Satsuma’s retainers. The history of this catastrophe
may not be generally known ; I will therefore give a
short account of it, the more so as it gives a tolerable
idea of Japanese political life in those days.
Prince Satsuma, one of the most powerful Damios
who had always opposed the Tycoon in his foreign
policy, and especially the treaty which admitted Europeans
into Japan, was on the point of quitting the
capital after his enforced residence there for the established
purpose of doing homage to his sovereign, which
had always been a source of considerable irritation to him;
and, on the present occasion, with a view of annoying
and humbling the latter by preparing a grand spectacle
for the inhabitants of Teddo, the proud Prince had made
great preparations to leave for his ancestral domains,
instead of by the ordinary and prescribed land route,
by sea, on board a steam frigate he had purchased at
Yokohama. This could not be tolerated by the Tycoon,
and within twenty-four hours of his intended departure
the Prince received orders to follow the old custom, and
return by the Tokaido, the imperial highway, which runs
in direct line from Yeddo to Nagasaki. The latter was
forced to comply, smarting under the rebuke, which
was no less felt by the whole of his train, consisting of
700 retainers, soldiers, and officers. Somewhere near