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Though Hall accompanied Lord Amherst to China, he did not join him in traveling to the secondary imperial palace at Rehe (aka [[Chengde]]), where Amherst was to meet with the [[Jiaqing Emperor]]. As Amherst and his men found the ritual of ''[[kowtow]]ing'' to the emperor terribly offensive, they made excuses of illness and were encouraged to leave the country, with no further gifts or banquets; this was to be the last British mission to China of that sort.

Though Hall accompanied Lord Amherst to China, he did not join him in traveling to the secondary imperial palace at Rehe (aka [[Chengde]]), where Amherst was to meet with the [[Jiaqing Emperor]]. As Amherst and his men found the ritual of ''[[kowtow]]ing'' to the emperor terribly offensive, they made excuses of illness and were encouraged to leave the country, with no further gifts or banquets; this was to be the last British mission to China of that sort.

In the meantime, however, Hall conducted a survey of the [[East China Sea]] region. This survey included visits to the Kingdom of Ryûkyû and to Joseon Dynasty Korea, during which Hall and his compatriots recorded much about local customs, architecture, geography, language, and so forth. [[Nakijin Choei|Nakijin Chôei]] was appointed by the Ryûkyû royal court to oversee efforts to handle the foreign visitors. Hall and his men sojourned in Ryûkyû from September 15 to October 27, 1816 (8/24 to 9/7 on the Japanese/Ryukyuan calendar).

While the ''Alceste'' remained in China, Hall led a crew aboard the ''Lyra'' to conduct a survey of the [[East China Sea]] region. This survey included visits to the Kingdom of Ryûkyû and to Joseon Dynasty Korea, during which Hall and his compatriots recorded much about local customs, architecture, geography, language, and so forth. They passed [[Io Torishima|Iô Torishima]] on September 13, and [[Iejima]] the following day. On the day after that, September 15, they anchored off-shore near [[Itoman]], rowed to shore, and received water and potatoes from the locals.

 

Hall and his men sojourned in Ryûkyû from September 15 to October 27, 1816 (8/24 to 9/7 on the Japanese/Ryukyuan calendar). ''Fusei dayû'' [[Nakijin Choei|Nakijin Chôei]] (Shô Kokki) was appointed by the court to serve as the lead representative of the kingdom in talking with the foreigners, while Gima ''peechin'' [[Sai Shu|Sai Shû]] served as interpreter.

Upon his return to Europe, Hall is said to have met with Napoleon, then in exile on the island of St. Helena. Hall's description of Ryûkyû to Napoleon, as an utterly peaceful society entirely lacking in arms or armies, played a key role in perpetuating, if not initiating, this myth and stereotype of a pacifist Ryûkyû. In truth, King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]], back in the 16th century, confiscated weapons in order to consolidate power and prevent rebellion against him, and the [[Shimazu clan]] of [[Satsuma han]] did similarly following their [[invasion of Ryukyu|invasion of Ryûkyû]] in [[1609]]; but in neither of these cases was the kingdom fully rid of weapons, nor was it ever done for a pacifistic purpose.<ref>For more on this, see: Gregory Smits, "[http://www.japanfocus.org/-Gregory-Smits/3409 Examining the Myth of Ryukyuan Pacifism]." ''The Asia-Pacific Journal'' 37-3-10 (September 13, 2010).</ref>

Upon his return to Europe, Hall is said to have met with Napoleon, then in exile on the island of St. Helena. Hall's description of Ryûkyû to Napoleon, as an utterly peaceful society entirely lacking in arms or armies, played a key role in perpetuating, if not initiating, this myth and stereotype of a pacifist Ryûkyû. In truth, King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]], back in the 16th century, confiscated weapons in order to consolidate power and prevent rebellion against him, and the [[Shimazu clan]] of [[Satsuma han]] did similarly following their [[invasion of Ryukyu|invasion of Ryûkyû]] in [[1609]]; but in neither of these cases was the kingdom fully rid of weapons, nor was it ever done for a pacifistic purpose.<ref>For more on this, see: Gregory Smits, "[http://www.japanfocus.org/-Gregory-Smits/3409 Examining the Myth of Ryukyuan Pacifism]." ''The Asia-Pacific Journal'' 37-3-10 (September 13, 2010).</ref>