VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR OF URAGA. 237 



festoons^ a beautiful view -was disclosed. A bold shore, occasionally broken by steep escarpments 

 of bare gray rock, extended along the western or Sagami side of the bay, with an undulating 

 surface brightly green with verdure, tufts of undergrowth, and scattered groups of trees. Fui'ther 

 inland the earth rose in a range of gently swelling hills, the sides of which were covered with 

 vegetation. Two miles below the anchorage, the shore was less abrupt, and seemed more 

 cultivated. From Uraga to the entrance of the inner bay of Yedo, marked by a promontory a 

 mile and a half distant, innumerable towns and villages were grouped along the shores on either 

 side. Uraga embraces two of these towns, separated from each other by a cliff ; through the 

 larger one of which a river passes and empties into the harbor, where floated a great number 

 of small boats and several junks. As most of the vessels bound up the bay were seen 

 to stop in their course at Uraga, that place was supposed to be an entrepot where certain 

 custom dues had to be paid. Forts could be seen on the headlands here and there 

 commanding the harbor, and as they were examined through the glass, some of them 

 were found to be in an iinfinished state, and in progress of construction or alteration. Some 

 were mounted with cannon, though apparently of no great calibre, while others were without a 

 gun. A length of screens had been stretched for a distance of several rods upon posts in front 

 of the breastworks, as well as inside the forts behind the embrasures, and along parts of the 

 shore. In the distance these screens seemed to be composed of cloth, and were marked with 

 white and black stripes. Their purpose was not very obvious, although it was surmised that 

 they were got up with the intention of making a false show of concealed force. The Japanese 

 probably had not calculated upon the exactness of view afforded by a Dolland's telescope or a 

 French opera glass. Companies of soldiers, in glaring scarlet uniforms, were seen to pass from 

 garrison to garrison, some bearing flags with various insignia, and others large lanterns upon 

 tall poles. The shore was lined with a formidable sliow of the same sort of government boats 

 as had surrounded the ships on their arrival. They seemed to be picketed off from the town by 

 two red flags which had been planted on the shore between them and the houses on the land. 



The first approach to the Susquehanna from the shore was that of a boat at early sunrise next 

 morning, (July 9th,) apparently containing a corps of artists, who came close to the shijD's side, 

 but making no attempt to come on board, busied themselves in taking sketches of the strange 

 vessels. The important visit of the day, however, came off at seven o'clock, when two large 

 boats rowed alongside, one of which contained a half dozen officials, whose presence was 

 indicated by the three-striped flag at the stern. The interpreter who spoke Dutch was with 

 them, and announced that the i^ersonage of highest authority in the city was present, and 

 desired to come on board. The arrival of Keyamon Yezaimen, (for such was his name,) who 

 presented himself as the governor and greatest functionary of Uraga, thus plainly contradicting 

 the declaration of the vice-governor of the day before, was then duly announced to the Commo- 

 dore, who ordered that his highness should be received by Commanders Buchanan and Adams 

 and Lieutenant Contee, the Commodore himself still refusing, in accordance with his policy, to 

 receive any one but a counsellor of the Empire. The governor was attired, in character with his 

 high position, as a noble of tlie third rank. He wore a rich silk robe of an embroidered imttern 

 resembling the feathers of a peacock, with borders of gold and silver. He was duly received by 

 the officers we have named, and immediately commenced with them a conference, which, how- 

 ever, was in reality with the Commodore, though he still preserved his seclusion. The governor, 

 after a long discussion, in which he more than once declared that the Japanese laws made it 

 impossible that the President's letter should be received at Uraga, and that, even if it were, the 



