360 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



repair immediately on board. A copy of these orders ■n'as, on tlie instant^ dispatched by the 

 Japanese officials, then in the Powhatan, in pursuit of the American officer, reported to be on 

 his way to Yedo. The Commodore's prompt action was handsomely acknowledged by the 

 authorities, who sent to him, next day, a formal expression of their gratitude. 



The American officer, whose intrusion had created so great an excitement, was Mr. Bittinger, 

 the chaplain of the steamer Susquehanna. While taking a walk on shore, this gentleman's 

 curiosity prompted him to extend his observations somewhat beyond the usual circuit of some 

 four or five miles, within which the Japanese authorities had contracted the movements of 

 their visitors. Starting from Yoku-hama, opposite to where the squadron was anchored, the 

 enterprising investigator pushed on to the town of Kanagawa, some three miles further up tlie 

 bay, where he was accosted by some of the Japanese officials and the interpreter, Gohatsiro, 

 who urgently solicited him to return. He was not, however, to be so easily balked of his 

 purpose, and continued his journey, followed by the Japanese officers, who dogged his steps at 

 every turn until he reached Kamasaki. Here there was a river to cross, and he tried to prevail 

 upon the Japanese boatmen to ferry him to the opposite side, but they refused in spite of bribes 

 and threats, in the course of which the chaplain, if the Japanese accounts are to be believed, 

 drew his sword. He now jrarsued his way higher upi the river with the hope of finding a place 

 that might be forded, and had just reached a very promising looking crossing, the depths Of 

 which he was about trying, when the messenger, who had hurried in rapid dispatch, from the 

 steamer Powhatan accosted him with the written order of the Commodore. "He," thus 

 reported the Japanese authoi'ities, with their usual minuteness of description, "read it, walked 

 four steps further, read it again, then suddenly returned and intimated his intention of going 

 back to the ship." The chaplain, in the course of his wanderings, had an opportunity of 

 seeing one of the largest towns of Japan, that of Kanagawa, which, with its numerous wide 

 streets, and its crowded population, had quite an imposing appearance. He penetrated into 

 several of the dwellings and temples, and, by his pertinacious perseverance, succeeded in 

 obtaining, in one of the shops, some Japanese money in exchange for American coin. The 

 native authorities seemed particularly worried in regard to this last matter, as it was so great 

 an offence against their laws. The Japanese, in their report of the occurrence, stated that the 

 American officer had gone into a shop by the roadside and asked the keeper to allow him to see 

 some coins. The Japanese shopman complied with the request, but as he seemed somewhat 

 chary in the display of his treasure the chaplain insisted upon seeing more, which demand was 

 also granted. Scales were now asked for, which being brought the chaplain took out some 

 silver pieces, and weighing them in one balance against the Japanese gold and silver coins, 

 mixed indiscriminately in a heap, in the other, transferred the latter to his pockets and left his 

 American coin to console the shopman for the loss of his Japanese change. The authorities 

 further reported that the chaplain was not content with gentle exhortations and mild persua- 

 sions, but had used threatening gestures, in which his drawn sword had figured conspicuously. 

 They, however, mildly and courteously added in their report, "that they supposed that it was 

 with no intention to do harm, but for his own amusement." There was a gentle and graceful 

 charity in the suggestion of an apology for the conduct of the American officer, which showed 

 an example in beautiful accordance with the precepts of the faith of the intruder, and well 

 worthy of imitation. On the next day Yenoske brought back the sum of three dollars and a 

 half in American silver coin, which had been left in compulsory exchange with the Japanese 



