Account of a Voyage of Discovery by Basil Hall

Page 1 of 208

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 to the 7th of Sept. inclusive are too small by 15'.

VOCABULARY.

For _Tatesee_, read _Tatsee_. For _Teetesee_, read _Teetsee_. For _Meetesee_, read _Meetsee_. For _Eeotesee_, read _Eeotsee_. For _Eeyatesee_, read _Eeyatsee_. For _opposite_, read _under_, in the note on the word Hour.

[Transcriber's Note: a letter with a macron above it is denoted by [=x].]

VOYAGE TO THE WEST COAST OF COREA AND THE LOO-CHOO ISLANDS.

* * * * *

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 Chiefs 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.

The embassy to China, under the Right Honourable Lord Amherst, left England in his Majesty's frigate Alceste, Captain Murray Maxwell, C.B., on the 9th of February, 1816, and landed near the mouth of the Pei-ho river, in the Yellow Sea, on the 9th of August. Shortly afterwards the Alceste and Lyra sloop of war, which had accompanied the embassy, proceeded to the coast of Corea, the eastern boundary of the Yellow Sea; for as these ships were not required in China before the return of the Embassador by land to Canton, it was determined to devote the interval to an examination of some places in those seas, of which little or no precise information then existed. The following pages give the details of this voyage.

1st of September.--This morning at daylight the land of Corea was seen in the eastern quarter. Having stood towards it, we were at nine o'clock near three high islands, differing in appearance from the country we had left, being wooded to the top, and cultivated in the lower parts, but not in horizontal terraces as at the places we had last visited in China. We proceeded to the southward of the group, and anchored in a fine bay at the distance of two or three miles from the southern island. Shortly after anchoring, a boat came from the shore with five or six natives, who stopped, when within fifty yards of the brig, and looking at us with an air of curiosity and distrust, paid no attention to the signs which were made to induce them to come alongside. They expressed no alarm when we went to them in our boat; and on our rowing towards the shore, followed

