The ship engaged a so-called "Chinese linguist," that is a go-between interpreter, who measured the ship and negotiated the payments the ship would pay and set a timew to meet with the Hoppo.
The ship engaged a so-called "Chinese linguist," that is, a representative of the Hoppo to be go-between interpreter. The linguist measured the ship to determine its capacity, negotiated the payments the ship would pay, and set a time to meet with the Hoppo.