may hare been caused by the apprehension that he might be wanting in
some of the proprieties of etiquette at an American dinner table. Perhaps,
too, he was not without his fears that, surrounded as he knew himself to he
by spies, his visit might bring in its train some unpleasant political consequences.
His dress consisted of a dark purple or violet-colored robe and a
cap of crimson. The treasurers, both old men, with wrinkled faces and
scanty grey beards, wore similar caps, while their robes were yellow. The
mayor was attired in a robe of pearl-white grass cloth, and had on his head
a crimson cap. The hair of all was put up with massive gold pins, and
their girdles were of rich Chinese silk. These various dresses were presumed
to he official, and in their diversity of color indicative of difference
of rank. The inferior attendants who stood behind these dignitaries were
dressed in blue and yellow with scarlet caps.
Knives and forks were placed, in our usual fashion, for each guest. The
first seemed to he very much in the way of the Lew Chewans; with the last
they did better, and showed some dexterity in making them answer the
purpose of chop sticks. This, however, was a matter of but little moment,
as, he the implements used what they may, hungry men will contrive in some
mode to convey food to their mouths, and the Lew Chewans, like sensible
men, manifested no intention of avoiding awkwardness at such a heavy
price as the loss of a good dinner; and the dinner was very good. Turtle
soup, goose, kid curry, and various other delicacies formed part of the feast,
which was spread with bountiful profusion. To the soup the mayor and
treasurer did ample justice, and in their appreciation of its excellence
were not unworthy rivals of a London Alderman. The cabin was sultry,
and as the feast proceeded the guests grew warmer, (for they were very
much in earnest,) until finally they asked permission to remove their caps,
and this having been done, the attendant of each, standing behind, vigorously
fanned the uncovered head of his master.. Punch followed the soup,
and furnished them with a new gustatory enjoyment. They had given the
Commodore some of their saki, and he was now resolved to give them a
taste of the saki made in all other parts of the world. So there were
Prench and German wines, Scotch and American whiskey, madeira and
sherry, and the gin of Holland, winding up with the sweet, smooth, strong
maraschino, which decidedly, in their estimation, bore away the palm. They
smacked their lips and shut their eyes at each sip of the limpid delicacy,
and, in short, showed hut a very sorry appreciation of the virtue of temperance.
And while they were thus almost equalling Christendom in genteel
dissipation, Mr. Heine, at the small table, was making a sketch of the
group, and Mr. Portman was taking a portrait of the regent.
After feeding heartily on the substantials, they asked leave to smoke
their pipes; it was of course accorded, and the chief treasurer, after a few
whiffs, presented his, with the embroidered tobacco pouch attached, to the
Commodore. The mayor and other treasurers followed his example by
handing theirs to Captains Buchanan and Adams. There seemed to he no
end to the capacity of stomach in some of these officials. Preserved
oysters and other articles of food sealed up in America, excited an admiration
as boundless as their appetites. Part of the dessert consisted of melons
and bananas brought from the Bonin Islands. These took them completely
captive, and they begged that they might carry some home to their wives.
They were, of course, told to do so; and forthwith the loose folds of each
one’s robe above his girdle were converted into a pocket, and loaded with
what it would hold.
When things had reached this stage, there was hut too much reason to
fear that “ the tide of wine and wassail was fast gaining on the dry land of
sober judgment.” All reserve was now fully thawed out. The quiet repose
of a calm contentment sat enthroned on the shining face of the jolly old
mayor of Napha. The wrinkled visages of the two withered old treasurers
flushed and expanded into rubicund fullness. The regent alone preserved
his silent, anxious demeanor, and all he drank was neutralized in its effects
by his excessive dignity. He appeared cordial and friendly hut once, and
that was when the Commodore offered him an assortment of American
garden seeds and vegetables. These he promised to plant and carefully
cultivate. The Commodore had previously landed, as a present, cattle and
buffaloes; these he also promised should he carefully looked to and their
offspring preserved.
The hand had been playing on the deck while the guests were feasting,
and when the weightier part of the festival was over the Commodore ordered
down some of the more expert performers, to play solos on the flageolet,
hautboy, clarionet, and comet-a-piston. The regent listened attentive^
hut the mayor and treasurers were too busy in stowing away the epular
fragments to he moved by any “ concord of sweet sounds.” Coffee was
offered them, under the name of “ American tea.” They did not relish it,
and resorted once more to their pipes. The attendants had not been forgotten.
They had enjoyed an abundance of meat and drink in the steward’s
pantry, and relished it quite as much as their masters. But all earthly
enjoyment must have an end, and the feast at last was over. The guests
were put on shore at'Tumai, leaving the ship under a salute of three guns;
and so ended the dinner given to the regent on hoard the Susquehanna.
The return to Lew Chew afforded to some of the officers an opportunity
of making further examinations as .to the external aspect of the island, and
of catching further glimpses of the habits and pursuits of the inhabitants.
One of the gentlemen attached to the Saratoga thus describes the result of
one of his explorations:
“ Rambled over the hill this afternoon to a most remarkable village.
Approaching toward the spot, it appeared to be a thick swamp of green