Japanese functionaries, who ordered all the people they met to retire within
their houses and close the doors. The shopmen were evidently forbidden to
sell their wares to the strangers, for the most trifling articles which they
might desire to purchase could not be obtained on any terms. The Commodore
found it necessary again to protest against this illiberal treatment,
and sent his flag-lieutenant to the prefect to lay before him certain complaints
and to insist upon their causes being immediately removed. The
prefect was accordingly called upon, and informed that it appeared that he
was determined to evade the full execution of the stipulations of the treaty,
since, by allowing his spies or soldiers to follow the Americans, and by ordering
the people to withdraw from the streets and to close their houses, he was
placing every obstruction in the way of that friendly intercourse with the
Japanese which was guarantied by the compact solemnly entered into between
Japan and the United States. The prefect was then assured, that if
these annoyances should continue, the Commodore would stop all relations
with the town and return to Yedo, as, although he had been eight days at
Simoda, there had been very little improvement in the conduct of the
authorities, and his patience was exhausted.
The prefect excused himself by averring that the Commodore was mistaken
in his allegations, and that the soldiers were present for the protection
of the visitors, and were engaged, not, as was supposed, in ordering the
people to withdraw and close their houses, but in directing them to welcome
the Americans, and open their doors to them. Upon the flag-lieutenant,
however, urging that his personal experience proved the contrary, the
prefect said then that his orders had been misunderstood, and he would
renew them and see that they were executed, that the Commodore might
have no reason to complain thereafter. In regard to trading with the
Americans, the prefect declared that he had received no instructions to allow
of it until the opening of a bazaar. He was then answered that the
officers merely wanted some small articles for their own .use, and any purchases
they might make could not be considered as coming within the technical
understanding of the term “ trade.” I t was then agreed, after some
resistance on the part of the prefect and a long discussion, that whenever an
American wished to buy any article he should give an order for it to the
shopman, who would be directed to take the order and the purchase to the
interpreter, by whom the article would be sent to the ships. The prefect
then referred to the case of the two Japanese who had clandestinely visited
the steamers, and seemed solicitous of obtaining some information in regard
to their conduct, but his inquiries were abruptly checked by the answer that
the Commodore was not to be questioned by any of the subordinates of the
government.
As the Americans, subsequent to this last interview with the prefect,
began to frequent the shops and select articles for purchase, it was found necessary
to establish some temporary currency. I t was accordingly arranged,
since the Japanese money, from the strict laws which governed its circulation,
could not be used in dealings with foreigners, that United States
coins should be received by the shopmen at Simoda. The value of these was
estimated comparatively with the Chinese copper cash, with which the Japanese
were familiar, at the rate of 1,600 Chinese cash to one silver dollar.
This the Japanese readily assented to, and became soon as eager as any
other trading people to become possessed of the money of the Americans.
On the 2d of May the Macedonian arrived from the Bonin Islands with
a very welcome supply of fine turtles, which were distributed among the several
ships of the squadron and greatly enjoyed. The market of Simoda was
not well supplied with fresh meats; for, in consequence of the prevailing
Buddhism and the simple habits of the people, there were but few animals
which could be obtained for food. The poultry were very scarce, and the
few cattle in the place were too much valued as beasts of burden to be readily
offered for sacrifice to the carnivorous propensities of strangers; so the
arrival of the turtles was very gratefully welcomed by those on board ship
who, with the exception of a supply of fish and vegetables, had been so long
confined to a sea-diet of biscuit and salt junk.
Two days subsequent to the arrival of the Macedonian the Lexington
was dispatched for Lew Chew, and on the 6th of May the Macedonian,
Yandalia, and Southampton preceded the steamers and sailed for Hako-
dadi.
One of the sailors on board the Powhatan haying unfortunately fallen
from aloft and died soon after, it became necessary to make some provision
for his burial.
The Japanese authorities readily assented to the request that he should
be buried ashore. A place of interment was accordingly selected in the
neighborhood of the village of Kaki-zaki, and thenceforward appropriated as
the burial place for Americans. On the day of the funeral several Japanese
officials came on board ship, and saying that their laws required it, asked to
inspect the body. They, however, politely prefaced their demands with the
remark that it was a formality about which the prefect and they themselves
could exercise no discretion, but that they had no doubt it might be dispensed
with for the future, on a requisition being made to the commissioners. As the
coffin was still unnailed, and there seemed no good reason for refusing to
grant the request of the Japanese officials, they were allowed to see the
body. The burial then took place, according to the usual Christian ceremonies,
in the place on shore which had been appropriated for the purpose.
Everything seemed now to be on the most friendly footing, and it was
with no little surprise and vexation that the Commodore heard, from the reports
of some of his officers, of an outrage which called for a prompt rebuke,
and the demand for an apology from the local authorities. The Commo