84 



EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



his large fortune takes delight in making welcome to liis houses, both in town and country, 

 such of his countrymen as are deserving of his attentions. 



The town consists of a wide street along the sea shore, containing several good buildings. 

 From this, nmnerous small streets extend hack at right angles, for a considerable distance up the 

 slope of the hill. The population amounts to some twenty thousand. The commerce of the 

 island is considerable, and most of it is with England. Its exports have been said to amount 

 to the value of £500,000 per annum. Wine is the principal commodity. When the island 

 was first settled by the Portuguese, sugar was cultivated to a considerable extent, but this was 

 discontinued after the West Indies were brought under culture, and wine became the staple. 



The salubrity of the climate has made Funchal a resort for invalids, and hence it is not 

 difficult to find in it agreeable and refined society. The greater number of those who visit the 

 island are English, and the known love of Englishmen for exercise in the open air has led to 

 the introduction of some novel modes of affording to invalids the benefit of locomotion. 



As the streets of the city are paved in 

 such manner as to forbid the use of wheel 

 carriages, sedan chairs and hammocks 

 were, imtil very recently, used not only 

 for invalids, but by all persons making 

 visits. The inconvenience of these ve- 

 il icles has led to a substitute, which con- 

 sists of nothing more than the ordinary 

 sledge used for transporting casks of wine 

 and other heavy articles through the 

 streets, surmounted by a gaily decorated 

 caniage on sie,i. Carriage body, and drawn by a yoke of 



oxen. This is now the fashionable conveyance, and in such an one did the Commodore, with 

 his flag captain and aid, make all his official visits. There are stands in the streets, as for our 

 cabs and carriages, where these vehicles may be found with the oxen yoked, and all things 

 prepared for immediate transportation. 



It must not, however, be supposed that there are no other modes of conveyance ; horseback 

 riding may be seen, and the fair equestrian makes her appearance without an attendant cavalier 

 or groom, but with a footman, who keeps pace with the easy gait of the horse, and protects him 

 from the annoyance of flies and other insects. Asses are common, and are probably the best 

 beasts of burden on such roads as the island possesses. 



While the ship was at Madeira, the Commodore, who had reflected much and anxiously on 

 the important mission with which he had been entrusted, thought it best to bring distinctly 

 before the department the views he entertained of the steps he ought to undertake, more 

 particularly as so much was necessarily confided to his discretion. He accordingly addressed to 

 the Secretary of the Navy an official communication, which is here presented, not only as 

 affording a record of his matured opinions on the important work before him, but also as 

 furnishing the reader with the means of ascertaining, as he proceeds in the narrative, how for 

 the Commodore's anticipations were fulfilled, and how nearly he was enabled to follow out his 

 original intentions. 



