The west shore., September 01, 1885, Page 277, Image 17

THE WEST SHORE.
277
steamers and the storeship Caprice for the Loo Choo
Islands, where he lay for several weeks before he estab-
lioUoa buwoiuoloiy relations with the Kegent of that little
itingciora.
Having been, joined at Loo Choo hv tla pi
and Saratoga. Commodore Perrv RAlInil With Ilia mitin
force for the port of Yedo, the reputed capital of the
empire, ancnoring at the entrance of the Bay of Yedo
on the 8th of July. In the morning the fleet moved up
the bay, the sloops in tow of the steamers. Many native
uuowj were seen aarting hither and thithor in apparent
exeitement, while groups of people along the hills that
hem in the bay were closoly watching the strange vessels,
many of them using long telescopes. Quite a fleet of
ooaw pui out trom shore with the apparent intention of
ouBirucung tue passage of the ships; but paying no
attention to them whatever the vessels moved steadily on,
their progress without oars or wind being a marvel to
the natives, who had never before sot eyes upon a steam
ship. The fleet soon came in sight of the little town of
uragawa, wliose small harbor was proteotod by a rudo
fort on a commanding headland. The fort mounted two
or three old, diminutive oannon, whose discharge threat
ened doath to every man within a huudred feet. There
were also several large logs worked into the sembluuoe of
huge gunB, the bore in the oentre being represented by
a round patch of black paint Terrifying as these wooden
siege guns were supposed to be by their designers, there
was on board of each steamer an apparent weapon of war
of a far more threatening asoct. On the voyage from
the Loo Choo Islands the fleet had encountered a cyclone,
and the topmasta and yards had been sent down for
safety. The tall smoke-stack had also boon Inwerod, and
lay upon the dock like a monster gun, pointing directly
forward.
As the vessels arrived opposite the fort a small shell
was fired by the garrison, bursting directly overhead. A
seooud skipped along the crest of the waves directly in
front of the advancing vessels, exploding some distance
beyond. This was recognized as an order to "Heave
to," and the Commodore complied by heading the fleet
directly toward the fort and dropping anchor in the har
bor within three cables' length of the shore. To see four
vessel change thoir course and glide toward them with
out the use of sails or oars, at the same time emitting
fire and smoke, and to hear the rattle of 180 feet of iron
cable as the huge anchors sought a restiug place at the
bottom of the bay, a noise which, for all they knew, might
be preliminary to a deadly eruption from that huge black
engine of destruction whose yawuiug mouth was pointed
directly at them, was too much for the courage of the
garrison, and to a man they abandoned their guns and
fled to the hills. During the night they crept back, and
morning revealed the garrison again at their post and a
throng of natives along the shore, who had evidently
come in from the surrounding country to aoe the big
ships of these audacious foreigners.
After a time a boat put off from the shore, containing
an official of rank, as was plainly indicated by bis gaudy
apparel and retinue of attendants. Commodore Terry
had adonM a manner of conducthu Llk.-.!? l.I- ......
tiations in full keeping with the peculiar diatoms of the
orientals. Knowing that they looked upon thoir sovor.
eigns as too holy to be approached by any save the moet
noble of thoir subjects, whilo even thoir lowest officials
were considered gotxl enough to carry on all intorcourae
with foreign barbarians, he had determined to conduct
himsolf in a similar manner. Upon the enniMuiittnn tli.t
the Presidont was the equal of the Mikado, ho, as the
special representative of the Presidont, would not per.
sonally hold communication with anv one but the Mikado
himsolf or some spooially delegated official of suffloieut
rank ana dignity, all preliminary negotiations with in
ferior officials beinir detonated to his subordinate dUnem.
Accordingly, when the Japanese boat approached, he re.
tired to the seclusion of bis oabin. The boat was hailed
by the offioer of the dock aaking the purpose of its ocou
pants, to which it was responded that the mirooou.lv
arrayod official dosirod to come aboard and oonfer with
tho American ooniiuaudor. . He was informed that the
oommander was a personage of too much importance to I
seen by any save one of the highest rank; but if he was ,
possessed of sufficient authority to transmit a mosMage to
the Mikado he would be received on deck by the officers,
otherwise the boat thinir he oould do would be to return
to the town and lot some one of sufficient rank ootun
aboard. Upon assurances from him that he poanoeaod
the authority desired he was received on deck J the
officers. He proved to be the Vioe-Oovernor of Uragawa,
and wbon put to the tost acknowledged that the authority
to receive a communication did not rest In him, hut In
his superior, the Qovornor. He wait dismissed with an
injunction to send the Qovornor in person. Not louv
afterwards a still more gorgeously arrayed official, aecoui.
panied by a more imposing retinuo, raade his apoarauce,
who proved to be the Governor himself. He was received
with great ceremony, the men being at thoir quarters and
the marines nndor arms, and escorted to the cantata's
cabin. He asked to be oonducted to the eommander of
the fleet, but was informed in the most Impressive man.
nor that the Commodore was too sacred to be seen hv anv
save the highest dignitaries of the court, but that the
captain, who was also an offioer of diatinctiou, would hear
anything he bad to say. The Commodore, screened front
observation by the lattioe-work of bis stateroom door,
was seated within a few foot, where he oould hear every
word that was uttered, and where his oflWrs could se.
cretly communicate with him when necessary, There
was no lack of interpreters or languages in which to
oniumuuicate. On board were Ilev. 8, Wells Williams,
who spoke Japan; Mr. Portiuan, who Sxike English
and Dutch, the latter language being well known in enurt
circles of the empire, and a Chinese scribe who could
reaU ana write the oluuial language of Japan. Among
the visitors, also, was a dignitary who could sjmak Eng
lish fluently. The Governor opeusd negotiations by ex
pressing a desire to know to what fortunate clrmim.Unoe
they were indebted for the houor of this visit from the