"lemons, long-y-ven, lee-tchees, grapes, &c. "Wolves, tigers, and bears, are unknown; "but they have many useful animals, such as horses, water-dogs, black cattle, stags, poultry, geese, peacocks, pigeons, "doves, &c. 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 "The camphor, cedar, and ebony, are among the number of their trees; and they have also wood well fitted for shipbuilding, and for public edifices. They are represented as disdaining slavery, lying, and cheating. They are fond of games and amusements, and celebrate, "with much pomp, the worship of their "idols, at the end and commencement of "the year; and there exists much union among the branches of families, who give frequent and cheerful entertainments 66 to each other." 66 66 66 66 The ceremony of installation of the king of Lewchew is thus described: " When "the king dies, his heir sends an embassador to the emperor, to make known that "circumstance, and to demand his inves❝titure.-Meantime the Lewchewans treat as king and queen the prince and the 66 66 princess his wife, though it is not, according to the Pekin regulations, until "after the installation that they assume "the titles. The emperor either sends " from himself a qualified person to per"form this ceremony, or grants full powers "to the Lewchewan embassador to do so 66 on his return. 66 "If the former is determined upon, the emperor orders the tribunal of ceremo"nies to find a fit person to sustain with dignity the majesty of the Chinese em 66 66 pire; and the choice falls on whom they "know the emperor wishes, a second being "named in the event of death or sick66 ness. The emperor, after approving the 66 choice, admits the embassador to an "audience, and gives him the necessary "instructions, and the presents intended "for the king and queen. The mandarins "of Fo-kien are ordered to equip a vessel, "and to choose a captain, officers, sailors, "soldiers, and pilots, sometimes amounting "to three hundred and fifty persons. The "embassador is conducted from court with "great pomp to the capital of Fo-kien, 66 where he is lodged in a commodious palace, and treated with much distinc❝tion. 66 66 66 66 "He is embarked with great state, when, "after the usual ceremonies to propitiate "heaven, and the goddess Tien-fey, they "make sail. On their anchoring near Napa-kiang, the king gives the necessary "orders for receiving the embassador, with "all the honours due to the title of Celestial Envoy, that is, to the envoy of the son of “heaven, or the emperor of China. The princes and grandees repair to the port "in their court dresses. A number of vessels, richly ornamented, conduct the stranger into harbour, where the embas"sador and suite land, and are attended to his palace with great pomp by the princes and grandees, who take care to "make such an appearance as to do ho"nour to the nation. Every thing is regu"lated with respect to the maintenance of "the embassador and retinue, who are all 66 66 66 66 66 permitted, even to the lowest domestic, "the privilege of carrying a certain quantity of money, and of Chinese merchan 66 66 dise, to make a little trade. In the time of "the Ming dynasty, the profits of the "Chinese were considerable at Lewchew; "at present only moderate. The em"bassador ordinarily piques himself on having no personal connexion with com"merce*. 66 "After having taken some repose, he "repairs to the grand hall, where he finds "a magnificent estrade, on which he seats “himself. On a signal given, at the same "instant, the princes, ministers, and gran“dees of the first order, placed according "to rank, make the nine prostrations to "salute the emperor. The embassador "stands; and, after the ceremony, makes a profound reverence. When the chiefs "of the second and third class prostrate 66 66 themselves, he also stands, and after"wards presents his hand to them. On "the performance of the inferior chiefs, "the embassador is seated, but afterwards *This is quite in the inflated style of these celestials, whilst in the practice of every thing that is sordid. "monial finished, some grandees on the 66 part of the king come to congratulate "the embassador on his safe arrival. The "rest of the day is spent in repasts, public 66 rejoicings, and concerts, in all the cities "and neighbouring villages, and on board "the vessels. On a certain day the em"bassador goes to the temple of the god"dess Tien-fey, to return thanks for her 66 66 protection, and from thence to the impe"rial palace, where he performs the Chinese ceremonies, in honour of Confucius. "On another day he repairs with all his "retinue to the royal hall, where are the "tablets of the deceased kings; the heir "to the throne also appearing, but as a prince simply. 66 66 "The embassador then performs, in the name of the emperor, the Chinese marks "of respect in honour of the deceased king, "the predecessor of the reigning prince, "and also for his forefathers; and presents "the odours, the silks, manufactures, and "silver, sent by the emperor for that pur 66 pose. The prince then makes the nine "prostrations to thank the emperor, and H |