off to the ship, and if they chose to take passage in it he would he pleased to
have their company; if not, they would he obliged to find their own conveyance;
hut, as the appointed hour had long since passed, it was doubtful
whether they would he received by the Commodore at all. They then replied,
without, apparently, making any effort to hurry themselves, that they
were waiting for their companions.
The flag-lieutenant now, without more ado, took his departure, and, getting
into the boat, put off for the ship. On his way thither he was met by a
messenger from the Commodore, with the command to wait no longer for
the deputies, unless they had some good reason for their delay. On the
flag-lieutenant’s making his report, orders were given to prepare for another
visit to the land, with a stronger demonstration of earnestness. The deputies,
however, in the mean time arrived, and, as they presented themselves
at the gangway of the Powhatan, the flag-lieutenant demanded, in the name
of the Commodore, an explanation of their delay. The Japanese functionaries
then having offered as an apology that they had been delayed in purchasing
a few articles as presents for the American ambassador, were treated
as if they told the truth, and conducted to the Commodore’s cabin, where
they held a short conference, and refreshments were hospitably set before
them. They repeated in conversation the tenor of their note, and said they
had no authority to settle the boundaries in Hakodadi. Of course there
was no occasion to confer further with them, and the Commodore no longer
pressed the matter, but determined to postpone all negotiations until he
should meet the imperial commissioners at Simoda, the appointed time for
which meeting was now rapidly approaching.
On parting with these Japanese officials, the Commodore took occasion,
while expressing his gratification at the general kindness and courtesy of
¡ the authorities and people at Hakodadi, to remark, that the inhabitants still
seemed suspicious of the Americans, as they continued to shut their houses
and remove the women from observation. To this the deputies returned a
written reply, which, as it presents a document singularly characteristic of
the gentle, conciliatory tone of the J apanese, and of their ingenuity in the
work of self-justification, and also exhibits the moderate style of their official
communications, we give at length :
u To hear from the Commodore that, since his arrival in Hakodadi, he
has been much pleased with his intercourse and communications with the
local authorities, is truly a great gratification to us. With regard to going
through the streets, and seeing shops and houses shut, with neither women
nor children in the ways, let it be here observed, that at Yoku-hama this
very matter was plainly spoken of by Moryama, the interpreter, at that
place. The customs of our country are unlike yours, and the people have
been unused to see people from foreign lands; and though the authorities
did what they could to pacify them, and teach them better, they still were
disinclined to believe, and many absconded or hid themselves. I f the Commodore
will recall to mind the day when he took a ramble to Yoku-hama, in
which some of us accompanied him, he will recollect that in the villages and
houses we hardly saw one woman during the whole walk. I f he saw more
of them at Simoda, as he went about, it was because there the people were
gradually accustomed to the Americans, and their fears had been allayed, so
that they felt no dread.
“ On these remote frontiers, many miles from Yedo, the usages of the
people are so fixed that they are not easily influenced and altered; but, pray,
how can the inhabitants here think of regarding Americans with inimical
feelings ? Even when they see their own officers, with the persons of whom
they are not familiar, they also run aside, and, as from fear, seek to escape
us. This is the custom of our country that officers should accompany visitors
about—a custom not to be so soon changed. Still, the disposition of
the men here is ingenuous, brave, upright, and good, and that of the women
retiring and modest, not gazing at men as if without bashfulness. Such
characteristics and such usages must be considered as estimable, and we
think that you also will not dislike them.
“ In general, when upright, cordial propriety marks intercourse, then
peace, good feeling, and harmony are real between the parties; but if harshness,
violence, and grasping characterize it, then hate and distrust with collision
arise, and love will not be found to bring the hearts of the people together.
This is a rule of heaven, concerning which no one can have any
doubt.”
The authorities of Hakodadi had set apart and fenced off, for the interment
of the American dead, a portion of a small, neglected burial ground,
situated in an easterly direction, beyond the town and near the forts. The
spot is exceedingly picturesque, and commands a fine view of the harbor, the
Straits of Sangar, and the adjacent coasts. I t was the melancholy duty of
our countrymen to deposit there the remains of two of their shipmates, who,
after a long illness, died during the stay of the squadron in that port. The
funerals were conducted with the usual naval and religious ceremonies.
After a short preliminary service on board ship, the escort, consisting of several
officers and a number of seamen and marines, in four boats, conducted
the bodies ashore, the boats and all the ships with flags at half-mast. On
reaching the land, the procession was formed, and as it marched with slow
step and muffled drums to the burial place, a large concourse of Japanese
collected and followed it to the grave. The chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Jones,
read the burial service of the Protestant Episcopal church, and, after the
services had terminated, many of the natives gathered around him, (he wearing
his clerical gown, by which they understood his character as a minister
of religion,) and, although they evinced much curiosity, they never forgot the
respect which they seemed to think due to his religious office. This was the