ANSWER TO THE PRESIDENT'S LETTER. 849 



the knees, cross the feet, and turn up the heels, with the toes, instep, and calves of the legs 

 hroiight together into close contact. 



Sometimes it is mere squatting down with the soles firm upon the ground, the knees hent, and 

 the hody crouched low. Yenoske was quite an adept in these manoeuvres, as were his coadjutors, 

 and especially the prefect, Kura-kawa-kahei, who was one of the subordinate functionaries 

 present during the conference. They all showed a wonderful elasticity of muscle and suppleness 

 of joint which could only have been acquired by long practice, and reminded one of those skilful 

 contortionists or clowns, who exhibit their caoutchouc accomplishments to the wonderment of 

 the spectators. These worthies, humble as they were in the august presence of tlio commis- 

 sioners, had their worshippers in turn, who were more humble still, and who outdid them, even, 

 in their bowings and prostrations. Every Japanese is thus by turns master and slave, now 

 submissively with his neck beneath the foot of one, and again haughtily with his foot upon 

 the neck of another. The commissioners, after a momentary silence, spoke a word to the 

 prostrate Yenoske, who listened an instant, with downcast eyes, and then by a skilful 

 manoeuvre, still upon his knees, moved toward the commissioners' interpreter, and having com- 

 municated his message, which proved to be merely the ordinary compliments, with an inquiry 

 after the health of the Commodore and his officers, returned with an appropriate answer lo his 

 former position. An interchange of various polite messages having been thus borne backward 

 and forward for several minutes, through the medium of the humble but useful Yenoske 

 refreshments, consisting of the invariable pipe, tea in porcelain cups, served on lacquered 

 trays, cakes, and some confectionary were handed round. 



It was now proposed by the commissioners that an adjournment should take place to another 

 room, which they stated would accommodate comfortably about ten persons. Accordingly, the 

 Commodore having assented, he, accompanied by the captain of the fleet, his two interpreters 

 and secretary, were conducted into another and much smaller room, the entrance to which was 

 only separated from the principal hall by a blue silk flag, ornamented in the centre with the 

 embroidered arms of Japan. On entering, the commissioners were found already seated on the 

 right, they having withdrawn previously to the Commodore, and arranged themselves in rank 

 upon one of the red divans, which extended along the sides of the aimrtment. 



The Commodore and his party took their seats on the left, and business commenced, the 

 commissioners having preliminarily stated that it was a Japanese custom to speak slowly. 

 They were evidently very anxious to proceed with deliberation, and weigh every word with the 

 exactness of cautious diplomatists. 



The chief commissioner now handed the Commodore a long roll of paper, which proved to be 

 an answer to the President's letter, delivered on the previous visit at Gori-hama in July. 



Translation of anstver to the letter of the President to the Emperor of Japan. 



" The return of your excellency, as ambassador of the United States to this Empire, has been 

 expected according to the letter of his Majesty the President, which letter your excellency 

 delivered last year to his Majesty the Emperor of this Empire. 



"It is quite impossible to give satisfactory answers at once to all the proposals of your 

 government, as it is most positively forbidden by the laws of our Imperial ancestors ; but for us 

 to continue attached to the ancient laws, seems to misunderstand the spirit of the ao-e • how- 

 ever, we are governed now by imperative necessity. 



