Oh the troubles that do espan,The man whowill goto Japan!
Oh the troubles that do espan,The man whowill goto Japan!
Oh the troubles that do espan,The man whowill goto Japan!
Oh the troubles that do espan,
The man whowill goto Japan!
The Japanese having offered the harbor of Simoda, in the province of Idzoo, as one of the ports for American ships to visit, the Vandalia and Southampton were sent down to that place, to make a reconnoissance, and to report upon its facilities of entrance, and capacity. The weather was raw, rough, squally,and rainy. Agreeably to instructions from the government, received before leaving China—a wise thing, as naval commanders are always very chary, and not at all disposed to render any more facilities to the foreign diplomatic agents of the country, than they can help, on the 25th of the month, the steam-frigate Susquehanna left Japan for Hong Kong, to convey the new American commissioner to such of the Cinque ports as he desired to visit.
On the same day there was a landing, not for purposes of negotiation, but for the reception of the presents from the Japanese, which consisted of lacquered cabinets, desks, some silks, bags of rice, &c., not very numerous or at all comparable in use or value to those given them. On this occasion there was quite a number of officials present, who were compelled to manifest curiosity, when they saw the beautiful little locomotive, with its highly-finished rosewood car, complete in all the customary furniture, driven by a charcoal-fire alone, at a rate of a mile in three minutes, around a circular track of three hundred feet. The Americans were entertained with the contests in the ring of some Japanese athletes. These men were of great stature and much obesity, but their limbs displayed none of the angular muscularity, of a Monsieur Paul, lifting his cannon or resisting the draught of horses, or the pugilistic activity of the American Tom Hyers and Sullivans, who could no doubt whale them with little difficulty.These men are in the pay of princes, and have such designations as “Giant of the North,” &c. Their hair is gathered upon their head, as others of their country, though not shorn, perhaps to prevent their Samsonian qualities being affected. In front of their persons, which is otherwise unclothed, they wear a scarf, with the insignia of the prince they serve upon it. They commence with an exhibition of their strength, such as throwing with each hand over the shoulder, or lying on the ground, and somerseting with large straw-bags containing two hundred pounds of rice each. Then came the trial of the ring, not more than eight feet in diameter, and made of rice straw. Before commencing the combatants squatted and rubbed their knees, as if to assure themselves of their strength, and then rubbed a little dust under each arm, something like an infuriated cow, when she throws it on her back, and then with a grunt they closed, and though the claret was occasionally drawn, and great welts were raised upon the shoulders, yet there did not appear much of that belicosity, descriptions of which have graced some of the columns of the papers of our own country, since the infusion into it of Bill Poole blackguardism. The effort was rather to get one another out of the ring, when the effort ends. After being sufficiently amused at thisintellectualdisplay, the commodore and party returned aboard.
Nearly every day, some of the Japanese officialscame off to the flag-ship to arrange in the preparation of the treaty, that matters might be facilitated during the formal interviews held ashore. Chief at such times, on their part, was Moriyama Yenoske, the imperial interpreter in the Dutch language; indeed he wastheman of the treaty, so far as the Japanese were concerned; to his friendly regard to the Americans, his clear appreciation of propositions, and the accurate conveyance of them to the minds of the commissioners by his translations, we are much indebted.
