BOOK
II
1797
October
Early in
the morning we were surrounded by boats full of
men, women, and children, whose curiosity had brought them off to see
the strange vessel. They were universally cloathed in linen garments made
into loose jackets and trowsers, quilted or doubled; and some of them
wore large loose gowns. The women had a short petticoat over their trowsers;
and both sexes, linen boots, with sandals made of rice straw. The men
wore their hair in a knot tied up to the crown, and the women had theirs
twisted and plaited round their heads.
The features and complexions of these people resembled the
Chinese, particularly their small eyes; and in general all our visitors
were extremely ordinary in their persons: but it is to be remembered there
were no young women of the party; the females being composed entirely
of old women and children.
In the morning we went on shore in search of water, landing
at
the village for that purpose; and from thence one of the inhabitants conducted
us to a fine run of water, most conveniently situated for our purpose
We were in want both of wood and water; but of the former article the
country seemed very deficient. After taking some altitudes for the watch,
and observing the distances for the longitude, we took a walk, attended
by a numerous party of the villagers. The harbour, we perceived, extended
some distance to the westward of the rocks we had noticed in coming in,
and also to the N. E. and S. W. of them, terminating in small bays that
afforded shelter from all winds. Many villages were scattered round the
harbour; and in the N. W. part we observed a large town, encircled with
stone walls, and battlements upon them.