a Chinese island of some extent in the neighbourhood of the Crusan-Isles, which see in this Supplement. Some of the gentlemen belonging to the British embassy went ashore on Lowang, which they described as naked, both of trees and of cattle. They examined particularly a small level plain recovered from the sea, which was kept out by an embankment of earth, at least thirty feet thick. The quantity of ground gained by it seemed scarcely to be worth the labour that it must have cost. The plain was indeed cultivated with the utmost care, and laid out chiefly in rice-plats, supplied with water collected from the adjacent hills into little channels, through which it was conveyed to every part of those plantations. It was manured, instead of the dung of animals, with matters more offensive to the human senses, and which are not very generally applied to the purposes of agriculture in England. Earthen vessels were sunk into the ground for the reception of such manure; and for containing liquids of an analogous nature, in which the grain was steeped previously to its being sown; an operation which is supposed to hasten the growth of the future plant, as well as to prevent any injury from insects in its tender state.

The party fell in with a peasant who, though struck with their appearance, was not so feared by it as to run from them. He was dressed in loose garments of blue cotton, a straw hat upon his head fastened by a string under his chin, and half boots upon his legs. He seemed to enter into the spirit of curiosity, naturally amusing travellers, and readily led them towards an adjoining village. Luciole village. Passing by a small farm house, they were invited into it by the tenant, who, together with his son, observed them with astonished eyes. The house was built of wood, the uprights of the natural form of the timber. No ceiling concealed the inside of the roof, which was put together strongly, and covered with the straw of rice. The floor was of earth beaten hard, and the partitions between the rooms consisted of mats hanging from the beams. Two spinning wheels for cotton were seen in the outer room; but the seats for the spinners were empty. They had probably been filled by females, who retired on the approach of strangers; while they remained, none of that sex appeared. Round the house were planted clumps of bamboo, and of that species of palm, of which each leaf resembles the form of a fan; and, used as such, becomes an article of merchandise.