On the 27th an entertainment was given to the commissioners on board of the flag-ship. It was the first time that the Japanese imperial flag floated from the mast-heads of foreign men-of-war. The guests came off about three o’clock in the afternoon. On passing the Mississippi they received a salute of seventeen great guns. They first went aboard of the Macedonian, when her crew were beat to general quarters, and the broadside-guns of the ship, together with her large “pivots,” exercised before them. From here they went to the flag-ship Powhatan, but some of them, who had changed from their steady-moving boats, by invitation, to our buoyant and lively ones, did not have their appetites for the repast that awaited them, improved by the qualmy motion. On the Powhatan they were shown the exercise and rapid firing of the twelve-pounder howitzers, in which they appeared to take much interest. They then partook of a dinner,which had been spread for them: the commissioners dining with the commodore, and the rest of the company from tables spread under the awnings of the quarter-deck. The Japanese did full justice to the dishes before them, and when partaken to satiety, they aided the disappearance of the food, after the manner of their country, by wrapping up and taking away an occasional pie or sweetmeat of which they are very fond. Music from the band regaled the occasion, and as the hermetics drained their draughts of champagne and cordial down, they became very social, if not confidential, and proposed frequent sentiments of friendship between “Nipong” and America. With such a people, John Barleycorn is very potent: particularly in treaty-making. At night on the forecastle the Japanese witnessed a capital Ethiopic performance, at which they appeared much amused. Indeed their stoic gravity had pretty well left them before this hour, and one of them, during the evening, indulged in a polka under the hurricane-deck with a very intelligent midshipman. They left at an early hour for the shore, and after a salute from the Saratoga, their flag was hauled down. One of the commissioners had a fancy for a large cake, which was given him by the commodore, together with some cordial, to be sent ashore the next day. During the night one of the orderlies at the cabin-door stole and made away with the cake. Not wishing to give the Japanese the bad idea of our men, that the mentionof this theft might produce, the diplomacy was resorted to of telling the Japanese, when presenting the wine, that it was an American custom to present cake in the evening; by which time, another one had been made, and was sent ashore.
On the last day of March, the ships having gotten back from Simoda, and made their report as to that harbor, the commodore had his last official interview ashore, with the commissioners, at Yokahama, Kanagawa, when after much difficulty, and talking, and debate as to the wording, the following treaty was signed:—
The United States of America and the Empire of Japan, desiring to establish firm, lasting, and sincere friendship between the two nations have resolved to fix, in a manner clear and positive, by means of a treaty or general convention of peace and amity, the rules which shall in future be mutually observed in the intercourse of their respective countries, for which most desirable object the President of the United States has conferred full powers on his commissioner, Matthew Calbraith Perry, special ambassador of the United States to Japan, and the august sovereign of Japan has given similar full powers to his commissioners, Hayashi, Daigaku-nokami, Ido, prince of Tsus-Sima, Izawa, prince of Mimasaki, and Udono, member of the board of revenue. And the said commissioners, after having exchanged their said full powers, and duly considered the premises, have agreed to the following articles:ARTICLE I.There shall be a perfect, permanent, and universal peace and a sincere and cordial amity between the United States of America on the one part, and the empire of Japan on the other part, and between their people respectively, without exceptions of persons or places.ARTICLE II.The port of Simoda, in the principality of Idzu, and the port of Hakodade, in the principality of Matsmai, are granted by the Japanese as ports for the reception of American ships, where they can be supplied with wood, water, provisions, coal, and other articles their necessities may require, as far as the Japanese have them. The time for opening the first-named port is immediately on signing this treaty; the last-named port to be immediately after the same day in the ensuing Japanese year. [Note.—A tariff of prices shall be given by the Japanese officers of the things which they can furnish, payment for which shall be made in gold and silver coin.]ARTICLE III.Whenever ships of the United States are thrown or wrecked on the coast of Japan, the Japanese vessels will assist them, and carry their crews to Simoda, or Hakodade, and hand them over to their countrymen appointed to receive them; whatever articles the shipwrecked men may have preserved shall likewise be restored, and the expenses incurred in the rescue and support of Americans and Japanese who may thus be thrown upon the shores of either nation are not to be refunded.ARTICLE IV.Those shipwrecked persons and other citizens of the United States shall be free as in other countries, and not subject to confinement, but shall be amenable to just laws.ARTICLE V.Shipwrecked men and other citizens of the United States, temporarily living at Simoda and Hakodade, shall not be subject to such restrictions and confinement as the Dutch and Chinese are at Nagasaki, but shall be free at Simoda to go where they please within the limits of seven Japanese miles (orri) from a small island in the harbor of Simoda, marked on the accompanying chart hereto appended; and