or people of the island, or to use any force, except in self-defence. In fact,
there was not likely to be any occasion for violence, as the Americans already
possessed all necessary influence in Lew Chew, which had been acquired by
kindness and non-interference with the laws and customs of the island.
The arrival of the Saratoga from Shanghai had been expected for some
days previous to the Commodore’s departure from Napha, and, as she had
not arrived before his setting out, it was thought probable that the squadron
would fall in with her outside the harbor. Accordingly, the steamer’s course
was directed to the westward of Lew Chew, in view of intercepting the
track of the Saratoga, and it so happened that the steamers had scarcely
cleared the harbor when a sail was discovered standing toward the island,
which, on approaching nearer, was ascertained, by signal, to be the long
looked-for ship. Captain Walker, who was in command of the Saratoga,
soon came on board the Susquehanna, and received orders to proceed direct
to the American anchorage in Yedo Bay. Upon his return to his ship,
after sending some live stock brought from Shanghai for the squadron, and
three packages containing presents for the Japanese authorities, he bore away
with the intention of taking the passage east of Lew Chew.
The passage of the steamers, until the islands lying at the entrance of
the great Bay of Yedo were made, was pleasant and by no means protracted.
The northern group of the Lew Chew chain, composed of the islands of
Oho-sima, or as the Chinese call it Ta-tao, Tok-sima, Batona-sima, and
Kikai-sima, were passed in full view. There was an opportunity, which was
improved, of establishing with some accuracy the positions of several of the
headlands on the western side of Oho-sima and the islets named by Captain
Guerin, of the French corvette Sabine, Cleopatra islands. In passing these
islands, Commodore Perry was reminded of an order he had received from
the Secretary of the Navy to investigate, and report upon, a question touching
the original discovery of Oho-sima, by Commander Glynn, in February,
1846> he being at the time in command of the United States sloop-of-war
Preble. A diligent investigation was accordingly made, and the results
embodied in a communication to the Navy Department. The island represented
to have been seen in June, 1849, and described in Commander Glynn’s
letter to Commodore Jones, dated February 21, 1850, as bearing in a southeasterly
direction from the Preble, and as a new discovery, is called in the
Japanese charts, Oho-sima, and by the Chinese, Ta-tao. The islets stated
to have been discovered at the same time, and described as bearing north-
northwest, were examined, in 1846, by Captain Guerin, of the Sabine, and
named by him, “ Cleopatra Isles.” The latter, as well as others lying contiguous
to Oho-sima, were distinctly seen from the decks of the several ships
of the squadron, during the present voyage, on February 8, 1854. Sketches
of the islands were taken, and their positions established by cross bearings
taken from the steamer Susquehanna, at noon, after good observations. The
results were as follows:
South end of Cleopatra Isles, latitude 28° 48' N., longitude 128
30" E. ’ ’
North end of Oho-sima, latitude 28° 29’ N., longitude 129° 30' E.
Oho-sima is the principal of what may be called the northern group of
the Lew Chew chain, which, in connection with the Mijako-sima, and other
islands commencing with the Cleopatra, extend from near the north end of
Formosa to Kiusiu, the southwestern extremity of Japan proper. The
three groups of Mijako-sima, Great Lew Chew, or Okinawa-sima, and Oho-
sima, should be denominated the southern, middle, and northern Lew Chew
islands, the central government being established at the city of Shui, in the
island of Great Lew Chew. Of the people and government of these islands
little is known, but it is presumed that they are all subject to an intermediate
sovereignty between Lew Chew and the Empire of Japan, or possibly
the Japanese prince of Satsuma. This potentate is stated by Yon Siebold
to receive about 2,240,000 guilders, or nearly $900,000, annually, from the
Lew Chew islands. Oho-sima is in circumference nearly one hundred and
fifty English miles, and bears in its external aspect, with its mountains and
richly verdant valleys, a considerable resemblance to Great Lew Chew. I t
is represented by various writers to be thickly populated, having all the
advantages of cities, towns, villages, and commodious ports. I t is surprising
that it has never hitherto been visited by any Christian voyager.
The Mijako-sima islands have been more than once visited by foreign
vessels, and during the progress of the Japan expedition, by the Saratoga,
whose officers described the inhabitants as being in language, manners, customs,
and appearance, almost identical with the people of Lew Chew. And
it is reasonable to infer that this, in common with the other inhabited islands
of the chain, has been peopled for many hundreds of years. The Mijako-
sima group was ascertained to be governed by officers appointed by the king
and council of Great Lew Chew, who are frequently changed, m conformity
with the policy practised throughout Japan and its dependencies.
The Cleopatra islands are only two in number, lying in close proximity
to each other, and are small and uninhabited. They are cone-shaped, and
evidently of volcanic origin, the craters being clearly visible, the larger one
of which has been estimated at 1,650 feet in height. The geographical position
of all this chain of islands, extending from Formosa to Japan proper,
would seem to be so arranged as to suit the convenience of the commerce of
the unskilful Japanese navigators, who sail in their frail open-stemed vessels
from island to island, always being careful to have a port under their lee,
into which to escape on the least approach of foul weather.
On entering, upon the 11th of February, the outer Bay of Yedo, or as it
may be more suitably termed, the Gulf of Yedo, including the space em