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1: Account of a Voyage of Discovery by Basil Hall
2: And badly thatched with reeds and straw
3: Accompanying this gesticulation by words
4: And their fans and long tobacco pipes
5: We accordingly rowed to the Lyra
6: One man persevered in climbing over the hammocks
7: A coarse frock without sleeves
8: Where he was met by Captain Maxwell
9: Posting himself at the hatchway
10: That this sickly looking companion of the Chief
11: And the Courtier was allowed to keep his book
12: Captain Maxwell had come on board
13: The signs used by different nations
14: From an apprehension of having offended Captain Maxwell
15: He afterwards sounded the anchorage
16: Cooking utensils were lying about
17: Was noted down in our list as the Corean word for stockings
18: Accompanied by a few of the Coreans
19: Which he had no sooner drank off
20: There are numerous islands of schistus
21: Footnote 5 See note at the end of the Loo choo vocabulary
22: Another canoe went near the Alceste
23: That the Alceste was actually in want of repairs
24: To get an answer from court about pilots for the Lyra
25: And joining the sandal near the heel
26: Captain Maxwell told them of his illness
27: Ookooma was the first who looked
28: With a number of rude square excavations on its face
29: I learnt from Captain Maxwell afterwards
30: Our first anchorage being too close to a reef
31: In the canoe which visited the Alceste
32: He got on board the Alceste before us
33: The old man brought a present for Captain Maxwell
34: 'You Ta yin too much great mandarine
35: Who we found were Bodezes or priests
36: They came no farther than the pier head Jeeroo
37: Jeeroo sent us off some fresh fish to day
38: The coral was left almost bare for a considerable way out
39: When we were absent at Reef Island
40: On our objecting particularly to the heat
41: Here they gave us painted eggs
42: Than they exclaimed that it was masa
43: Till we came close to Napakiang
44: In conjunction with the midshipmen of the Lyra
45: Being neatly wattled with split bamboo
46: Occupies one corner of the inclosure
47: Wife of the boatswain of the Alceste
48: Footnote 9 Chopsticks are two pieces of ivory or wood
49: As soon as the survey of Napakiang anchorage was completed
50: Proceeding onwards through this bason
51: Formed of the earth from the ditch
52: Clifford in Loo choo to look at the boat
53: Each house has a neat cane wall
54: In honour of Lord Viscount Melville
55: Among the group of islands called Amakirrima by the natives
56: Jeeroo officiated on this occasion
57: Jeeroo is esteemed in another way
58: And in one corner a small metal pot of sackee
59: With Hackeeboocoo on his right
60: Madera had a graceful carriage
61: Thinking that Ookooma wished to spar
62: When Ookooma and Jeeroo came to us
63: In a manner highly flattering to Captain Maxwell
64: Illustration THE PRINCE of LOO CHOO
65: Upon this Captain Maxwell observed
66: Lined with silk a shade lighter
67: We took Jeeroo with us without telling him our object
68: Where Jeeroo sung several songs
69: Which was accordingly drank in a cup of sackee
70: When Ookooma came near my chair
71: Last night both the Alceste and Lyra were illuminated
72: Acha hoonee nittee Doochoo mang hoonee oocooyoong
73: Ingeree noo choo sibittee yootoosha
74: The bodzes kept the temple clean swept
75: Clifford's notes on the Loo choo inscriptions
76: None but the upper classes understand the spoken Chinese
77: At Loo choo the people are considerably civilised
78: Illustration GENTLEMAN of LOO CHOO in his CLOAK
79: Of which there is a manufactory at Napakiang
80: Carries with it the salt left by evaporation
81: Footnote 15 LIST OF SUPPLIES RECEIVED AT LOO CHOO BY H
82: Chartsof thegulf of pe che lee
83: The southern one lies in 37? 21' north
84: This point lies in 37? 42' north
85: And latitude 36? 44 1 2' north
86: And latitude 35? 52' north at this time
87: Observed by Polaris 35? 26' north
88: From south to south 20 1 2? east
89: This island is called Loo choo
90: Sidenote Sugar Loaf or Eegooshcoond
91: Sidenote Directions on approaching Napakiang
92: Sidenote Eye draught of Port Melville
93: We observed in 27? 00' 15 north
94: And in longitude 127? 35' east
95: Observations made at napakiang observatory
96: 29 Latitude by mean of 3 meridian altitudes 26?
97: Another distant point D at 180? from C
98: The changes in refraction are not felt
99: The low land just visible in the NW
100: Longitude 118? 00' east
101: Instrument inverted A 15'
102: The low land of Sumatra just visible
103: 28 Parts of the horizon observed SSW and NNE
104: 59 38 50 118 30 49 Aug
105: Of the horizon observed SSE and NNW
106: Parts of the horizon observed WNW and ESE
107: 87 Parts of the horizon observed WNW and ESE
108: Parts of the horizon observed NW and SE
109: Cape Lagullas North 2 or 3 leagues
110: While the ships were in the yellow and japan seas
111: 75 Chusan
112: 80 81 80 SW by W of Formosa
113: 80 Yellow Sea
114: 79 Yellow Sea
115: In the forenoon it felt 8 29
116: Became suddenly quite 8 29
117: 1 2 and became quite fine
118: Yellow 5 Sea
119: Yellow slight showers of rain
120: Yellow 5 Sea
121: Yellow After noon the breeze
122: Yellow Fresh breezes and cloudy
123: Yellow 1 2 Sea
124: 11 Noon
125: 20 remained so the rest of the day
126: In the evening it became 4 29
127: 44 freshened up at North easterly
128: 11 N E Noon
129: And towards night to 4 29
130: 3 Yellow Sea
131: With 5 rain
132: After midnight the wind hauled 4 29
133: 1 Monday
134: And remained so all 8 30
135: 1 Friday
136: 11 Calm Mid
137: And continued so all 6 29
138: 10 30 in
139: Towards evening it became 3 29
140: 3 Japan Sea
141: 79 81 82 NE by E short time
142: 1 Friday
143: We were so completely 8 29
144: And gradually shifted to 4 29
145: 56 very rapidly
146: 94 up about ESE
147: 98 Noon
148: 96 N E Noon
149: 87 78 81 NE by E East
150: 5 with rain
151: And the weather cleared 4 29
152: 1 Thursday
153: 94 NNE round
154: 94 North Off Loo choo
155: Shortly after the breeze 10 30
156: 11 Noon
157: With the same fine clear 10 29
158: 1 Thursday
159: 00 squally
160: 99 Japan Sea
161: 1 NNW Wednesday
162: Abstract of the voyages of his majesty's ship lyra
163: From thence to the harbour of Oei hai oei
164: Against the south west monsoon
165: Sidenote Mauritius to rounding the Cape
166: Composed of yellowish feldspar
167: Composed of yellowish feldspar
168: There are numerous insulated portions of schistus
169: Composed of flesh coloured feldspar
170: And sawt eechoong to go out from
171: And nashee are negatives used with a substantive
172: Blind Meegua
173: Candlestick Soocoo 34
174: Colours Eeroo eeroo
175: Boiled rice Meeshee kamoong
176: Blueish Tamung eeo
177: The teeth Ha gissee gissee
178: To Shumma git'cheeoong
179: Lower Stit'cha seeba
180: Or again Matta ozagadee
181: Panting Eetchee
182: A ring on the finger Eebee gannee sashoong
183: Rough Sooroo sooroo
184: Snake Haboo
185: Pot Tacoo
186: Thumb Hooee Eebee
187: Two Hacoo neejoo
188: Yellow Cheeroo
189: But of a single book they only say sheemootsee
190: And meechay repeated in enumerating persons
191: January Shaw gwautsee
192: Another boat song Quee yay hanno ha
193: As denoted in the first column
194: Pray Of Eating and Drinking
195: I may look at it Of Losing and Finding
196: Making a false step Koonsinda dakatchee
197: Brigs Of Burning and Scalding
198: But always teetsee sheemootsee
199: Another Eevaroo
200: Cheeroo dinjee noo Hat'chee A dingy yellow ground
201: That between Loo Choo and Insu
202: Bird Tori Hotoo
203: Good Jukka Choorasa
204: Kiss Umakutji
205: To Togajassu Sitchoong
206: Moosuru Spectacles Meganni
207: 4 Yeatze Eenep Yeatze Shee Eotsee
208: Ojubi Hooee eebee O yewbee