Account of a Voyage of Discovery to the West Coast of Corea, and the Great Loo-Choo Island. Hall Basil
were made by Mr. William Havell, the eminent artist who accompanied the Embassy, from sketches taken on the spot, by Mr. C.W. Browne, midshipman of the Alceste, and myself.
Nothing respecting the west side of Corea has hitherto been accurately known to Europeans. The coast laid down in most Charts has been taken from the celebrated map of the Jesuits, which is very correct in what relates to China, but erroneous with respect to Corea. The Jesuits, indeed, did not survey this country, but have inserted it in their map, I believe, from Japanese authorities.
Captain Broughton in his voyage to the North Pacific Ocean visited the South Coast of Corea, and his account of the inhabitants agrees with ours in most particulars.
The same distinguished voyager visited the Great Loo-choo Island in 1797, after having been shipwrecked near Typinsan, one of its dependant islands. He was at Napakiang for a few days, and his account of the natives is highly interesting.
There is an article by Pere Gaubil, a missionary, on the subject of the Loo-choo Islands, in the 23d vol. of the "Lettres Edifiantes et Curieuses." It is a translation from the official report of a Chinese embassador sent to Loo-choo by the Emperor Kang Hi; our opportunities, however, were not sufficient to enable us to judge of the accuracy of this curious memoir.
NARRATIVE.
CHAPTER I.
H.M.S. Alceste and Lyra leave the Yellow Sea on a Voyage of
Discovery—Sir James Hall's Group on the Coast of Corea—Unsociable
Character of the Natives—Hutton's Island—Interesting geological
Structure—Anchor near the Main Land—Corean Chief's Visit—Objections
made to Strangers landing—Distress of the Chief—His
Character—Departure from Basil's Bay—Clusters of Islands—Murray's
Sound—Deserted Corean Village—View from the Summit of a high
Peak—Interview with the Coreans—Peculiarities of their
Character—Language—Erroneous geographical Position of this
Coast—Leave Corea Page 1
CHAPTER II.
Enter the Japan Sea—Sulphur Island—Volcano—See the Great Loo-choo Island—Lyra nearly wrecked—First Interview with the Natives—Anchor at Napakiang—Natives crowd on Board—Their interesting Appearance and Manners—Several Chiefs visit the Alceste—Land to make Observations—Astonishment of the Natives—Six Chiefs visit the Ships—Alceste and Lyra proceed farther in Shore—A Chief of high Rank waits upon Captain Maxwell—Return his Visit—Feast—Projected Survey of the Anchorage—Visit Reef Island—The Lyra sent to look for another Harbour—Arrangements for landing the Alceste's Stores—Description of the Temple and Garden—First Acquaintance with Mádera—Study of the Language 58
CHAPTER III.
The Lyra sent to survey the Island of Loo-choo—Discovery of Port Melville—Description of that Harbour, and the Villages on its Banks—Lyra nearly wrecked—Interview with Natives at the South Point—Return to Napakiang—Behaviour of the Natives at a Seaman's Funeral—Mádera's Character and Conduct—Sociable Habits of the Natives—Dinner given to the Chiefs of the Island by Captain Maxwell—Mádera's Behaviour on this Occasion—Two Women seen—A Lady of Rank visits the Boatswain's Wife—Captain Maxwell fractures his Finger—Loo-choo Surgeon—Concern of the Natives—Visit of the Prince—Discussion about the King of Loo-choo's Letter—Mádera appears in a new Character—Feast given by the Prince—List of Supplies given to the Ships—Behaviour of the Prince on taking Leave—Preparations for Departure—Mádera's Distress—Last Interview with the Chiefs—Brief Memorandums upon the Religion, Manners, and Customs of Loo-choo—Advice to a Stranger visiting this Island 135
APPENDIX.
Notice explanatory of a Chart of the Gulf of Pe-chee-lee v
Notice to accompany the Chart of the West Coast of Corea x
Notice to accompany the general Chart of the Great Loo-choo Island in the Japan Sea, and the Charts of Napakiang Roads and Port Melville xvii
Observations made at the Observatory at Napakiang xxix
Table of Observations made with Dr. Wollaston's Dip Sector: with an Engraving, and a Description of this Instrument, and Directions for its Use xxxi
Meteorological Journal, from July to November 1816, while the
Ships were in the Yellow and Japan Seas li
Abstract of the Lyra's Voyage, from leaving England till her
Return; shewing the Distance between the different Places at
which she touched, and the Time taken in performing each Passage cix
Geological Memorandum; being a Description of the Specimens of
Rocks collected at Macao and the Ladrone Islands, on the Shores
of the Yellow Sea, the West Coast of Corea, and the Great Loo-choo
Island cxix
VOCABULARY.
PART I.—English and Loo-choo words.
PART II.—Sentences in English and Loo-choo, with a literal Translation.
Loo-choo and Japanese Numerals—Names of Persons at Napakiang—Names of
Places—Days of the Moon—Orders of Rank—Tattoo Marks—Hours of the
Day.
Comparison between the Japanese and Loo-choo Languages.
Comparison between the Loo-choo and Insu Languages.
Comparison between the Loo-choo, Japanese, and Insu Languages.
Corean Words.
DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING THE PLATES.
Sulphur Island, to face the Title Page.
Corean Chief and Secretary To face Page 16
Napakiang 77
Loo-choo Chief and his two Sons 97
Priest and Gentleman of Loo-choo 132
The Prince of Loo-choo 176
Scene after the Prince's Feast 196
Gentleman of Loo-choo in his Cloak 215
Bridge of Napakiang 222
APPENDIX.
Chart of the Gulf of Pe-chee-lee v
Coast of Corea x
Chart of the Great Loo-choo Island xix
Napakiang Roads xxi
Port Melville xxiv
Wollaston's Dip Sector xxxiii
* * * * *
ERRATA.
Page 1, line 2 from bottom, for 11th August, read 9th August.
Page 60, top line, for was, read saw.
APPENDIX.
Meteorological Journal.—Longitude on the 1st Sept. for 124.20, read 124.48.
The longitudes in the Met. Journ. from the 3d