DESCRIPTION OF THE JAPANESE COMMISSIONERS. 347 



or woollen socks, laced to some distance above the ankles. The socks were so contrived that the 

 great toe was separated from the other four for the passage of the hand which attached to the 

 sandal, and joined another from the heel at the ankle, where the two were tied together. Over 

 the doublet and trowsers a loose gown of embroidered silk, something in the shape of the clerical 

 robe, with loose sleeves, was worn. This was secured to the waist by a sash, in which are 

 usually thrust the two swords which mark the dignitaries of higher rank. The three princes 

 alone, of all the commissioners, were observed to wear a white inner shirt, or vest, which was 

 exposed at the breast. This was a mark of the very highest rank, and belongs exclusively to 

 princes and the loftiest dignitaries of the Empire. 



Hayashi Daigaku-no-kami, prince councillor, was evidently the chief member of the com- 

 mission, for all matters of importance were referred to him. He was a man of about fifty- 

 five years of age, was handsomely formed, and had a grave and rather saturnine expression of 

 face, though he had a benevolent look and exceedingly courtly manners. Ido, Prince of 

 Tsusima, was probably fifty, or thereabout, and was corpulent and tall in person. He had a 

 rather more vivacious expression than the elder Hayashi. The third and youngest of the 

 princes was the Prince of Mima-saki, who could hardly be much beyond forty years of age, and 

 was far the best looking of the three. He was quite gay, fond of fun and frolic, and had the 

 reputation of being a Lothario. According to the interpreters, Mima-saki entertained more 

 liberal views with respect to foreign intercourse than any of his coadjutors, and seemed to be a 

 great favorite with the Japanese, as he certainly was with all the Americans. His gaiety of 

 heart manifested itself very apparently in his fondness for the music of the bands of the 

 squadron, and he could not keep his hands and feet quiet whenever they struck up a lively air. 

 Udono, who, though not a prince, was a man of high station, and was known by the title of 

 Mimbu-shiyoyu, or member of the board of revenue, was a tall, passable looking man, but his 

 features were prominent and had much of the Mongolian caste. The fifth and last one of the five 

 commissioners was Matsusaki Michitaro, whose rank and title were not discovered. Indeed, he 

 had not been originally named to the Americans as one of the commissioners. In reply to the 

 inquiries made, they at first said there were four ; and afterward, at a subsequent interview, the 

 interpreter remarked, as if casually, that a fifth commissioner had been added. Possibly he 

 was the official public spy appointed to remind the others, by his presence, of their duty, and 

 we may add, danger. Whatever may have been his ofiicial position, his precise business in the 

 commission it was difficult to fathom ; he was always present at the conference, but took his 

 seat constantly at rather a remote distance from the other dignitaries, on the further end of 

 the sedan. By him there was continually crouched, upon his knees, a scribe, who was con- 

 stantly employed in taking notes of what was passing, and occasionally under the promptings 

 of his superior. Matsusaki was rather an equivocal character, difiicult to understand. As 

 far as could be observed, he did not seem to be called into consultation, at least publicly, and 

 from the circumstance of not sitting with the other commissioners, his rank and powers seemed 

 to be inferior to theirs. This, however, is but conjectural. Our officers, of course, asked no 

 questions, though all agreed in the decidedly unfavorable impression made upon them by 

 Matsusaki. For aught they knew, he might have been the Emperor himself, though it is most 

 unlikely ; and if he were, all that can be said is that he was much less polished and agreeable 

 than his prince commissioners. He was, as we have intimated, probably the court spy. He 

 was a man of sixty years of age at least, had a long, drawn-out meagre body, a very yellow 

 bilious face, an uncomfortable dyspeptic expression, which his excessive short-sightedness did 



