mg. I t made its appearance in the southward and westward and illuminated
the whole atmosphere. The spars, sails, and hulls of the ships reflected its
glare as distinctly as though a blue light were burning from each vessel at
the same time. Prom the southward and westward, and about fifteen degrees
above the horizon, it pursued a northeastwardly course in a direct line
for a long distance, when it fell gradually toward the sea and disappeared.
Its form was that of a large blue sphere with a red, wedge-shaped tail,
which it could easily he observed was formed of ignited particles which resembled
the sparks of a rocket as they appear upon its explosion. 1 The
ancients,” remarks the Commodore, “ would have construed this remarkable
appearance of the heavens as a favorable omen for any enterprise they had
undertaken,” and adds “ it may be so construed by us, as we pray God that
our present attempt to bring a singular and isolated people into the family
of civilized nations may succeed without resort to bloodshed.”
As the sun rose next morning, gradually lifting the mist which had been
spread during the night upon the surface of the bay, and still curtained, here
and there, the land with its fleecy festoons, a beautiful view was disclosed.
A bold shore, occasionally broken by steep escarpments of bare gray rock,
extended along the western or Sagami side of the bay, with an undulating
surface brightly green with verdure, tufts of undergrowth, and scattered
groups of trees. Further inland the earth rose in a range of gently swelling
hills, the sides of which were covered with vegetation. Two. miles below
the anchorage, the shore was less abrupt, and seemed more cultivated.
From Uraga to the entrance of the inner bay of Yedo, marked by a promontory
a mile and a half distant, innumerable towns and villages were
grouped along the shores on either side. Uraga embraces two of these
towns, separated from each other by a cliff; through the larger one of which
a river passes and empties into the harbor, where floated a great number of
small boats and several junks. As most of the vessels bound up the bay
were seen to stop in their course at Uraga, that place was supposed to be an
entrepot where certain custom dues had to be paid. Forts could be seen on
the headlands here and there commanding the harbor, and as they were examined
through the glass, some of them were found to be in an unfinished
state, and in progress of construction or alteration. Some were mounted
with cannon, though apparently of no great calibre, while others were without
a gun. A length of screens had been stretched for a distance of several
rods upon posts in front of the breastworks, as well as inside the forts
behind the embrasures, and along parts of the shore. In the distance these
screens seemed to be composed of cloth, and were marked with white and
black stripes. Their purpose was not very obvious, although it was surmised
that they were got up with the intention of making a false show of
concealed force. The Japanese probably had not calculated upon the exactness
of view afforded by a Dolland’s telescope or a French opera glass.
.................................
Companies of soldiers, in glaring scarlet uniforms, were seen to pass from
garrison to garrison, some bearing flags with various insignia, and others
large lanterns upon tall poles. The shore was lined with a formidable show
of the same sort of government boats as had surrounded the ships on their
arrival. They seemed to be picketed off from the town by two red flags
which had been planted on the shore between them and the houses on the
land.
The first approach to the Susquehanna from the shore was that of a boat
at early sunrise next morning (July 9th), apparently containing a corps of
artists, who came close to the ship’s side, but making no attempt to come
on board, busied themselves in taking sketches of the strange vessels. The
important visit of the day, however, came off at seven o’clock, when two
large boats rowed alongside, one of which contained a half dozen officials,
whose presence was indicated by the three-striped flag at the stern. The
interpreter who spoke Dutch was with them, and announced that the personage
of highest authority in the city was present, and desired to come on
board. The arrival of Keyamon Yezaimen (for such was his name), who
presented himself as the governor and greatest functionary of Uraga, thus
plainly contradicting the declaration of the vice-governor of the day before,
was then duly announced to the Commodore, who ordered that his highness
should be received by Commanders Buchanan and Adams and Lieutenant
Contee, the Commodore himself still refusing, in accordance with his policy,
to receive any one but a counsellor of the Empire. The governor was
attired, in character with his high position, as a noble of the third rank. He
wore a rich silk robe of an embroidered pattern resembling the feathers of a
peacock, with borders of gold and silver. He was duly received by the officers
we have named, and immediately commenced with them a conference, which,
however, was in reality with the Commodore, though he still preserved his
seclusion. The governor, after a long discussion, in which he more than
once'declared that the Japanese laws made it impossible that the President’s
letter should be received at Uraga, and that, even if it were, the answer
would be sent to Nagasaki, added also that the squadron must proceed
thither. In answer to this he was most distinctly told that the Commodore
would never consent to such an arrangement, and would persist in delivering
the letter where he was; and, moreover, that if the Japanese government
did not see fit to appoint a suitable person to receive the documents in his
possession addressed to the Emperor that he, the Commodore, whose duty it
was to deliver them, would go on shore with a sufficient force and deliver
them in person, be the consequences what they might.
In answer to this, the governor said that he would return to the city
and send a communication to Yedo, asking for further instructions, and he
added that it would take fo u r days to obtain a reply. One hour’s steaming
would have taken the ships in sight of Yedo, and so the governor was
18