According to the same description, in the ten islands of some extent already mentioned, there are a great number of trees and plants, and wherever the country is level, there are houses and inhabitants. In the seventy others (seventy-nine should be stated), the earth is too uneven and rugged, the mountains too steep, and vallies too confined for inhabitation; but there are small arms of the sea well supplied with fish, and the inhabitants of the adjacent islands visit them for collecting their productions; that is, to fish there.

These islands, situated in the twenty-seventh degree, enjoy a mild temperature, which occasions the mountains and vallies to produce all kinds of legumes and grain, wheat, rye, small rice, &c. The wood, called black mortar wood by the Chinese, and Nasaki faze by the Japanese, is found there. Wax is also collected, and the fisheries and hunting are very abundant, and make large returns.

The author of the description details the different kinds of trees and animals found on these islands. Among the first is the Kian-mou or hard tree, which he says is the most precious; another very high

tree, whose Japanese name I do not know; the Areka, Roycouyer, White Louan, Katsiyasi, Sandal, Camphor, a large tree with leaves shining, as if varnished, and a number of others. He afterwards describes the principal plants, birds and fishes, which are very abundant there, but which I deem it unnecessary to notice.

The Japanese pretend to have known these islands a long time, under the name of Siao li youan,' which was the name of a man who formerly discovered them; but it appears that they have sometimes confounded them with the Mariannes, particularly when they state that two hundred years ago Megaraniyous (Magellan), an Italian, discovered them at the same time he discovered the new world. They add, that on the Dutch charts they are named Oui sou to Yeirand, that is the great or sterile land, for the Chi. nese name has both these meanings.

Perhaps Woest Eyland, that is the desert island, in Dutch. But it is to the third year, Yun phao, that is, 1675, as Kæmpfer states, we must remount for the discovery of these islands, at least for founding the establish ments that have peopled them. We may suppose that at this epoch they began to be well acquainted with, and to distinguish them from the other countries situated southward of Japan. It was then that the names they bear still were given, though that

* I write this name in the Chinese manner, not knowing how the inhabitants pronounce it, for want of a Japanese vocabulary.

the Groaff Reynet district under the command of Mr. Landdrost Stockenstrom, and marched on the 30th and 31st March and 1st April, to the Cat River, in the neighbourhood of which it was understood the Caffre chief was on a hunting expedition, attended by about 800 Caffres.

"Previous to taking up his ground, on his arrival, his lordship sent forward Major Fraser, of the Cape regiment, with the commandant Nel, and some armed burghers, to apprize the chief of his approach, and to invite him, with as many other chiefs as could be collected, to the conference, to which proposition he readily assented; but the day having proved extremely rainy, the meeting was postponed to the following morning, which circumstance was communicated to his Excellency by a deputation consisting of four persons, two of whom were chiefs, and the two others members of Gaika's council. A hesitation took place on the next morning, the chief's council having advised him in the night not to put himself in his Excellency's power, and the same deputation arrived early in our lines to ap. prize his Excellency of the change. These ambassadors, however, having received the usual presents, recommended that as Gaika was not far off, a message should be sent to him with assurances of his personal safety. This having been done, notice was brought of the chief's approach, upon which the troops were turned out, and formed into line upon his Excellency's marquee, the walls of which were

making the approaching conference as public as possible; the burgher cavalry was disposed at right angles with the troops of the line, thus making three sides of a square, the two pieces of ordnance were placed on each side of his Excellency's tent. His Excellency's body guard was formed in the rear of the tent. A chair was placed for his lordship's accommodation, and mats were spread for the chiefs who were to accompany Gaika. About eleven he made his approach, marching in the centre of a square formed with great regularity by a guard of about 300 well armed Caffres.

"Lieut.-Colonel Cuyler, Major Fraser, and Mr. Landdrost Stockenstrom, all known to him, went to greet him on his approach, and were introduced to the chief "Tsambie, Gaika's uncle. square then opened and formed into line, and the chief's Gaika and 'Tsambie came forward, and walked to the marquee arm in arm with Licut.-Colonel Cuyler, Major Fraser, and Mr. Stockenstrom, several other chiefs being in the rear, the Caffre guard following.

"His Excellency having taken his seat, Gaika was placed on his right hand, next to him 'Tsambie, then Botma 'Enno, Macommo, and several other chiefs, Gaika's son (a fine youth about nineteen, of remarkably expressive countenance), sat immediately behind his father; one of Gaika's council, and his interpreter, were immediately behind him on his left. His Excellency was attended by Lieut.-Colonel Bird and

Captain

coat, or cherry red. In plunging it he was anxious that no part of the blade should touch the composition but at the instant the whole was immersed. It lay in the trough a few minutes to cool.

He then took it out and laid it upon the coals, fanning it an instant to set the grease that stuck on it on fire, and when it smoaked no longer, he let it again grow cool, and then scraped off gently with the back of a knife, the ashes of the stuff that still adhered to it.

The charcoal employed was in pieces of from half to three quarters of an inch square, more or less; the best sort is made of deal, and it must be fresh or virgin, for it will not do if it has been lighted and extinguished. I observed that he fanned the blade more at the thicker parts than towards the point.

The composition in the trough serves for a great number of blades, and is better the older it grows, requiring only to be replenished as the quantity dimi

hands, as its being perfectly free from grease is essential to its taking well the Giohar.

To secure that point further he rubbed tobacco ashes and water on it.

He then prepared a horse bucket full of clear water, and a small Turkish leaden drinking cup (porcelain or glass would do as well, but no other metal than lead). In this cup he dissolved in a few minutes a little zagh* and pure water.

Then with the ends of his fingers he basted the blade with rapidity up and down, and seemed anxious that it should be served all equally, and as much as possible at once.

Every two or three minutes he washed the blade with the water in the bucket, and repeated the operation of the zagh water eight or ten times, that is until he perceived the Giohar did not become more distinct after fresh tending with the zagh.

He then wiped it dry and oiled it; and when this last operation is performed in the winter, the water in which the zagh is dissolved should have the chill taken off.

The names of the different sorts

of Damascus blades are as follow, classed according to their relative value:-1. Kermani Daban. 2. Lahori Kará Khorasán. 3. Lahori Neiris. 4. Dishi Daban. Herkek Daban. 6. Elif Stambool. 7. Eakd Sham. 8. Barjaz

5.

cess, for it was that failure which had caused the yellow spots above mentioned.

He prepared a wooden trough the length of the blades, four or five inches broad, with equal depth, full of liquid composition made of equal quantities of surege

or

sesamum oil, mutton suet, virgin wax, and Persian Naft (Naptha), or rather the dregs of the latter, it being too costly an article.

He began by making a charcoal fire in a small earthen vessel, which after being well alight, he strewed on the ground in the form of a blade, and put loose stones all round to keep it together.

He then fanned it till it was red hot all over, and laid the blade flat on the lighted coals, having first bent the handle for the convenience of holding it, by a pair of pinchers.

He then completely covered the blade with fresh charcoal unburnt, and continued to fan it with a large Turkish feather fan as equally and as forcibly as possible, until the latter charcoal had

become as red as the first. When he judged (what experience alone can teach) that it was now sufficiently hot to be plunged into the trough above described, he seized the proper moment; and on this depends the success of the operation, for if the blade remain a little too long in the fire, the Giohar will be entirely effaced, or if it is not hot enough, or unequally so, it will have the defect that we were endeavouring to remove.

When he plunged the blade into the trough, it seemed to me of the colour of a soldier's dirty

coat,