They replied, that they would leave the time of the visit to be named
by the Commodore, and he stated that he would prefer it should he made
after his return. To this they assented with seeming satisfaction. The
next step in the ceremonies consisted in the regent’s taking several large red
cards, similar to those used on state occasions in China, when he and his three
companions rose, advanced a few steps, and bowed profoundly. The Commodore
and all the officers rose and bowed in return, but without precisely
understanding what the homage of the Lew Chewans particularly meant;
they were determined, however, not to be outdone in the outward symbols
of civility.
The Commodore then tendered to the regent such articles as he might
need or desired to possess, provided he had them on board any of the ships,
adding that it would give him pleasure to supply them. Hereupon the four
dignitaries rose again, advanced, and bowed as before. The interview was
becoming rather uninteresting, and it was quite plain that the magnates of
Lew Chew were, from some cause or other, not quite at their ease.
After about an hour the regent rose and proposed that the Commodore
should visit him now, at his own house. This was alike intelligible and
agreeable, and the procession was formed and marched to the street where it
had been invited to enter on its way to the palace. The house of the regent
was spacious, consisting of a central hall, with wings open to the court-yard,
from which it was separated by a narrow verandah only. The floor was
covered with fine matting. I t was at once apparent that most hospitable
preparations had here been made for the entertainment of the American
visitors. Four tables were set in the central apartment and three in each
of the wings, and these were covered with a most bountiful collation.
Immediately on entering the guests were desired to seat themselves, the
Commodore, with Captains Buchanan and Adams, occupying the highest
table on the right hand, and the regent and his associates the one opposite
on the left. A pair of chop-sticks was placed at each corner of every table;
in the centre was an earthen pot filled with saki, (the intoxicating drink
made by the Lew Chewans,) surrounded with four acorn cups, four large,
coarse China cups, with clumsy spoons of the same material, and four teacups.
On each table were dishes to the number of some twenty, of various
sizes and shapes, and the exact basis of some of which no American knowetb
to this day, possibly it was pig. Of the dishes, however, which were
familiar to western apprehension, there were sliced boiled eggs, which had
been dyed crimson, fish made into rolls and boiled in fat, pieces of cold
baked fish, slices of hog’s liver, sugar candy, cucumbers, mustard, salted
raddish tops, and fragments of lean pork, fried. Cups of tea were first
handed round; these were followed by very small cups of saki, which had
the taste of French liqueur. Small bamboo sticks, sharpened at one end,
and which some of the guests mistook for toothpicks, were furnished, to be
used as forks in taking balls of meat and dough from the soup, which made
the first course. Soup constituted also the next seven courses of the twelve,
whereof the repast consisted. The other four were gingerbread, salad made
of bean sprouts and young onion tops, a basket of what appeared to be some
dark red fruit, but proved to be artificial balls composed of a thin dough
rind covering a sugary pulp, and a delicious mixture compounded of beaten
eggs and a slender white root with an aromatic taste.
Novel as was this bill of fare, the gentlemen of the expedition endeavored,
with true courtesy, to do honor to the repast, and at the end of the
twelfth course respectfully took leave, though they were assured there
were twelve more to come. The number of the courses indicated the
desire to do our countrymen a double share of honor, inasmuch as twelve
is the prescribed number for a royal entertainment. The Lew Chewans, far
removed as they are from the conventionalities of western civilization,
seemed, notwithstanding, to understand very well the habit of drinking
toasts and giving sentiments, and, indeed, were ready enough to drink, on
private account, without any stately formality, as the saki circulated freely
during the eight courses of soup. When the Commodore supposed the
solids were about to appear, he rose, and proposed as a toast the health of
the queen mother and the young viceroy, adding, “ Prosperity to the Lew
Chewans, and may they and the Americans always be friends.” This,
having been translated to the regent, appeared greatly to gratify him, and
was drunk standing, with Lew Chew honors, which consist of draining the
small cup of saki, holding a teaspoon full, at one gulp, and turning the
vessel bottom upward. The Commodore afterward proposed the health of
the regent and his associates, which the latter returned by proposing the
health of the Commodore and the officers of the squadron. By this time
the embarrassment and anxious looks of the Japanese officials had entirely
vanished; from what cause they had proceeded our officers could not learn,
but most probably from the consciousness that they were under espionage,
and that all they said or did would be reported to those above them. The
entertainment, however, proceeded and terminated with the best possible
feeling on both sides.
The interpreter of the regent was a young native, named Ichirazichi,
who had been educated at Pekin, where he remained three years. He could
speak a little English, but the Chinese was the language of communication.
This youth had some knowledge both of the United States history and
geography. He was not unacquainted with the character and conduct of
Washington, and called him “ a very great mandarin.” Where is it that
the honored name of the Father of our country, this man for all time, this
man, whose peerless purity is the proud heritage of a common humanity
the world over, has not reached ? I t is heard in the Arab tent, and in the
Chinese village, under the shades of Lew Chew, and in the cities of Japan,