aiding in the introduction of a higher and better civilization into his own
country. All honor be to the American Christian marine for his benevolence
!
I t will be recollected that, of the several Japanese who had been picked
up on the coast of California and taken to Shanghai, with a view of restoring
them to their own country, Sam Patch was the only one who accompanied
the expedition to Japan. The rest were all afraid, and Sam went with
fear and trembling. On the return of the Mississippi to China, on her way
home, another of the Japanese expressed a wish to visit the United States,
and was gratified in his desire; this was.the young man whom we have
mentioned on a former page. His Japanese name is something like Dans-
Kevitch; but the sailors, with their usual fondness for christening those
adopted into their roving family, soon called him Dan-Ketch. I t was fortunate
for the poor fellow that he escaped the more usual nautical cognomen of
Jack ; for that, however respectable in itself, would have made a much less
reputable combination in union with the Americo-Japanese Ketch; and
poor Han might have found himself undesirably elevated to the office of a
hangman, without precisely understanding the process which conferred the
unenviable rank. Han is under the protection of the Commodore, and evinces
great intelligence, with an eager desire for knowledge. . Should he ever
return to Japan, as at present he purposes, after learning more about us, he
will doubtless carry home with him no small amount of information about
our country.
The Commodore now transferred his broad pennant from the Powhatan
back to the Mississippi, and the two steamers got under way and moved
down to the outer roads of Simoda, where they anchored preparatory to
their final departure. Moryama Yenoske, in company with some of the
other officials, paid a farewell visit to the Commodore on that day, bringing
with him the closing accounts of the ships, and some specimens of natural
history as presents. A handsome entertainment was spread before the
visitors in the cabin, and in the course of the friendly conversation around
the table, a Japanese picture, representing the punishment of crucifixion,
was shown to Yenoske. This had been purchased at Simoda, by some of
our officers, and its presence turned the conversation on the subject of
capital punishments in Japan. The Commodore was glad of the opportunity
to procure accurate information on this point, inasmuch as some writers,
later than Ksempfer, have denied his statement that crucifixion is a Japanese
mode of execution. Yenoske said that the picture itself was illustrative
merely of a scene in one of their popular farces; but, he added, that
regicides were executed somewhat in the manner represented in the picture,
being first nailed to a cross and then transfixed with a spear. In the picture
the man was merely tied to the cross. Hecapitation, however, he said, was
the usual mode of capital punishment for murderers, but never strangulation
or hanging. Upon Yenoske being asked if the practice of the Hari-kari or
“ Happy dispatch ” still prevailed, he replied that one of his fellow interpreters
had committed suicide in that way, in his presence, while at Nagasaki.
The Commodore then inquired if it were true that the governor of
Nagasaki had destroyed himself, after the visit of Captain Pellew in 1808 ;
and Yenoske declared that not only the governor had done so, but that two
other high officers and ten'subordinates had followed his example. The
Japanese, after a prolonged conviviality, took their farewell of the Americans,
with many expressions of warm attachment to their visitors, and pulled
off for the land.
| The ships were now all in readiness for departure. The Southampton,
which had arrived from Volcano Bay on the tenth of June, and had discharged
her cargo of coal into the steamers, the Macedonian, which reached
Simoda on the eleventh, and the store-ship Supply that had been stationary
in that port for several months, with the Mississippi, now the flag-ship, and
the Powhatan, composed the whole squadron, and were anchored in the
outer bay, preparatory to sailing for their respective destinations. Arrangements
had been made to carry out the regulations agreed to with the
authorities in regard to the appointment of a harbor-master and three
pilots, and these now, at the last moment, were completed by the signature
of Kura-kawa-kahei, the deputy-governor, to a written contract,* copies of
which were made in English and Dutch, and deposited with the Japanese
officials at Simoda. The harbor-master and the pilots, after having been
selected by the local authorities, were brought to the Commodore for his
confirmation of their appointment. The Commodore, having signified his
* Regulations respecting pilots, and the supplying o f American vessels entering the port o f
Simoda.
A look-out place shall be established at some convenient point, from which vessels appearing
in the offing can he seen and reported, and when one is discovered making apparently
for the harbor, a boat shall be sent to her with a pilot.
And in order to carry this regulation into full effect, boats of suitable size and quality
shall always he kept in readiness by the harbor-master, which, if necessary, shall proceed
beyond Kock island, to ascertain whether the vessel in sight intends entering the harbor or
not. If it may be the desire of the master of said vessel to enter port, the pilot shall conduct
her to safe anchorage, and during her stay shall render every assistance in his power
in facilitating the procurement of all the supplies she may require.
The rates of pilotage shall be : for vessels drawing over 18 American feet, fifteen dollars
; for all vessels drawing over 13 and less than 18 feet, ten dollars ; and for all vessels
under 13 feet, five dollars.
These rates shall be paid in gold or silver coin, or its equivalent in goods, and the same
shall be paid for piloting a vessel out as well as into port.
When vessels anchor in the outer harbor, and do not enter the inner port, only half the
above rates of compensation shall be paid to the pilot.
The prices for supplying water to American vessels a t Simoda shall be fourteen hun