254 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



The boats skimmed briskly over the smooth waters ; for such was the skill and consequent 

 rapidity of the Japanese scullers that our sturdy oarsmen were put to their mettle to keep up 

 M'ith their guides. When the boats had reached halfway to the shore the thirteen guns of the 

 Susquehanna began to boom away and re-echo among the hills. This announced the departure 

 of the Commodore who^ stepping into his barge, was rowed off to the land. 



The guides in the Japanese boats pointed to the landing place toward the centre of the curved 

 shore, where a temporary wharf had been built out from the beach by means of bags of sand 

 and straw. The advance boat soon touched the spot, and Captain Buchanan, who commanded 

 the party, sjirang ashore, being the first of the Americans who landed in the Kingdom of 

 Japan. He was immediately followed by Major Zeilin, of the marines. The rest of the boats 

 now pulled in and disembarked their respective loads. The marines (one hundred) marched 

 up the wharf and formed into line on either side, facing the sea ; then came the hundred 

 sailors, who were also ranged in rank and file as they advanced, while the two bands brought 

 up the rear. The whole number of Americans, including sailors, marines, musicians, and 

 officers, amounted to nearly three hundred ; no very formidable array, but still c^uite enough 

 for a peaceful occasion, and composed of very vigorous, able-bodied men, who contrasted 

 strongly with the smaller and more effeminate looking Japanese. These latter had mustered 

 in great force, the amount of which the governor of Uraga stated to be five thousand ; but, 

 seemingly, they far outnumbered that. Their line extended around the whole circuit of the 

 beach, from the further extremity of the village to the abrupt acclivity of the hill which 

 bounded the bay on the northern side ; while an immense number of the soldiers thronged in, 

 behind and under cover of the cloth screens which stretched along the rear. The loose order of 

 this Japanese army did not betoken any very great degree of discipline. The soldiers were 

 tolerably well armed and equipped. Their uniform was very much like the ordinary Japanese 

 dress. Their arms were swords, spears, and match-locks. Those in front were all infantry, 

 archers and lancers ; but large bodies of cavalry were seen behind, somewhat in the distance, 

 as if held in reserve. The horses of these seemed of a fine breed, hardy, of good bottom, and 

 brisk in action ; and these troopers, with their rich caparisons, presented at least a showy 

 cavalcade. Along the base of the rising ground which ascended behind the village, and 

 entirely in the rear of the soldiers, was a large number of the inhabitants, among whom there 

 was quite an assemblage of women, who gazed with intense curiosity, through the openings in 

 the line of the military, upon the stranger visitors from another hemisi^here. 



On the arrival of the Commodore, his suite of officers formed a double line along the landing 

 place, and as he passed up between, they fell into order behind him. The procession was then 

 formed and took up its march toward the house of reception, the route to which was pointed out 

 by Kayama Yezaiman and his interpreter, Avho preceded the party. The marines led the way, 

 and the sailors following, the Commodore was duly escorted up the beach. The United States 

 flag and the broad pennant were borne by two athletic seamen, who had been selected from the 

 crews of the squadron on account of their stalwart jjroportions. Two boys, dressed for the 

 ceremony, preceded the Commodore, bearing in an envelope of scarlet cloth the boxes which 

 contained his credentials and the President's letter. These documents, of folio size, were 

 beautifully written on vellum, and not folded, but bound in blue silk velvet. Each seal, 

 attached by cords of interwoven gold and silk with pendant gold tassels, was encased in a 

 circular box si$ inches in diameter and three in depth, wrought of pure gold. Each of the 



