370 MATTHEW C. PERRY. 



interview occurred on the 30th of May, 1853, be- 

 tween the regent in person and the commodore, on 

 board his flag-ship, the Susquehanna. The former 

 was attended by about twenty of the chief men of the 

 island. The visitors were handsomely entertained, 

 and then informed of the purpose of the commo- 

 dore's visit. It was simply at that time to obtain 

 supplies of fresh provisions. The truth was, that 

 Commodore Perry had resolved to postpone until a 

 later period the accomplishment of his chief purpose 

 in reference to these islands, the arrangement of a 

 commercial treaty. The sailors were allowed on 

 the next day to visit the shore ; and some of the 

 officers embraced the opportunity to explore the 

 interior and more remote portions of the island. 

 There they passed through scenes of the most in 

 viting natural loveliness ; they traversed hills, plains, 

 and dales loaded with the most luscious and luxuriant 

 fruits of the earth ; they saw the simple and kindly 

 inhabitants, shut out from all the sinister influences 

 and the baser pursuits of civilized life, happily pass- 

 ing their existence in comfort, in innocence, in re- 

 pose, and in the fruition of that propitious ignorance 

 which is sometimes man's highest and purest bliss. 

 One party from the ships spent a whole week, un- 

 disturbed, exploring the interior of the island. 

 The Lew-Chew Islands are thirty-six in number : 