shall in like manner be free to go where they please at Hakodade, within limits to be defined after the visit of the United States squadron to that place.ARTICLE VI.If there be any other sort of goods wanted, or any business which shall require to be arranged, there shall be careful deliberation between the parties in order to settle such matters.ARTICLE VII.It is agreed that ships of the United States resorting to the ports open to them shall be permitted to exchange gold and silver coin and articles of goods for other articles of goods, under such regulations as shall be temporarily established by the Japanese government for that purpose. It is stipulated, however, that the ships of the United States shall not be permitted to carry away whatever articles they are unwilling to exchange.ARTICLE VIII.Wood, water, provisions, coal, and goods required, shall only be procured through the agency of Japanese officers appointed for that purpose, and in no other manner.ARTICLE IX.It is agreed that if at any future day the government of Japan shall grant to any other nation or nations, privileges and advantages which are not herein granted to the United States and the citizens thereof, these same privileges and advantages shall be granted likewise to the United States and to the citizens thereof, without any consultation or delay.ARTICLE X.Ships of the United States shall be permitted to resort to no other ports in Japan but Simoda and Hakodade, unless in distress or forced by stress of weather.ARTICLE XI.There shall be appointed by the government of the United States consuls or agents to reside in Simoda, at any time after the expiration of eighteen months from the date of the signing of this treaty; provided that either of the two governments deem such arrangement necessary.ARTICLE XII.The present convention having been concluded and duly signed, shall be obligatory and faithfully observed by the United States of America and Japan, and by the citizens and subjects of each respective power; and it is to be ratified and approved by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by the august sovereign of Japan, and the ratification shall be exchanged within eighteen months from the date of the signature thereof, or sooner if practicable.In faith whereof, we, the respective plenipotentiaries of the United States of America and the empire of Japan aforesaid, have signed and sealed these presents.Done at Kanagawa this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, and of Kayei, the seventh year, third month, and third day.M. C. PERRY.
The United States of America and the Empire of Japan, desiring to establish firm, lasting, and sincere friendship between the two nations have resolved to fix, in a manner clear and positive, by means of a treaty or general convention of peace and amity, the rules which shall in future be mutually observed in the intercourse of their respective countries, for which most desirable object the President of the United States has conferred full powers on his commissioner, Matthew Calbraith Perry, special ambassador of the United States to Japan, and the august sovereign of Japan has given similar full powers to his commissioners, Hayashi, Daigaku-nokami, Ido, prince of Tsus-Sima, Izawa, prince of Mimasaki, and Udono, member of the board of revenue. And the said commissioners, after having exchanged their said full powers, and duly considered the premises, have agreed to the following articles:
ARTICLE I.
There shall be a perfect, permanent, and universal peace and a sincere and cordial amity between the United States of America on the one part, and the empire of Japan on the other part, and between their people respectively, without exceptions of persons or places.
ARTICLE II.
The port of Simoda, in the principality of Idzu, and the port of Hakodade, in the principality of Matsmai, are granted by the Japanese as ports for the reception of American ships, where they can be supplied with wood, water, provisions, coal, and other articles their necessities may require, as far as the Japanese have them. The time for opening the first-named port is immediately on signing this treaty; the last-named port to be immediately after the same day in the ensuing Japanese year. [Note.—A tariff of prices shall be given by the Japanese officers of the things which they can furnish, payment for which shall be made in gold and silver coin.]
ARTICLE III.
Whenever ships of the United States are thrown or wrecked on the coast of Japan, the Japanese vessels will assist them, and carry their crews to Simoda, or Hakodade, and hand them over to their countrymen appointed to receive them; whatever articles the shipwrecked men may have preserved shall likewise be restored, and the expenses incurred in the rescue and support of Americans and Japanese who may thus be thrown upon the shores of either nation are not to be refunded.
ARTICLE IV.
Those shipwrecked persons and other citizens of the United States shall be free as in other countries, and not subject to confinement, but shall be amenable to just laws.
ARTICLE V.
Shipwrecked men and other citizens of the United States, temporarily living at Simoda and Hakodade, shall not be subject to such restrictions and confinement as the Dutch and Chinese are at Nagasaki, but shall be free at Simoda to go where they please within the limits of seven Japanese miles (orri) from a small island in the harbor of Simoda, marked on the accompanying chart hereto appended; and shall in like manner be free to go where they please at Hakodade, within limits to be defined after the visit of the United States squadron to that place.
ARTICLE VI.
If there be any other sort of goods wanted, or any business which shall require to be arranged, there shall be careful deliberation between the parties in order to settle such matters.
