62 Our Views and Reviews. [January, 



had not, it must be acknowledged, very intelligent countenances. They looked 

 like slaves, and their cringing and servile obedience to their rather haughty mas- 

 ters, told at once their condition to be that of serfs. 



But a noble or more intellectual looking set of men than were those of the bet- 

 ter classes than we saw, it would be difficult to conceive of. There was not one, 

 old or young, whose appearance would not command respect in any society. There 

 was, in particular, no where to be seen, high or low, that sly look of mean cun- 

 ning, or constant deceit which disfigures the Chinaman, and gives to his counte- 

 nance a brutishness, allied to the most loathsome form of idiocy. 



Their frank, open countenances, their marked politeness toward each other, 

 and toward us, strangers, as well as the degree of intelligence evinced in their 

 observations on all they saw on board, prepossessed all hands greatly in their 

 favor, contrasting as they did, strongly, with the dull, inanimate appearance, and 

 boorish manners of the Chinese. 



There is in their appearance or carriage, very little either of the lassitude or cun- 

 ning, which form such distinguishing traits of the East Indian races. In features, 

 although plainly showing, by their high cheek bones and the oblique position of 

 their eyes, their Mongolian origin, they yet resembled, far more than any other 

 East Indians, the Caucasian race. 



In general expression, as well as physical development, those of the higher 

 classes that Ave saw, I thought resembled much the better classes of mountain 

 Swiss. 



Their color is a very clear nut-brown ; features tolerably regular ; eyes bright, 

 moderately large ; nose straight ; forehead broad and prominent ; and hair black 

 and coarse. 



The entire front and crown of the head is smoothly shaven, and the hair of 

 the back and sides of the head drawn upward and forward, and gathered into a 

 tuft on the top. 



They wore no hats, although many carried with them straight broad-brimmed 

 heavily japanned head coverings, doubtless as protections against the sun, should 

 his rays prove too powerful. 



A belt confines their dress at the middle, and serves, beside, to suspend the 

 Bword, or swords ; all the higher grades of the nobles carrying two of these 

 weapons. 



Both swords, one short, the other long, have straight blades, which, we noticed, 

 were invariably keen edged, as though prepared for instant use. They are worn 

 both on the same side, above the other. 



In their broad sleeves, or the bosoms of their gowns, they carried, with a 

 variety of other matter, the square sheets of white paper which served them in 

 lieu of pocket handkerchiefs. When one of these sheets was used, it was care- 

 fully deposited in an empty sleeve, to be thrown overboard at the first opportunity. 



The hats, which, as detailed above, are rather carried than worn, are very 

 awkward contrivances, the Japanese seeming to stand as much in need of a reform 

 in the matter of head covering as does the Europeans and Americans. 



Fancy a perfectly flat plate or disk of papier-mache about two feet in diameter, 

 over a quarter of an inch thick, and highly japanned. This has a little projec- 

 tion in the center, on top, looking not unlike a small bell pull, which serves 

 as a handle bv which the unwieldly instrument is- carried. A narrow 



