330
THE WEST SHORE.
on the route from America to China. He little thought
that long Wore such a line was established the Japnneso
port would be open anil a large trade in tea, Bilks, etc.,
already begun. Aa be had but a few days to spare he
wan not in s frame of mind to submit placidly to diplo
mats circumlocution ami the delays of evasive corre
Moudimoa and Oriental ceremony. Ho immediately dis
patched an officer to tlie authorities of Nappa, with a
request for the grant of a tract of hind upon which to
establish a coal dojxjt, which he would either rent or pur
cluuto, m they might elect, for tho privilego of buying in
ojten inarkut hucIi supplies aa ho might need, and tliut his
men should bo relieved of that close oHpionage while on
shore to which they had formerly bocu subjected. Those
request were referred to tho Qovernor, who came with
great haste from hi castle at Sliui and gave the Commo
dore and liia oflioera a sumptuous entertainment in the
town hall of Nappa. An effort waa mado by a profusion
of hospitalities and much cernmonioua show to divert tlio
ComiiKMlore'a mind from the main subject at issuo, but
without ucoesa. Ho dumauded an answer to his re
quest, and finally, after many evasive replies had beeu
given, a writUtn anawor was handed him. It was in Chi
nese, and when interpreted proved to be the customary
assertion of the xvrty and insigiiificauoe of tho islands,
rendering them and their trade valueless to foreigu na
tion. It aaid that if the eoplo were willing to soil what
httlo they hod to barter the Governor would intense no
objection; but aa for granting a coaling station and hav
ing a line of aUam Teasel eonatautly calling thero, it was
not to be thought of for a moment, as it would bo a source
of ondlea trouble, It also aUtml that tho oflicers who
bad followed tho men ao closely whilo on shore were not
apioa but guards, who had beeu aptxiintod to protect thorn
from harm and prevent them from wandering off into
the jungle and becoming lout; but as their presonoe
eomod to le distasteful llioy would bo ordered to cease
their attention.
Thia reply waa ao unsatisfactory that Perry at once
art to terminate the interview, remarking that ho would
land bis force in the morning and take ixmsoaHion of the
(lovornor'a castle until such a time aa they learned to
treat foreigner with due courtesy and grant them the
privilege customary among oivilir.ed nation. The Gov
ernor still demurred and complained that thev had 1
ready been put to great Km aud iuoouvonionce by having
urreudonxl one of their temple of worship for a hos
pital; that Wauae thoy were weak aud defenceless he
oppressed them; ami that he might aa well out off their
ueaxl at once aud take poaaoasiou of the whole country.
m'!," nm us uium pay a lair price
for everything be wanted, aud exjmtiaUsl Uk. the great
benefit the islaml would d.rive from trade and inter-
course witb the ouUide worl.L The Governor aimlv
replied Uiat tlie ialanda were but a mere speck in the
ocean; uial Uie people were poor, ha.1 nothing to trade,
ami desired only to be left alone; but that if he were de
termined to rob them Uey were powerlo to resist This
Jolof ul plaint waa maJe just m tU Coiunxxkire was do-
parting, and he stopped long enough to remark that he
had not harmed them in the past and had no intention of
doing so in the future; that he was willing to pay rent
for tlie temple, although he well knew Uiat it waa tlie
place customarily allotted to Chinese and Japanese visi
tors, and that he would visit the castle at noon the next
day with an escort of marines.
This threat had the desired effect, for about ten
o'clock the noxt morning a deputation came on board the
flagship and announced that his Excellency the Governor
had concluded to accede to the wishes of his august high
nes the Admiral, and would do all in his power to gratify
and aid him. Accordingly a'deed for twenty-five acres of
ground waa executed to the United States, and natives
were sot to work constructing coal sheds. A bazar was
opened where Loochooan products and manufactures
were sold to the oflicers and men, who soon came to be
on quite friendly terms with the hitherto reserved na
tives. The coal sheds were completed in a few days, and
the coaling station for American steamers was ready.
Little did Perry think that thirteen years would elapse
before there rould be a line of American steamers plying
in those waters, and that when such a line did come the
coaling station would be a port in Yedo Bay, open to the
trade of the whole world, and that this station he was
having so much difficulty in establishing would be left
alone in tho ocean solitudes, far from the route of travel ;
and as little did those Loochooans think that in after
years they would long in vain for those same advantages
thoy wore so earnestly striving to prevent Perry from
thrusting upon them. But so it was, and so it is ever
with our lxmstod wisdom and foresight
The squadron took up winter quarters at Hongkong,
Macao, Shanghae and other ports, having been increased
by arrivals to ton vessels. In November, however, the
movoiuonta of oortain French and Russian men-of-war
led the Commodore to fear that efforts were being made
to forestall him in Japan, and he at once ordered the
fleet to rendezvous at Looohoo, whither he immediately
sailed. While waiting at Nappa for delayed Teasels, he
took occasion to explore the islands and become better
acquainted with the natives and their manner of living.
The officials and people were much more cordial and free
in their intercourse with their visitors than they had
formorly been, saluting them aa friends on the street, and
oven the women in the markets sat quietly in their Btalla
and sold thoir eggs, fowls, vegetables and pork, instead of
aorea.uing and biding at the sight of a bearded face, as
thoy had done before. The Commodore was entertained
at the castlo and waa greeted by the GoTernor as an old
friend. The coal mine from which the station was to be
supplied was explored and gave promise of yielding
gt quantities of a good quality of coal, an article upon
which the natives, who used only wood and charcoal,
placed but little value.
The products of the islands proved to be rice, sugar,
sweet potatoes, barley, millet, wheat, cotton, tobacco,
.f ? Bft8 Rud varioU8 edibl frnito "l
binall black cattle, hogs, goat and horses were numerous.