ARTICLE VII.
It is agreed that ships of the United States resorting to the ports open to them shall be permitted to exchange gold and silver coin and articles of goods for other articles of goods, under such regulations as shall be temporarily established by the Japanese government for that purpose. It is stipulated, however, that the ships of the United States shall not be permitted to carry away whatever articles they are unwilling to exchange.
ARTICLE VIII.
Wood, water, provisions, coal, and goods required, shall only be procured through the agency of Japanese officers appointed for that purpose, and in no other manner.
ARTICLE IX.
It is agreed that if at any future day the government of Japan shall grant to any other nation or nations, privileges and advantages which are not herein granted to the United States and the citizens thereof, these same privileges and advantages shall be granted likewise to the United States and to the citizens thereof, without any consultation or delay.
ARTICLE X.
Ships of the United States shall be permitted to resort to no other ports in Japan but Simoda and Hakodade, unless in distress or forced by stress of weather.
ARTICLE XI.
There shall be appointed by the government of the United States consuls or agents to reside in Simoda, at any time after the expiration of eighteen months from the date of the signing of this treaty; provided that either of the two governments deem such arrangement necessary.
ARTICLE XII.
The present convention having been concluded and duly signed, shall be obligatory and faithfully observed by the United States of America and Japan, and by the citizens and subjects of each respective power; and it is to be ratified and approved by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by the august sovereign of Japan, and the ratification shall be exchanged within eighteen months from the date of the signature thereof, or sooner if practicable.
In faith whereof, we, the respective plenipotentiaries of the United States of America and the empire of Japan aforesaid, have signed and sealed these presents.
Done at Kanagawa this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, and of Kayei, the seventh year, third month, and third day.
M. C. PERRY.
“The respective plenipotentiaries” did not sign.
The night before the signing of the treaty, the officials were aboard of the flag-ship until a very late hour, composing with great care the various prepared copies of the treaty, as they had been enrolled. In the Japanese copy they discovered an error in the formation of one character, which they desired to be altered to prevent as they said, any misconstruction hereafter. They did not understand the “ratification” of treaties: with them an obligation once signed, was full and complete, and they did not see any necessity for any supplementary action by the contracting parties.
After the signing of the treaty the commodore intimated his purpose of going up to Yedo and saluting the emperor; if he could not reach the city in hissteamers, he could in the ship’s boats. To this they objected. They were told if they had objections, they should have included them in the treaty.
This treaty, it will be seen, is not one of commerce, but of friendship or amity. It is said that the Japanese had some objection to signing their copy with the words “Lord Jesus Christ” in it. It was understood, that Hakodade was not to be visited by the squadron, until fifty days had elapsed from the date of signing.
The Japanese were desirous of knowing from our fleet-captain, whether the English and the French were coming up to Japan, when the American squadron should have left: the answer was, we did not know.
There was something rather mysterious about Yezimon, the little deputy-governor of Uraga. At the time of our first visit, he took quite a conspicuous part in all the intercourse, but on our return, it appears, he had to pale his ineffectual fire before greater luminaries. Very little was seen of him, indeed, if he was seen at all on our return. The great familiarity and sociability that he had displayed when on board of our ships had probably gotten him into trouble. The officials declined saying anything about him; when he was asked for, and one of the officers informed them that he had a Colt’s revolver which he desired to present to Yezimon before leaving, they said they had rather that it should not be done, and added, that they could not speak about him.
On the 4th of April, after an absence from the United States of over four years, the sloop-of-war Saratoga left for home. In her went as passenger Commander H. A. Adams, captain of the fleet—bearing to the United States, by way of the Sandwich Islands and the Californian route, copies of the treaty in English and Japanese, and three copies in Dutch certified to by A. L. C. Portman, Esq., and Moriyama Yenoske, intended to be the first intelligence home of the completion of the treaty. There also went home in her a number of invalid officers who had undergone the enervation and emaciation produced by the heat and diseases of an East India climate. As the Saratoga passed out she fired her parting salute, and was cheered by the remaining ships of the squadron, the bands playing “Home, Sweet Home!” in a manner that caused each heart to heave. Every one who thought of the long while she had been out, wished fair winds to fill her sails, and Heaven speed her!
