Date. Hour. S team
pressure. Remarks. Date. pressure. Remarks..
1856. 1856.
Jan. 2 8 A. M. 14 Jan. 8 8 A. M. 12
9 A. M. 18 9 A. M. 18
10 A. M. 18 10 A. M. 14
11 A. M. 12 11 A. M. 18
12 A. M. 14 12 A. M. 14
I p . m . 18 Goal consumed, 8,700 lbs. 1 P . M. 15 Coal consumed, 8,648 lbs.
2 P . M. 15 2. P . M. 14
8 P . M. 14 8 P . M. 14
4 P . M. 14 4 P . M. 15
4.80 p . M. 18 4.80 p . M. 14 87 cubic feet displaced
for one ton of coal.
“ The Formosa coal burns freely, leaving but a small amount of ashes
and scoria.
“ The Japan coal produces considerable scoria and ashes. The sample
of this coal was taken from the out-croppings of the vein, and will, undoubtedly,
yield a much superior quality at a greater depth.
“ JESSE GAY, Chief Engineer.
“WILLIAM E. EVERETT, Chief Engineer.
11 Captain A b r a h a m B ig e l o w ,
“ Commandant Navy Yard, New York, i
Whether the shrewd Japanese (as is not unlikely) supplied an inferior
quality to deceive their visitors, or whether from ignorance of the article
and want of mining skill they innocently brought that which was inferior,
cannot be certainly decided; but as good coal certainly exists in Japan, and
as the natives not only use it, but, according to Von Siebold, know very
well how to mine it, the probabilities are that they purposely furnished the
poorest samples. When the Preble was at Nagasaki, and they saw the
armorer on board at work at his forge, they pretended that they did not
know what coal was, and actually took a piece on shore as a curiosity,
expressing, with well feigned astonishment, their surprise at seeing a
“ stone” that would burn. The coal that was obtained was charged at the
enormous rate of about $28 per ton; but the Japanese stated that the price
would be probably much reduced as the demand for it increased, and their
facilities for obtaining it improved. We are inclined to think, after a careful
examination of the particulars of all the interviews and conferences
with them on all topics, that on no one subject did they misrepresent more
unscrupulously than on that of coal. There is no doubt that they have an
abundance, and some of.it very good.
As the negotiations with the commissioners had now terminated, the
Commodore prepared for his final departure, and accordingly was desirous
of settling the accounts of thè ships with the local authorities. Proper
officers were accordingly sent on shore to receive from the governor a
statement, with the prices of the various articles with which the squadron
had been furnished.*
Among other accounts was a bill for spars, whch had been ordered
previous to leaving for Hakodadi ; but upon investigation it was found that,
although charged, they had not yet been prepared or delivered, and that
even the trees from which they were to be made had not yet been cut down.
The bazaar had also been opened for several days, and was supplied with
the various articles of Japanese manufacture which the Americans desired
to purchase and take home as memorials of the expedition. The prices
charged, however, were so exorbitant that the Commodore was obliged to
protest against the conduct of the authorities in this respect, and to rebuke
them for the neglect, not to call it by a harsher term, in not having the
spars ready, although they had been charged for as if furnished.
The protest and complaints of the Commodore having been laid before
the governor, Prince Agawa, that functionary sent Moryama Yenoske, the
interpreter, on board the flag-ship, with a respectful rejoinder, to the effect
that the prices of articles offered for sale in the bazaar had been arranged
at Yedo, and that they were not above the usual market valuation. I t
was then explained by the flag-lieutenant that, although the prices in Chi-
* The cost of various supplies, which are those ordinarily required by foreign vessels, is
here given, as it may be of interest and value to. future navigators.
P r ic es o f supplies at Simoda.
1,200 C'asA=$l.
Wood - - $6 75.
Eggs - - - 7 for 10 cents.
Chickens - - 39 cents each.
Fish - - - from 17-J- to 29 cents each.
Cray-fish - - 3^ cents each.
Ditto - - - 1H cents per cattee.
Cabbage - - 18 cents per sack.
Radishes - - 12t} cents per sack.
Potatoes 88 cents per sack.
Onions - - - 10 cents per sack.
(The sack lolds a little more than an
English bushel. f !
Six fans = 5 English feet.
1 spar, 82 fans long, diameter 1 fan
3.6 i n c h e s ..................... $108 80
2 spars, 60 fans 6 inches long, diameter
8 inches - - - 27 00
2 ditto, 73 fans 7 in. long, diameter
1 fan 2.8 in. - - - - 176 10
2 spars, 47 fans 3 inches long, diameter
8 inches - - - $25 50
2 ditto, 52 fans 8 inches long, diameter
8 inches - - - - 27 00
2 ditto, 39 fans 6 inches long, diameter
6.4 inches - - - 10 40
2 ditto, 55 fans long, diameter 8 in. 30 00
1 ditto, 66 fans long, diameter 1
fan 1.2 inches. - - - - 54 40
1 ditto, 44 fans long, diameter 7.2
inches - - - - - - - 7 8 0
2 ditto, 49 fans long, diameter 8 in. 25 50
2 ditto, 46 fans long, diameter 7.2
inches - - - - - - 19 50
2 ditto 30 fans 8.5 in. long, diameter
7.2 in. *- M - 13 00
2 ditto, 49 fans 5 in. long, diameter
1 fan 1.2 in. - - - - 95 20
2 ditto, 33 fans long, diameter 4.8
inches - - - - - - 7149
2 ditto, 55 fans long, diameter 1 fan
2.8 inches - - - - - 163 20