short distance from Buisako islet, and has a sharp edge with eleven feet of
water upon it. A red spar-buoy indicates its position.
The general discipline of the squadron had been excellent during the
whole expedition, and under circumstances calculated to test, with some de-
oTee of severity, the government of the officers and the obedience of the
men. From the necessity of conciliating the strange people of Japan, and
conforming, in some respects, to their habits of non-intercourse with foreigners,
it required great tact, on the part of those having authority on board
ship, to reconcile the natural desire of occasional liberty on the part of the
sailors with the rigid reserve of the Japanese. This was, however, accomplished
with general success, and there was but little occasion for any but the
ordinary exercise of the rules of discipline to secure the preservation of that
good order which was the characteristic of all the ships of the squadron.
Neglect of duty and small offences were promptly rebuked and punished by
the usual penalties, and great severity was rarely called for. On the 19th
of April, however, it was found necessary to convene a general court-martial
on board the Mississippi for the trial of several seamen, and the result
was the finding of two of the men guilty of desertion. I t was, however,
but technical desertion, consisting in what Jack calls “ French,” meaning
“ taking French leave,” by wandering off from a boat ashore, without permission,
to look for drink. The laws of the service, however, properly enough,
deem such conduct desertion. The sentence was duly read in all the ships
of the squadron, and the delinquents suffered the usual penalty of confinement
for a time and stoppage of pay.
On the third day after reaching Simoda, April 21st, the Commodore,
accompanied by a small suite of officers, landed, and paid an official visit to
Kura-Kawa-Kahei, the prefect. The party was received with the usual
f o r m a l courtesies by the Japanese official and Moryama Yenoske, who had
come to Simoda to exercise his functions as an interpreter, and to aid, by
his experience, in carrying out the conditions of the treaty just negotiated at
Kanazawa. The Commodore, after partaking of refreshments, walked
through the town to take a general survey, and entered various temples,
which are the chief objects of interest to the stranger at Simoda. On .his
return to the ship he was accompanied by several of the Japanese officials,
who proposed to make some arrangement for the supply of such provisions
as might be required by the squadron.
Presuming upon the privileges secured by the treaty, the officers began
now to frequent the shore, and stroll freely about the streets of the town
and the neighboring, country. The common people, as had been elsewhere
observed, seemed very much disposed to welcome the strangers and engage
in friendly converse with them. They exhibited their usual curiosity, and
thronged about the Americans, examining their dress, and, with almost
childish eagerness and delight, fingered the officers’ buttons, swords, and
gay accoutrements, and, pointing to them, would ask, in their pantomimic
way, the English names for each article which struck their fancy. I t was
soon discovered, however, that the Japanese authorities were not disposed to
allow of this free intermingling of the people with the Americans, and no
sooner was it observed than various armed soldiers or policemen came up
and dispersed their countrymen. Not satisfied with the exercise of this severe
discipline upon the poor Japanese, the officials seemed determined to
practise their authority upon the American officers. I t was found that,
wherever the latter went, they were followed by a squad of soldiers, who
watched every movement, and dogged their steps with the pertinacity of a
pack of hounds. The people, under the orders of the local authorities, fled,
and the town, with its shops closed and its streets deserted, was as sad as if
it had been devastated by the plague. Even in their strolls into the country,
the American officers found that they could not divest themselves of the
perpetual presence and jealous watchfulness of the Japanese spies, who were
evidently resolved to restrict the freedom of their visitors, and put them
under the most rigid surveillance.
The Commodore, upon being made aware of this treatment of his officers,
felt greatly indignant, as it was in violation of the stipulations of the treaty,
and he determined to bring the authorities of Simoda, whom he held
responsible, to account. He accordingly dispatched his flag lieutenant and
his two interpreters on shore, to call upon the prefect, and lay before
him certain complaints which were specified in a memorandum, in which the
Commodore expressed his dissatisfaction at the manner in which his officers
were treated on going ashore, and protested against their being followed
by soldiers, the dispersion of the people, and the closing of the shops.
These, he declared, were at variance with the stipulations of the treaty;
and threatened, if the annoyances should continue, he would sail to Yedo
with his whole squadron and demand an explanation. The Commodore also
took occasion to insist upon a suitable place being set apart on shore for a
resort for himself and officers; and as he proposed a visit to the island of
Oho-sima, requested that proper provisions should be made for the journey,
a junk be provided, and certain Japanese officials selected to accompany the
American expedition.
The prefect, upon hearing this protest of the Commodore, replied, that
the Dutch at Nagasaki were always followed by twelve of fourteen Japanese
soldiers, and seemed to think that such a precedent should be a rule of conduct
for the Americans. He was, however, told that the treatment of the
Dutch was not to be taken for a moment as a criterion by which the Japanese
authorities were to judge of what was proper in their relations with
the Americans, who had a “ treaty of amity and intercourse ” with Japan;
and coming, as they did, to Simoda as friends, they would insist upon being
treated as such, and suffer no infringement of privileges which had been