compose the higher and ruling classes, and, as in those countries, are prepared
for official position by a diligent study of the doctrines of Confucius
and Menoius. In fact, the young men belonging to families of rank are
ordinarily sent to China to complete their education, and fit them for their
positions as officers of the government. The exclusive policy of Japan is
that also of lew Chew, and was rigidly adhered to until dissolved by the
intercourse of the Americans under Commodore Perry. The system of espionage
pervades the whole government from the administration 6f the
highest to the lowest official. Most of the higher classes seem to have little
else to do than to watch every word and movement of the people, and form
a large body of indolent non-producers, who live idly upon the hard tasked
laborers of the lower classes, who are treated with all the rigor of social
servitude. The country is supposed to have been conquered, centuries ago,
by a Japanese prince of Satsuma, to the successor of whom it is believed to
be tributary, although there are some relations not well understood with
China.
The religion of Lew Chew is, as we have before stated, the generally
prevalent Buddhism of the east, with a mixture of various idolatries peculiar
to the island; there are, however, not many temples in Lew Chew, and
those which exist do not attract a very large or a very devoted class of worshippers.
As in China and Japan, a general skepticism or religious indifference
seems to exist, particularly among the literati, or higher classes.
The Bonzes, or priests, however, are treated with greater reverence in Lew
Chew than in most oriental countries, though they have the same forlorn
look, and go about, with their shaven crowns and fusty garments, like similar
miserable mendicants in China.
Great reverence is paid to the dead in Lew Chew, where they are put in
coffins in a sitting posture, and, being followed by the friends and relations
and a procession of women in long white veils which cover their heads and
faces, are interred in well built stone vaults, or tombs constructed in the
sideB of the hills. After the body has been interred for a period of seven
years and all the flesh is decayed, the bones are removed and deposited in
stone vases, which are placed upon shelves within the vaults. The poor
people place the remains of their dead in earthen jars, and deposit them in
the crevices of the rocks, where they are often to be seen broken and disarranged.
Periodical visits are paid by the surviving friends and relations to
the burial places, where they deposit offerings upon the tombs. On the first
interment of the rich dead, roast pigs and other articles of food are offered,
and after being allowed to remain for a short time, are distributed among
the poor.
During the explorations of the island of Lew Chew, which were so effectively
prosecuted by the Bev. Mr. Jones, Mr. Taylor, Drs. Pahs, Greene, and
others, under the direction of the Commodore, and which resulted in the obtaining
of so much new information in regard to a singular people, of whom little
has been previously known to the world, there were many specimens obtained
of their various fabrics and of their natural productions, and particularly of
their botany, which have been brought to the United States for the investigation
of the scientific and the interest of the curious.
The purposes of the Commodore in regard to the island had been so far
effectively carried out. The building for the storing of coal had been completed,
the temple appropriated for the accommodation of the sick and others
of the squadron, whose duties made it necessary for them to reside on shore,
had been secured, and those supplies obtained which were necessary for the
squadron. With an occasional faint demur on the part of the authorities,
they continued to accept payment for the various articles needed, and with
their growing willingness to sell came an increased demand for higher prices.
The friendly intercourse of the Americans with the inhabitants of the island
had undoubtedly greatly contributed to their advantage. The most scrupulous
regard had been observed toward the rights of the authorities and other
classes, and they all were becoming less reserved. I t was not an unreasonable
inference, from the favorable disposition of the Lew Chewan people toward
relations with a higher civilization, and from a seeming sense on their part
of the oppressive tyranny of their absolute rulers, that they would rejoice
in being placed in a political position that might render them independent of
Japanese despotism.
A more demonstrative indication of the friendly feeling of the Lew
Chewans for their foreign visitors would have been shown probably had it
not been for the numerous Japanese agents and spies who were ever on the
watch to notice and report to the imperial government every event that
transpired, and to make those who manifested any friendship toward the
Americans accountable at some future time.
The Commodore, being detained at Napha in negotiations with the authorities,
thought it advisable to dispatch some of the sailing vessels of the
squadron to Yedo bay, with the intention of following soon after with his
steamers. He expected to arrive, with the advantages of steam in his
favor, in Japan at about the same time with those who had preceded him in
their departure.
Accordingly, Captain Abbot sailed on the first of February in the Macedonian,
in company with the Yandalia, Lexington, and Southampton.
The Commodore followed on the seventh of February, with the steamers
Susquehanna, Powhatan, and Mississippi. The storeship Supply had been
got ready, and was ordered to sail on the next day after the Commodore’s
departure for Shanghai, there to take on board a cargo of coal and some live
stock, and proceed to join the squadron in Yedo bay.
I t had been arranged that Dr. Bettleheim, who had been superseded by
another English missionary, a Mr. Moreton, should have a passage for himself
and family in the Supply to Shanghai.