was observed ashore. Such, too, was their courteous and serupulous regard
for the interests and property of their visitors, that they actually took the
trouble of sending to the squadron, then at a distance of twenty miles, a hogshead
of bituminous coal, which had been thrown overboard on lightening the
ship, and subsequently washed ashore.
Next morning (February 13), after the Macedonian had been relieved
from her hazardous position in the bight of Kawatsu, near Kama-kura, the
whole squadron moved up the Bay of Yedo, sailing in a line ahead, the Lexington,
Yandalia, and Macedonian being in tow respectively of the Susquehanna,
Powhatan, and Mississippi. With the experience of navigation acquired
during the previous visit, there was no occasion for the ships to feel
their way, but they passed along the magnificent bay with confidence, bringing
into view at each turn various points of the land on either side, which
had now the aspect of familiar ground.
The precipitous coasts of Sagami rose bleakly in the winter atmosphere
on the left, while far inland could be seen the lofty ranges of the mountains
covered with snow, and the high peak of Fusi-Yama, about the lofty summit
of which the clouds were scudding in rapid succession. There was the
distant coast of Awa, some twelve miles away on the opposite side, and along
the shores everywhere were the numberless villages and towns, though snugly
reposing under the cover of the high land which rose behind them, yet looking
desolate and exposed, in comparison with their former aspect of rural
comfort when nestling in the full-leaved groves of summer. Abreast was
the town of G-orihama, the scene of the delivery of the President’s letter, and
in front extended out from the land the promontory of Uraga, with its harmless
forts, and as the ships doubled it and came abreast the city, numerous
government boats, with their athletic oarsmen sculling vigorously, and their
little striped flags fluttering in the wind, pushed off to intercept the squadron,
as on the previous visit. The Japanese officials, however, who had risen from
their places midships, and seemed to be directing their boats towards the
squadron, were warned off, and the strangers moved majestically on, with
their train of formidable men-of-war, without altering their course a line, or
lingering a moment in their speed until they reached the anchorage, at three
o’clock in the afternoon (February 13). The government boats were left in
the distance, but were seen sculling rapidly along and following in the wake
of the squadron.
The position in which the three steamers and the four ships, including
the Southampton, which had preceded the squadron, had anchored, was named
in the previous visit, the “ American anchorage.” I t is within the bight
embraced within two bold headlands, about twelve miles distant from each
other, on the western side of the Bay of Yedo. The anchorage was about
twelve miles beyond the town of Uraga, and about twenty miles from the
capital city of Yedo. The Island which had been called Perry’s, and which
presented such a picturesque aspect during the summer with its pleasant
groves, was seen as the squadron passed up, and the fort which covered its
summit could be more distinctly traced through the trees, which had been
stripped of their foliage by the frost and winds of winter
The villages of Otsu and Torigasaki, no longer embowered in green
growth, stood out from the land a mile or so distant, in all the sharpness of
outline and staring surface of their peak-roofed and boarded houses. The an
chorage, though protected by tbe bounding headlands and the curved shore,
had less of that sheltered look which it had previously presented.
The squadron had hardly come to anchor when two the governmen
boats, which had followed rapidly in the wake of the ships, came alongside
the Susquehanna. The Japanese officials requested to be admitted on board,
but as the Commodore had caused the extra or captain’s cabin to be removed
from the steamer Susquehanna to the Powhatan, m view of changing his
flag to that ship preparatoryto the return of the former to China, and as in
accordance with the system of exclusiveness which it was thought politic still
to continue, the Commodore could not admit them, as they were of subordinate
authority, into his own cabin, he directed Captain Adams to receive the
officials on board the Powhatan. I
Captain Adams, having been charged by the Commodore with precise
and special instructions to hear all the Japanese had to say, but to give them
no unnecessary information, nor to promise anything, proceeded to the steamer
Powhatan, accompanied by the interpreters, Messrs. Williams and Port-
man, and the Commodore’s secretary, Mr. Perry.
The government boats followed, and the Japanese deputation came on
board the Powhatan. I t consisted of a high dignitary, who was announced
as Kura-kawa-kahie, the two interpreters who had formerly officiated, three
grey-robed individuals, who seemed to be making excellent use of their eyes,
and turned out to be metshe dwantmger, literally cross-eyed persons, or those
who look in all directions, in other words spies or reporters. They were all
received with one form of ceremony, and ushered into the cabin, where the
object of their visit was set forth at length. Some preliminary conversation
took place, in the course of which inquiries having been made about Yezaiman,
the governor of Uraga, who had taken so prominent a part m the negotiations
on the previous visit, the Japanese stated that that dignitary was unwell,
but would probably soon pay his respects to the Commodore. Questions
were also asked and answered in regard to the ships, their number, their
names, and those that were to come. The usual compliments, of which the
Japanese officials seemed never weary or forgetful, having passed they stated
that their business was to endeavor to induce the Commodore to return to
Uraga, where, they said, there were two high Japanese officials, m waiting,
and that more were expected, who had been appointed by Emperor to