REPLY PROM THE COURT AT YEDO. 



243 



CHAPTER XIII. 



REPLY FROM THE COtTRT AT YEDO. EFFORTS OF THE JAPANESE TO GET THE SQUADROV OCT OF THE BAY OP YEDO. COMMODORE 8 



FIRM REFUSAL TO LEAVE URAGA. AGREEMENT OF THE EMPEROR TO RECEIVE, THROUGH A COMMISSIONER, THE PRESIDENT'S 



LETTER. HIGH BREEDING OF THE JAPANESE GENTLEMEN; NOT ILL INFORMED. SURVEY OF THE BAY OF YEDO. — FOGS OF 



JAPAN. SECOND VISIT FROM THE GOVERNOR OF URAGA. HE BRINGS A LETTER FROM THE EMPEROR, AUTHORIZING A PRINCE 



OF THE EMPIRE TO RECEIVE, IN HIS NAME, THE PRESIDENT'S LETTER. ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR THE COMMODORe's RECEP- 

 TION ON SHORE TO DELIVER THE LETTER. MINUTE ATTENTION OF THE JAPANESE TO ETIQUETTE AND CEREMONIALS. 



PREPARATIONS IN THE SQUADRON FOR THE VISIT ON SHORE AT THE RECEPTION. SHIPS BROUGHT NEAR THE LAND, SO AS TO 



COMMAND THE PLACE OF MEETING. LANDING AND RECEPTION, AND DELIVERY OF THE LETTER AND OTHER DOCUMENTS. 



PRINCES OF IDSU AND IWAMA. CONTENTS OF PRESIDENT'S LETTER. COHMODORe's LETTER OF CREDENCE, AND HIS LETTERS 



TO THE EMPEROR. RECEIPT GIVEN BY THE JAPANESE FOR THE PAPERS. RETURN TO THE SHIPS. 



HE day appointed for the reception of a reply from 

 Yedo (Tuesday, July 12) had now arrived. Accordingly, 

 at about half past nine o'clock in the morning, three 

 boats were seen to approach the steamer Susquehanna 

 from the shores of Uraga. These were different from 

 the usual government craft, and seemod, unlike the 

 iithers, to be built after an European model; the rowers 

 sat to their oars, and moved them as our boatmen do, 

 B though somewhat awkwardly, instead of standing and 

 i sculling at the sides, in accordance with the usual 

 ' Japanese practice. The construction of the boats waa 

 C" evidently very strong, and their models fair. Their 

 masts, sails, and rigging were of the ordinary Japanese 

 fashion. The crews were numerous, there being thirty in the largest boat, and thirteen in each 

 of the others, and their great swarthy frames were clothed in the usual uniform of loose blue 

 dresses slashed with white stripes. 



The boat in advance was distinguished, in addition to the government mark of a horizontal 

 black stripe across her broad sail, by the black and white flag, which indicated the presence of 

 some officers of distinction, and such in fact were now on board of her. As she approached 

 nearer to the ship, the governor, Kayama Yezaiman, in his rich silken robes, was recognised, 

 seated on mats spread in the centre of the deck of the vessel, and surrounded by his interpreters 

 and suite. 



