parison with the more imposing squadron of twelve vessels which had been
so repeatedly promised. But as none of these additional vessels had arrived,
and as no calculation could be made as to when they might he looked
for, the Commodore resolved to sail with the inferior force, which he trusted
would so far answer his necessities as not to interfere seriously with the
great object of the expedition, now fairly set out for Japan. The advantages
of steam were folly appreciated in the opportunity it gave of making
a uniformly steady and direct course of ascertained speed—advantages in
which the sailing vessels were made to participate ; for the Saratoga was
taken in tow by the Susquehanna, as the Plymouth was by the Mississippi.
The Commodore’s ship led the van out of Napha and awaited, some five
miles away, between the group of islands situated off the harbor and the
southwestern extremity of the island, the coming up of her consort, as did
the Mississippi for hers. Hawsers then having been passed from the steamers
to the two sloops-of-war, they were respectively taken in tow, and the
squadron fairly started and began the voyage to Yedo.
All seemed very well satisfied to get away from Lew Chew. The picturesque
interests of the island were, for the time being, thoroughly exhausted,
and the dull realities of life began to weigh rather heavily upon the
visitors. Beside, the great object of the expedition was still before them,
and anticipation naturally begat impatience. The weather, too, had become
sultry and excessively oppressive, for the heat had reached the high degree
of 88° Fahrenheit in the coolest part of the Susquehanna while she lay at
anchor in the harbor. The people of Lew Chew, moreover, had not apparently
been very much won over by the blandishments of their courteous
visitors. The supplies with which they at first furnished the squadron had
been gradually falling off, and their consent to receive payment for them
seemed to be the principal change in their policy effected by the long sojourn
of six weeks. Still some progress had been made. Their system of
espionage had become less public and intrusive, although some suspected
that it was as alert as ever though more concealed.
On getting clear of the harbor and stretching beyond the shelter of the
southeastern extremity of the island, a strong wind was encountered from
the east, and as the steamers were deep, it was thought advisable to stand
off on the port tack in order to get well clear of the land, for the vessels in
tow were dragging them to leeward notwithstanding the power of the engines.
In the course of the day, as there was every prospect of weathering
the eastern part of the island, the ships were put on the other tack, and
their course directed for Japan.
The track taken by the squadron east of the chain of islands which
stretch from Formosa to Lew Chew, and thence to Japan, (very properly
called by Blunt the “ Southern,” “ Middle,” and “ Northern 1 groups,) has
been very rarely traversed by the ships of modern nations ; while the islands
on the eastern side of the chain are unknown to our present navigators.
E „ , .
The French admiral, Cecille, in 1846, employed one or more of his
squadron in the exploration of the islands about Lew Chew, and along the
western side of the northern group ; but according to the best authorities,
to which Von Siebold, among others, adds his testimony, the eastern side of
the latter islands has never been visited by any modern navigator. The
principal island of the northern group is called by thé Japanese Oho-sima,
and by the Chinese Tatao; these words meaning in their respective languages,
“ great island.” I t is about the. size, including one or two adjoining
islands in the estimate, of Great Lew Chew, and is probably governed by
similar laws. I t has one chief city and several towns, and the country is
supposed to be highly cultivated. Von Siebold states that the island contains
several good harbors, and it is undoubtedly, in every respect, of sufficient
interest to claim an investigation. The Commodore resolved, at some
subsequent period, to send some vessel of the squadron to make a proper
survey.
The Susquehanna and the accompanying ships were- probably the first
either of European or American vessels that ever passed along the entire
extent of the northern group. Von Siebold asserts that Broughton saw the
northeast point, and that Captain Guerin, of the French corvette Sabine,
traced the western shore in 1848. I t was probably Oho-sima, the principal
island of the group, that was seen by Commander Glynn in 1848, and. which
he supposed to be a new discovery. The islets which he speaks of having
seen, bearing N. N. W., were the Cleopatra islands, examined two years before
by one of the vessels of Admiral Cecille’s squadron.
Von Siebold’s charts, appended to his great work on Japan, and compiled
by him, show these islands pretty accurately laid down, and it was
found that the observations made on board the Susquehanna gave such bearings
of the principal headlands of Oho-sima as correspond tolerably well
with the position as given by Von Siebold. A current is said to be continually
setting from these islands to the northward and eastward; or, as the
islanders say, it always goes to Japan and never comes back. This was,
however, found to be of no great strength during the passage of the Susquehanna,
although it must be acknowledged to be a matter of difficulty to
estimate in a steamer the rapidity and direction of currents, as they are
generally over-logged, or in other words, surpassed in speed by the rate of
going of the vessel. There is, moreover, another difficulty in consequence
of the backward movement given to the water by the evolution of the paddle
wheels of a steamship.
The third day of the voyage, being the fourth day of July, 1853,
brought with it a lively remembrance of home, as it was the seventy-seventh
anniversary of our national holiday. The day opened fresh and pleasant,