and fair; and the heavy clouds
gradually dispersed, leaving towards the morning a clear atmosphere.
Fresh breezes and very pleasant weather. Before day-light
I
left the vessel, unperceived by our Corean guards, and proceeded up the
harbour to complete a sketch of it. At day-light we saw fires near our
village, which we supposed were siguals respecting the boat. We however,
having landed on the southern side, and continued examining that side
of the harbour, remained unperceived by them, as there were no habitations
near us, and returned on board to breakfast. It appeared our absence had
thrown the village into great confusion: boats were dispatched in every
direction after us, but we had escaped them all. The morning was favourable,
and we took our last altitudes. Soon after, we received a visit from one
of our principal friends, who seemed particularly pleased at our preparations
for sailing. I presented him with a telescope and a pistol, the only articles
he seemed desirous of possessing; and we parted with mutual satisfaction.
We soon after got under way, and made sail out of the harbour, to the
great joy of our Corean friends, who were assembled in great numbers on
the adjacent hills observing our departure. We felt ourselves much obliged
by their supplies of wood and water, without expecting any thing in return.
This harbour is called Tshosan, or Chosan, by the inhabitants.
It is situated in the S. E. part of the coast of Corea, in the latitude
of 35° 2' N., and 129° 7' E. longitude; and bears S. S. E. and
N. N. W. from the north part of the island of Tzima, at ten leagues' distance.
It has a safe entrance, and no dangers to be apprehended on either shore.
Two miles to the West of the black rocks, on the north side of entrance,
is an abrupt high head-land, which I named Magnetic |
CHAP
VII
1797
October
21st.
|