Hall, Basil:
Account of a Voyage of Discovery to the West Coast of Corea, and the Great Loo-Choo Island, London 1818, Murray, 222 pp + 72 pp of vocabulary, squarish 4to (27 x 22 cm), appendix, glossary, 8 hand colored engraved plates, 1 black and white engraved plate, 5 engraved charts/maps (including 2 folding maps) and a further plate of scientific instruments. An appendix contains charts, and geological/ hydrographical/ scientific data, an abstract of the Lyra's voyage and a vocabulary of the Loo-Choo language by H.J. Clifford. The tissue guarded plates were drawn by William Havell, one of the best early painters in water-color, and engraved by Robert Havell based on sketches by the author and C. W. Browne. The plates include views of Sulphur Island, Napakiang, various officials, gentleman of Loo-Choo in his cloak, one of artifacts, etc. This expedition formed part of Lord Amherst's embassy and explored the relatively little known East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. Visits were made to Korea and the Ryukyu Archipelago. Korea had been sketchily explored by Europeans, but it was not until the frigates Alceste and Lyra expeditions that detailed information was obtained about the Ryukyus.

Title Page

NARRATIVE.

CHAPTER I. H. M. S. Alceste and Lyra leave the Yellow Sea on a Voyage of Discovery - Sir James Hall's Group on the Coast of Corea - Unsociable Character of the Natives - Button's Island - Interesting geological Structure - Anchor near the Main Land - Corean Chief's Visit - Objections made to Strangers landing - Distress of the Chief - His Character - Departure from Basil's Bay - Clusters of Islands - Murray's Sound - Deserted Corean Village - View from the Summit of a high Peak - Interview with the Coreans - Peculiarities of their Character - Language - Erroneous geographical Position of this Coast - Leave Corea .... Page 1

CHAPTER II. Enter the Japan Sea - Sulphur Island - Volcano - See the Great Loo-choo Island - Lyra nearly wrecked - First Interview with the Natives - Anchor at Napakiang - Natives crowd on Board - Their interesting Appearance and Manners - Several Chiefs visit the Alceste - Land to make Observations - Astonishment of the Natives - Six Chiefs visit the Ships - Alceste and Lyra proceed farther in Shore - A Chief of high Rank waits upon Captain Maxwell - Return his Visit - Feast - Projected Survey of the Anchorage - Visit Reef Island - The Lyra sent to look for another Harbour - Arrangements for landing the Alceste's Stores - Description of the Temple and Garden - First Acquaintance with Madera - Study of the Language .... Page 58

CHAPTER III. The Lyra sent to survey the Island of Loo-choo - Discovery of Port Melville - Description of that Harbour, and the Villages on its Banks - Lyra nearly wrecked - Interview with Natives at the South Point - Return to Napakiang - Behaviour of the Natives at a Seaman's Funeral - Madera's Character and Conduct - Sociable Habits of the Natives - Dinner given to the Chiefs of the Island by Captain Maxwell - Madera's Behaviour on this Occasion - Two Women seen - A Lady of Rank visits the Boatswain's Wife - Captain Maxwell fractures his Finger - Loo-choo Surgeon - Concern of the Natives - Visit of the Prince - Discussion about the King of Loo-choo's Letter - Madera appears in a new Character - Feast given by the Prince - List of Supplies given to the Ships - Behaviour of the Prince on taking Leave - Preparations for Departure - Madera's Distress - Last Interview \\ith the Chiefs - Brief Memorandums upon the Religion, Manners, and Customs of Loo-choo - Advice to a Stranger visiting this Island .... Page 135

APPENDIX.

Notice explanatory of a Chart of the Gulf of Pe-chee-lee ... v
Notice to accompany the Chart of the West Coast of Corea ... x
Notice to accompany the general Chart of the Great Loo-choo Island in the Japan Sea, and the Charts of Napakiang Roads and Port Melville ... xvii
Observations made at the Observatory at Napakiang ... xxix
Table of Observations made with Dr. Wollaston's Dip Sector: with an Engraving, and a Description of this Instrument, and Directions for its Use ... xxxi
Meteorological Journal, from July to November 1816, while the Ships were in the Yellow and Japan Seas ... li
Abstract of the Lyra's Voyage, from leaving England tilljier Return; shewing the Distance between the different Places at which she touched, and the Time taken in performing each Passage ... cix
Geological Memorandum; being a Description of the Specimens of Rocks collected at Macao and the Ladrone Islands, on the Shores of the Yellow Sea, the West Coast of Corea, and the Great Loo-choo Island ... cxix

VOCABULARY. PART I. - English and Loo-choo words.
PABT II. - Sentences in English and Loo-choo, with a literal Translation. Loo-choo and Japanese Numerals - Names of Persons at Napakiang - Names of Places - Days of the Moon - Orders of Rank - Tattoo Marks - Hours of the Day.
Comparison between the Japanese and Loo-choo Languages. Comparison between the Loo-choo and Insu Languages. Comparison between the Loo-choo, Japanese, and Insu Languages. Corean Words.

Sulphur Island, to face the Title Page
Corean Chief and Secretary .. facing page 16
Napakiang .. facing page 77
Loo-choo Chief and his two Sons .. facing page 97
Priest and Gentleman of Loo-choo .. facing page 132
The Prince of Loo-choo .. facing page 176
Scene after the Prince's Feast .. facing page 196
Gentleman of Loo-choo in his Cloak .. facing page 215
Bridge of Napakiang

APPENDIX.
Chart of the Gulf of Pe-chee-lee
Coast of Corea
Chart of the Great Loo-choo
Island Napakiang Roads
Port Melville Wollaston's Dip Sector

Sulphur Island, to face the Title Page

Corean Chief and Secretary .. facing page 16

Napakiang .. facing page 77

Loo-choo Chief and his two Sons .. facing page 97

Priest and Gentleman of Loo-choo .. facing page 132

The Prince of Loo-choo .. facing page 176

Scene after the Prince's Feast .. facing page 196

Gentleman of Loo-choo in his Cloak .. facing page 215

Bridge of Napakiang

Maps (Foldout).

Track of HMS Lyra, Gulph Petchelee

Napakaing Roads on the SW Side of the
Great Loo Choo Island (Naha - Napha)