The interpreter, and others, continued their friendly visits to the ships, wearing when the weather was bad, a singular rain-cloak calledmeno, made up of a number of tassels of a kind of mountain fern, pendent from the junction of meshes knit from the same material, and having outside a covering of green silk network. They would tell us in answer to the question “Could we now see the emperor?” “No; too young man.” They had told us that it would require some days before they could arrange a bazar at Simoda,where we might be able to procure specimens of their lacquer-ware, porcelain, &c.; and in the meantime our surveying-boats, when the weather would permit, were kept constantly going.
The 10th of April, being the birthday of the commodore, I suppose he wished to signalize it by a nearer approach to the city of Yedo, and accordingly early in the morning a signal was thrown out for the squadron to get under way, which was done, the Mississippi leading up the bay, and the Powhatan and the sailing ships following, with the exception of the Lexington, which got aground just as her anchor was away. This movement being perceived from shore, the Japanese interpreters Moriyama Yenoske, Hernyama, Gohara, and Namura Gohachiro, third interpreter, at once rowed off under much excitement. The latter came aboard of the Mississippi, the others went on board of the flag-ship; where they ascertained the commodore’s intention of going higher up the bay, Yenoske objected most strenuously, urging that the lives of each of the commissioners, and himself, were in danger for not preventing (?) it, or remonstrating against it; or previously advising their government; they said they could not tell but it was not possible to calculate the consequences. In reply, the commodore said that his instructions from the president were to go up to Yedo, and that he would have done so, but for the feelings of friendship that he entertained for the commissioners who preferredYokohama for holding the conferences. They gave it to be understood that the anchoring of the ships off Yedo, would at once require of them the performance of the “Hari Kari,” or happy despatch—that they would be necessitated to this, according to a custom which it was no use to argue against, to save themselves and those related to them from dishonor; and that such was the case with each of the commissioners.
Hari Kari, meaning “happy despatch,” is the act of disembowelling one’s self with a sword, among the Japanese. The young man, of any family pretensions, is early indoctrinated in the art of self-destruction. He is also instructed as to the occasions and circumstances when this form of suicide is appropriate for a gentleman, either to preserve himself or those connected with him from dishonor. It is given him strictly in charge, to remember that the wearing of the badge of his position—two swords—is also typical of his courage; perhaps as Napoleon said, that he who cares nothing for his own life is master of that of others; and that one of these swords, like the dagger of Brutus, is for himself, when his country shall need his death. He desires that it shall be said of him, what Malcolm says of Cawdor:—
“Nothing in his lifeBecame him like the leaving it: he diedAs one that had been studied in his death,To throw away the dearest thing he owed,As ’twere a careless trifle.”
“Nothing in his lifeBecame him like the leaving it: he diedAs one that had been studied in his death,To throw away the dearest thing he owed,As ’twere a careless trifle.”
“Nothing in his lifeBecame him like the leaving it: he diedAs one that had been studied in his death,To throw away the dearest thing he owed,As ’twere a careless trifle.”
“Nothing in his life
Became him like the leaving it: he died
As one that had been studied in his death,
To throw away the dearest thing he owed,
As ’twere a careless trifle.”
Or as Decitas said of Anthony:-
“He is dead,By that self hand,Which writ his honor in the acts it did.”
“He is dead,By that self hand,Which writ his honor in the acts it did.”
“He is dead,By that self hand,Which writ his honor in the acts it did.”
“He is dead,
By that self hand,
Which writ his honor in the acts it did.”
NEAR YEDO.
NEAR YEDO.
The commodore promised that the two steamers should only go up in sight of Yedo, and without dropping anchor, return. This quieted their apprehensions considerably. About twelve o’clock, when we had gotten a distant view of the great city, the water suddenly shoaled so as to prevent our further progress, when the boats that had been sounding ahead were recalled, the steamers put about, and the whole squadron proceeded directly down the bay to the anchorage offNati Sima, or as called by us,Websterisland, with the exception of the Mississippi that was sent to the assistance of the Lexington, but that ship having kedged off, we towed her to where the remaining ships had anchored.
