APPROACH TO CAPE IDZU. 231 



larger two of the group, bearing the Japanese names of Tosi-sima and Likine-sima. The 

 morning was fine, though the atmosphere was so hazy that there was but an indistinct view of 

 the outline of the precipitous coast. Through the mist, however, the bold promontory of Idsu 

 could be seen rising loftily out of the sea, and stretching back to the interior of Nippon in a 

 crowd of mountainous elevations. The Susquehanna's course, as the leading ship, was laid 

 directly for the entrance to the bay of Yedo, and as she passed the precipitous land of Cape Idsu 

 she came up with a low, barren, and apparently uninhabited islet of about three-fourths of a 

 mile in length, known as Rock island. There is a passage between this and the promontory 

 which bounds the main land, and, although broken with several rocky islets, it is navigable. 

 The United States ship-of-the-line Columbus took that course, although the other, on the outer 

 side of Rock island, the one pursued by the Morrison, was preferred, and was accordingly taken 

 by the Commodore, who passed within a mile and a half of the island. As the squadron sailed 

 up the coast some eight or ten junks hove in sight, and two or three of them wei"e observed soon 

 to change their course and to turn back toward the shore, as if to announce the arrival of 

 strangers. 



The morning seemed to confirm the reputed character of the Japanese climate, for the 

 atmosphere was so thick and hazy that the extent of view was unfortunately very much 

 restricted^ and it was not possible to get a distinct outline of the shore until the squadron 

 came to anchor off the city of Uraga. The steamer, in spite of a wind, moved on with 

 all sails furled, at the rate of eight or nine knots, much to the astonishment of the crews of the 

 Japanese fishing junks gathered along the shore or scattered over the surface of the mouth of 

 the bay, who stood up in their boats, and were evidently expressing the liveliest surprise at the 

 sight of the first steamer ever beheld in Japanese waters. 



As the day advanced the sun came out with a brighter lustre, glistening upon the broad sails 

 of the junks within view, and dispelling the mist, through the openings of which the lofty 

 summits and steep lava-scarred sides of the promontory of Idzu and its mountain chains, now 

 left rapidly behind, could occasionally be discovered. Crossing the mouth of the bay of Sagami, 

 with Vries' island, or Oo-sima, as it is called, on the starboard, the ships moved in toward 

 Cape Sagami. The Great Fusi, now, as the fog occasionally lifted, rose to view behind the 

 head of the bay of Sagami, and its cone-like summit was disclosed, rising to an enormous height, 

 far inland, and covered with a white cap, but whether of snow or of fleecy clouds it was 

 impossible to distinguish. The boats showed themselves more cautiously as the vessels entered 

 the bay ; but one was overtaken by the steamers, and those on board seemed in a terrible state 

 of excitement, letting drop its broad sails, and taking to their oars, which they used with all 

 tlieir might, as they were evidently anxious to give a wide berth to the squadron. 



As the ships neared the bay, signals were made from the Commodore, and instantly the decks 

 were cleared for action, the guns placed in position and shotted, the ammunition arranged, the 

 small arms made ready, sentinels and men at their posts, and, in short, all the preparations 

 made, usual before meeting an enemy. About noon Cape Sagami was reached, when the 

 squadron came too, for about ten minutes, and a signal was made for all captains to go on 

 board the flag-ship and receive their orders from the Commodore. This done, the vessels now 

 continued their course and soon came up with the peninsula of Sagami, at the south end of 

 which a town was observed. When the squadron liad approached within two miles of the land 

 a fleet of large boats, amounting to more than a dozen, pushed off in the direction of the shipSj 



