Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 649

1412.

Journal of Occurences

627

The government of Chusan it is said is to be partly military and partly civil, but the whole island is to be left completely muder the control of the English. None of the details of this arrangement, nor of those pertaining to the new ports, have yet been officially promulgated.

The prisoners on Formosa, from the Nerbudda and Ann, not having been delivered up, capt. Chads dispatched H. M. brig Serpent from Ainoy to receive them. We have been favored with the following account of this visit.

"We started from Amoy on Saturday morning the 8th of October, ran over to the Pescadores by evening, lay to until the next morning, and in a short time were at anchor near several large junks, whose position directed us. Having obtained a pilot from one of them, we ran in abreast of the fort about four iniles below the capital, and anchored in five fathoms, between two or three miles from the shore. The place where the fort is of which I speak is called A'nping; the name of the capital is Táiwán fú as you already know. Soon after coming to anchor, the first

臺灣府

臺

lieutenant was sent to the commander of the fort, the A'nping hie, to announce our arrival on a peaceful errand, and to inquire when the captain, who bore a letter from the English senior naval officer at Amoy to the Taiwán chin (i. e. the protector of Taiwán, who is the highest authority in the island) night have an interwiew with his excellency. Mr. Brown, the first lieut. had some difficulty in making his way over an extensive mud flat, which lay between the beach and the fort, and on reaching the spot, an in- ferior officer put his head out of a port hole, and inquired what he wanted. He told them he wanted first to be on a level with themselves, when he would deliver his message. A second came and told him they had not sent for him, and of course could not tell what business he had there. Refusing to say more until invited into the fort, the Anping hie came, and told him to enter. They received him in an open court, gave him a narrow bench to sit on, and treated him uncivilly. He told them what he came for, and they appointed the next morning at 11 A. M. to receive the letter of captain Nevill. The next day several of the officers and myself accompanied the captain. The shore is difficult of approach. We ran through breakers, and were pulled in flat boats and carried by the men over the mud. On arriving at the fort, where Mr. Brown was received, we were met by some officials wearing gold buttons, who led us outside of the fort, and through the streets of a village to the hall where their superiors were assembled. Here we were well re- ceived by a number of officers wearing light red, blue crystal, and white and gold buttons. They gave captain Nevill and Mr. Brown chairs, and wanted to put the rest of us off with benches, but this honor we declined, and held out until all obtained chairs. Akum acted as interpreter. After a few intro- ductory remarks, the letter was adduced; it went around, and was return- ed, none daring open it, because it was directed to the Taiwán chin, and he was not present. Captain N.'s instructions were to deliver it personally if possible. This was the first point at issue. The captain pressed the nature of his instructions, and they the impracticability of following them under pre- sent circumstances. The Taiwán chin was at Táiwán fú. There was an im- mense mud flat in the way, so that he could not come to us, nor we go to him. They dispatched a letter to him to know his pleasure, and told us we had better return to our ship, and come again the next morning. Captain N. replied that we were in haste to accomplish the business, and preferred waiting on shore for the reply. At this time they were willing to receive the letter and forward it to the Taiwán chin; but this was objected to in the hope of obtaining au audience with him. Tea and cakes were handed us, and they told us that apartinents would be provided for us. The preparations