearches.
There
There were feveral large villages fcattered about chap.
the harbour, all of them fêemingly, very populous, V—v—'
and generally feated in pleafanrffituatjons, with trees Oftober.
interfperfed among the houfes. The houles. were
fmall, all of one ftory, and thatched. The lands
were cultivated in the Japanefe manner, rifing in
ridges above each other between the hills, which gave
them an opportunity of eafiïy conducting water to the
rice grounds. We faw horfes, hogs, poultry, and
black cattle, of which articles muçh as we were in
want wç could not procure. Money, at leaft of
European coins, they had no idea of ; but they per-
feétîy underftood the value of gold and fitver, their
knives, &c. being ornamented in the workmanfhip
with thofe metals.
They were well acquainted with guns and firearms,
but we faw no appearance of offenfive weapons
amongft them, nor did they feem any way appre-
henfive of the fmall force we poflefied. All their
attention was paid to expedite our departure ; and
yet many articles of European manufacture exeited
their curiofity, particularly our woollen clothing.
As à commercial nation, of courfe they were well
acquainted and converfant in trade ; but with us they
did