SHIPS BROUGHT NEAR THE LAND. 253 



standards were suspended broad pennons of rich scarlet which swept the ground -nith their- 

 flowing length. On the beach in front of this display were ranged regiments of soldiers, who 

 stood in fixed order, evidently arrayed to give an appearance of martial force, that the Ameri- 

 cans might be duly impressed with tlie military power of the Japanese. 



As the beholder fixced the liay, he saw on the left of the village of Gori-Hama a straggling 

 group of jieakcd-roofed houses, built between the beach and the base of the high ground which 

 ran in green acclivities behind, and ascended from height to height to the distant mountains. 

 A luxuriant valley or gorge, walled in with richly wooded hills, opened at the head of the bay, 

 and breaking the uniformity of the curve of the shore gave a beautiful variety to the landscape. 

 On the right some hundred Japanese boats, or more, were arranged in parallel lines along the 

 margin of the shore, with a red flag flying at the stern of each. The whole effect, though not 

 startling, was novel and cheerful, and every thing combined to give a pleasing aspect to the 

 picture. The day was bright, with a clear stmlight wliich seemed to give fresh vitality alike to 

 the verdant hill-sides, and the gay banners, and the glittering soldiery. Back from the beach, 

 opposite the centre of the curved shore of the bay, the building, just constructed for the recep- 

 tion, rose in three pyramidal shaped roofs, high above the surrounding houses. It was covered 

 in front by striped cloth, which was extended in screens to either side. It had a new, fresh 

 look, indicative of its recent erection, and with its peaked summits was not unlike, in the 

 distance, a group of very large ricks of grain. 



Two boats approached as the steamers neared the opening of the bay, and when the anchors 

 were dropped they came alongside the Susquehanna. Kayama Yezaiman, with his two 

 interpreters, came on board, followed immediately by Nagazima Saboi'oske and an officer in 

 attendance, who had come in the second boat. They were duly received at the gangway and 

 conducted to seats on the quarter deck. All were dressed in full official costume, somewhat 

 different from their ordinary garments. Their gowns, though of the usual shape, were much 

 more elaborately adorned. The material was of very rich silk brocade of gay colors, turned up 

 with yellow velvet, and the whole dress was highly embroidered with gold lace in various 

 figures, among which was conspicuously displayed on the back, sleeves, and breast the arms of 

 the wearer. 8aboroske, the sub-governor of Uraga, wore a pair of very broad but very short 

 trowsers, which, when his legs (which was not often the case) stood still and together, looked very 

 much like a slit petticoat, while below, his netlier limbs were partly naked and partly covered 

 by Ijlack woollen socks. Saboroske, in spite of his elaborate toilette and his finery, all bedizened 

 with gold thread, glossy silk, and gay colors, did not produce a very impressive effect; but by 

 his comical appearance provoked mirth rather than admiration. He had, in fact, very much 

 the appearance of an unusually brilliant knave of trumps. 



A signal was now hoisted from the Susquehanna as a summons for the boats from the other 

 ships, and in the course of half an hour they had all pulled alongside with their various officers 

 sailors, and marines, detailed for the day's ceremonies. The launches and cutters numbered no 

 less than fifteen, and presented quite an imposing array ; and with all on board them, in proper 

 imiform, a picturesque effect was not wanting. Captain Buchanan, having taken his place in 

 his barge, led the way, flanked on either side by the two Japanese boats containing the 

 governor and vice-governor of Uraga with their respective suites ; and these dignitaries acted as 

 masters of ceremony and pointed out the course to the American flotilla. The rest of the ships' 

 boats followed after in order, with the cutters containing the two bands of the steamers, who 

 enlivened the occasion with their cliecrful music. 



