CAUSES OF commodore's leaving japan. 271 



The Commodore preferred, tlien, to wait until the ensuing spring, when he would be able to 

 concentrate his whole force, and be prepared with store and coal vessels, and all other con- 

 veniences for remaining an indefinite time to secure whatever concessions the Japanese should 

 be disposed to make. His policy, though in conformity with the exigencies of his position, was 

 at the same time a courteous concession to the deliberate ceremoniousness of Japanese diplomacy, 

 and was crowned by the happiest result. A letter signifying his intention to leave immediately 

 and return the ensuing spring for an answer to the President's letter, had been, it will be 

 recollected, delivered with that letter on the occasion of the Commodore's reception on shore. 



The squadron left the anchorage in Susquehanna Bay on Sunday morning, (July IT.) With 

 the steamer Susquehanna towing the Saratoga, and the Mississippi the Plymouth, the four 

 vessels began their voyage and started away rapidly without a yard of canvas set. The morning 

 was fine, and as the departure of the Americans was a great event, and the appearance of the 

 four ships moving off in stately procession, succeeding each other in regular line, was imposing 

 and novel to the Japanese unfamiliar with the power of steam, crowds of people gathered upon 

 the land to behold the sight. As the promontory of Uraga was doubled the soldiers thronged 

 out of the batteries, and hurrying to the loftiest summits eagerly looked at the passing ships. 

 The course of the squadron was down the centre of the bay, and the inhabitants on both shores 

 could, in the clearness of the day, equally gratify their curiosity. Many were not content with 

 the distant view, and crowding into boats had pushed off in the stream in such multitudes that 

 the waters were covered with many himdreds of them. 



As the squadron steamed out of the bay a parting look was obtained of the lofty summit of 

 Mount Fusi, both behind and in advance ; as the ships took an easterly course, the mountainous 

 coast of the province of Awa, at the northern entrance to the lower bay of Yedo, rose to the 

 view. Vries' Island, or, as it is otherwise called, Oo-Sima, was left to the south ; and, though 

 partly obscured with clouds, the convex outline of the lower part of its mountainous elevation 

 could be distinctly traced. The course of the ships was now directed toward the south, when 

 the various islands which extend in a line from the mouth of the bay of Yedo were gradually 

 approached and observed. They mostly were marked with the usual features of volcanic origin, 

 having a rounded contour, with their summits rising into cones, their steep sides scarred with the 

 burning currents of lava, and their bases surrounded with irregular shaped detached rocks. A 

 rich vegetation, as is common in such latitudes, had thrown its green mantle over the sides of 

 some of the islands, which presented a striking contrast of verdant beauty with the bared ribs and 

 fire-blasted surface of others. Vulcan Island was conspicuous among the rest with its volcanic 

 summit and its acclivities of cooled lava. Fatsicio, the penal island of Japan, was in the 

 distance at the south ; but as the shades of evening gathered as the ships approached, it was not 

 come up with before it was too dark to obtain a good view. As several of the islands were not 

 laid down in any of the charts in possession of the Commodore, he took the usual privilege of 

 American and European discoverers and gave names to some of the chain. One was called, 

 after the steamer, the Mississippi Island ; a cluster of rocks, described as resembling somewhat 

 the basaltic formation of the Giant's Causeway, was called after the Susquehanna ; and the 

 other ships, the Plymouth and Saratoga, each came in for the honor of giving her name to a rock 

 or an island. The whole chain was compcsed of a great number of islands or islets, as many as 

 eight being in view at one time. . They showed no marks of habitation ; but from their proximity 

 to the Japanese coast they were probably utilised for some purpose and peopled more or less. 

 Fatsicio, it is known, is used as a penal settlement, and it is probable some of the other islands 



