and the men were prepared to get np some amateur theatrioals, and otherwise
to celebrate the occasion; but the weather becoming unfavorable, and
other circumstances interfering, it was deemed advisable, much to the disappointment
of the sailors, to dispense with the show by which they had intended
to give exhibition to their patriotism. The occasion, however, was
duly honored by the firing of a salute of seventeen guns from each vessel of
the squadron, and by the serving of an additional ration of grog to Jack,
while the officers brought to bear also the resources of their various messes,
to give due enjoyment and impressiveness to the day. All on board were
allowed to feel that it was a holiday, in a respite from the usual muster at
general quarters and exercises at the great guns and small arms, which had
been kept up during the passage with great strictness and regularity, in order
that the squadron might be prepared for any event on its arrival at Japan.
The weather, although generally warm, varied, and thus, while some
days were excessively hot and oppressive, others were tolerably cool and
pleasant. The winds occasionally blew with considerable freshness, and
mostly from the east, but frequently there was hardly a breath of air to be
felt, and, consequently, with a temperature which reached 88° in the coolest
place on deck, all on board suffered greatly from the intense heat. And,
indeed, the still heat and clear atmosphere which were experienced, even on
a close approach to the shores of Japan, did not seem to confirm what has
been said, and what was expected, of the cool and foggy climate of that
country.
At sunset on Thursday, the 7th of July, the squadron was, according to
observation, about forty miles from Cape Negatsuo, or Idzu, as it is otherwise
called. In consequence of this proximity, the heads of the ships were
put off shore from midnight until four o’clock next morning, when, not only
the eape was seen from the masthead, but several of the islands to the eastward,
called by Von Siebold Goebroken EUander, (the Broken islands,) as
well as the larger two of the group, bearing the Japanese names of Tosi-
sima and Likine-sima. The morning was fine, though the atmosphere was
so hazy that there was but an indistinct view of the outline of the precipitous
coast. , Through the mist, however, the bold promontory of Idzu could
be seen rising loftily out of the sea, and stretching back to the interior of
Nippon in a crowd of mountainous elevations. The Susquehanna’s course,
as the leading ship, was laid directly for the entrance to the bay of Yedo,
and as she passed the precipitous land of Cape Idzu she came up with a
low, barren, and apparently uninhabited islet of about three-fourths of a
mile in length, known as Rock island. There is a passage between this and
the promontory which bounds the main land, and, although broken with several
rocky islets, it is navigable. The United States ship-of-the-line Columbus
took that course, although the other, on the outer side of Rock island,
the one pursued by the Morrison, was preferred, and was accordingly taken
by the Commodore, who passed within a mile and a half of the island. As
the squadron sailed up the coast some eight or ten junks hove in sight, and
two or three of them were observed soon to change their course and to
turn back toward the shore, as if to announce the arrival of strangers.
The morning seemed to confirm the reputed character of the Japanese
climate, for the atmosphere was so thiek and hazy that the extent of view
was unfortunately very much restricted, and it was not possible to get a distinct
outline of lie shore until the squadron came to anchor off the city of
Uraga. The steamer, in spite of a wind, moved on with all sails furled, at
the rate of eight or nine knots, much to the astonishment of the crews of
the Japanese fishing junks gathered along the shore or scattered over the
surface of the mouth of the bay, who stood up in their boats, and were evidently
expressing the liveliest surprise at the sight of the first steamer ever
beheld in Japanese waters.
As the day advanced the sun came out with a brighter lustre, glistening
upon the broad sails of the junks within view, and dispelling the mist,
through the openings of which the lofty summits and steep lava-scarred sides
of the promontory of Idzu and its mountain chains, now left rapidly behind,
could occasionally be discovered. Crossing the mouth of the bay of
Sagami, with Vries’ island, or Oo-sima, as it is called, on the starboard, the
ships moved in toward Cape Sagami. The Great Rusi, now, as the fog occasionally
lifted, rose to view behind the head of the bay of Sagami, and its
cone-like summit was disclosed, rising to an enormous height, far inland, and
covered with a white cap, but whether of snow or of fleecy clouds it was
impossible to distinguish. The boats showed themselves more cautiously as
the vessels entered the bay; but one was overtaken by the steamers, and
those on board seemed in a terrible state of excitement, letting drop its
broad sails, and taking to their oars, which they used with all their might,
as they were evidently anxious to give a wide berth to the squadron.
As the ships neared the bay, signals were made from the Commodore,
and instantly the decks were cleared for action, the guns placed in position
and shotted, the ammunition arranged, the small arms made ready, sentinels
and men at their posts, and, in short, all the preparations made, usual before
meeting an enemy. About noon Cape Sagami was reached, when the
squadron came to, for about ten minutes, and a signal was made for all captains
to go on board the flag-ship and receive their orders from the Commodore.
This done, the vessels now continued their course, and soon came up
with the peninsula of Sagami, at the south end of which a town was observed.
Wlien the squadron had approached within two miles of the land
a fleet of large boats, amounting to more than a dozen, pushed off in the direction
of the ships, with the seeming intention of visiting them. They
were, however, not waited for, and were soon left behind, much puzzled,
doubtless, by the rapid progress of the steamers against the wind. The