Poor Namura Gohachiro, the third interpreter, who was aboard of us during the day’s movements, looked the while like a man whose time had come. He evinced no interest in anything that was going on around him, and during the day did not look over the side. He complained of sickness, and Jamaica ginger gave him no relief; he put aside his two swords, and lay on the cabin sofa; his great inquietude lasted until we had dropped anchor off Webster island, when he experienced the greatest relief, going over the side into his boat, which we had towed during the day,looking like one from around whose neck the halter had been taken.
The yearly number of those who now commit the Hari Kari, or “happy despatch,” in Japan, is estimated at four hundred.
The principal cause of the alarm of the Japanese officers, on the approach of the ships to Yedo, was in some anticipated outbreak on the part of its rabble, who must comprise a great number in a city of over fourteen hundred thousand inhabitants. These lazzaroni have more than once threatened the stability of the government; a huge unmanageable mob threatening destruction, and deaf to reason; a horrid hydra easily moved, but controlled only with great power and force. The effect upon such a population of the novel sight of two large steamers off their city, who in addition to other engines of destruction, were believed to have on board steam-guns, can be easily imagined, especially when the mob never expected to see such a sight again. Then, too, they are more eager after novelty because of having been kept in ignorance by the stringent laws against foreigners; and they have been taught that they are beneath laws.
Such is the intense curiosity of the Japanese character, and the great rush to gratify it, that at one time, before the signing of the treaty, there was as many as seventy thousand people from all parts of the country, congregated in Kanagawa and its immediate vicinity, eager to get a look at our ships, and endeavoring to get aboard. To furnish a pretext for their assemblage near the place of negotiations, many resorted to the ruse of offering their services to the authorities, in the event of the negotiations with the Americans, taking a hostile turn. Many of the princes of the empire, anxious to see the ships and not being able to get permission or authority to do so, resorted to the plan of getting on board by going disguised in the suite of Moriyama Yenoske, the chief interpreter. On one occasion—April 4th—a number of Japanese gentlemen of rank, having obtained permission to visit the ships, it was surmised, and upon very good authority, that the young emperor himself had been aboard. His features would probably not be known to one of his subjects outside of his immediate attendants or council. The boldness and tact with which they managenayboenmatters is remarkable. The interpreters were always very cautious, and never committed themselves by giving information. A great many of the better class Japanese, who came aboard, were able to write, and sometimes speak a little Dutch (Holland), and generally expressed themselves with much correctness.
The next morning, after anchoring offNati Sima, the Macedonian was despatched to the Bonin islands with some agricultural implements, and to look after some men, with orders to join us at Simoda.
While our surveying boats were running their lineof soundings, and triangulating in the vicinity of the anchorage, some of the officers, in other boats, paid visits to Webster island, which afforded a fine opportunity for exercise, besides being a very pretty view. Before returning to the ships, we pulled into a number of little inlets and small bays near by. The hill-sides were well wooded, and the deep green of the thorough cultivation on terraces and steppes was delightful to the eye. In some obscure coves, were built stone piers for landing, and a number of junks had been beached, and their owners were preparing them, or firing their bottoms, that the sea slime might be removed and their speed increased. In others, the fronts of large quarries of sandstone, and what appeared to be fuller’s earth, approach the edge of the water. The latter was cut away in square blocks, leaving the face of the hills like the smooth masonry of a curtain-wall and bastion.
On the morning of the 18th of April, the Vandalia and Lexington having preceded us, the Powhatan and Mississippi steamed slowly out of the bay of Yedo, running a line of soundings from the ships as we went, after passing Sagama cape, the two ships stood over in the direction of Ohosima, that the bearings of that island might be taken, and then headed off southward and westward, leaving the bay of Kawatsu on our right hand. The volcano on Ohorima was not in a state of eruption, as when we passed it three months before. We soon saw CapeIdzoo, and by three o’clock were up with Rock island, that marks the mouth, and ran into the harbor of Simoda. This place from having been visited in May, 1849, by the English man-of-war Mariner, our own sailing ships, which preceded us, were no novelty to the people, but the approach of the Powhatan and Mississippi running in a straight line through the narrow entrance, filled the height on either side with a throng, looking for the first time, and with wonder, on steamships.