INTRODUCTION. 41 



governor ; and when tlie latter asked his advice ahout acceding to the request^ he declined 

 giving it, and said he conld give no support to anj^ request made by one whom he now knew to 

 he the enemy of his country. 



In the midst of the embarrassment and confusion of the poor governor, his first secretary 

 made his appearance to submit a proposition, strikingly characteristic of some of the traits of 

 Japanese character : ' ' This, ' ' said he, " is my plan . The foreign ship has entrapped the Dutchmen 

 by treachery ; therefore, all means are lawful to punish the treachery. I will contrive, then, 

 to go on board alone under the guise of friendly professions. I will demand of the captain the 

 two Dutchmen ; if he will not surrender them, I will strike him dead, and then immediately 

 kill myself with a dagger which I will conceal in my bosom. I know that assassination is 

 repugnant to our national character ; but the English commander, who has thus dishonorably 

 invaded our country to attack those whose flag he has usurped for his protection, is worthy of 

 no better fate. In short, to punish him, I am quite willing to sacrifice my life." 



M. Doeif, however, represented to him that the consequence of this plan would certainly be 

 his own death, and jirobably that of the two Dutchmen on board the ship ; and the governor 

 concurring in this view, the secretary abandoned his desperate scheme. 



The plan next considered, was to detain the ship on one pretext or another, until the forces 

 of the neighboring princes could be collected for an attack. In the course of the day, how- 

 ever, G-ozeman was sent on shore with a note, as follows : "I have ordered my own boat to set 

 Gozeman on shore to procure me water and provisions. If he does not return before evening, 

 I will enter the harbor early to-morrow morning, and burn the Japanese and Chinese vessels 

 that may be there." 



Gozeman 's story was, that when he was taken on board, he demanded to see the commander, 

 whereujjon he was carried before a youth, seemingly some eighteen or nineteen years old, who, 

 taking him into the cabin, asked him whether there were any Dutch ships in Japan, threat- 

 ening him with the severest punishment if he should deceive him. G-ozeman told him truly, 

 that the Dutch ships had not arrived that year. The commander, however, pretended to know 

 better ; accused the Dutchman of having spoken untruly, and said he would enter the harbor, and 

 see for himself, and, in case he found any, Gozeman might consider himself a dead man. 

 Accordingly, he did enter in his boat, and made examination, and on his return, told Gozeman 

 it was fortunate for him that his statement had been found true. He then sent him on shore 

 with the note given above, instructing him to return, whether he obtained the supplies or 

 not, and informing him that if he did not come back, his companion, who was kejit on board, 

 should be hanged. 



The governor was transported with rage when he heard this story, but was finally induced 

 by what Doeff said to him to send off water and iirovisions by Gozeman. Soon after the two 

 Dutchmen were sent on shore in safety. And now the Japanese governor employed himself in 

 taking measures to detain the ship (as was his duty) until the pleasure of the government 

 could be known. But how to do this was a question not very easy of solution. Doeff was 

 again consulted, when he did not conceal the difficulty, not to say the impossibility, of the 

 capture by the Japanese of a British frigate, in a perfect state of warlike equipment. One plan 

 was suggested by the prince of Omura, who promised to take the lead in its execution, and the 

 Japanese by no means lacked the courage necessary to attempt it. They are a brave race. 

 The plan was to man three hundred boats loaded with reeds and straw and other combustibles, 

 6 J 



