January 1855 Nukaia I. three junks were seen moored. On the 19th the Captain, some officers, and the scientific corps, including myself, went ashore, landing in the cove near the junks, which proved from their build, to be Japanese. We were all well armed, as our arrival had evidently produced a great commotion, - men on horse-back rushing about, crowds collecting etc. The people however did not oppose our landing, although several were armed with match-locks. The Captain, with his customary boldness, proceeded at once to the summit of the hills, followed by numbers of the people, including of officials, etc., while the rest of us branched off in different directions in search of sketches, plants, specimens of shells etc. each accompanied by a crowd of curious observers, some of whom rendered themselves useful by aiding us in collecting. These people exactly resemble the Leu Chouans in appearance of face, beard, clothing, etc., and dress their hair in the same manner, most of them wearing the two hair-pins, (of brass) - but the lower orders wear only a single brass pin, which is long and slender, curved and trenchant at the end. The Mandarins however dress January 1855 Nukaia I. in every respect like the gentlemen of Japan. Of these we saw three during the later part of our visit: - they had seated themselves on lacquered camp-stools, in a semi-circle before some mats, as if wishing to have a council with our Captain, who was then present. A guard, holding their three standards (like those of Japan) and several black match-locks of fine workmanship arranged themselves behind them. These dignitaries appeared very sullen and stupid, and finally, pointing to a pig and some vegetables which had been brought up, signified to us that there was what we probably wanted, and that we might now be off, which we accordingly did, - all returning to the ships for dinner. They would receive no pay for the provisions. We did not again go ashore. My examinations, for the short time allowed, were confined to the sea-shore, the tide being fortunately out. The island is surrounded by a rocky shore or reef, precisely like that of Lou Cho, and, although a little more barren, this reef is inhabited by nearly the same marine animals: the shells in particular being nearly all the same, and showing a marked difference from those of