394 



EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



one of the small brass howitzers was landed from the Mississippi as a present for the Emperor, 

 as well as several boxes of tea brought from China, to be distributed as gifts to the interpreters 

 and some of the Japanese dignitaries. Soon after, the Commodore went ashore, accompanied 

 by several of his officers, for the purpose of taking a survey of the country. After having been 

 entertained at the treaty house with the usual refreshments, the party set out on their walk, 

 attended by Moryama, Yenoske, the chief interpreter, and several of the Japanese officials. A 

 circuit embracing some five miles was the extent of the field of observation, but this gave an 

 02)portunity of seeing a good deal of the country, several of the villages, and large numbers of 

 the people. 



:^--^£. ^v.> 



Fanu Ymii, ^ uku-lrdtn^ 



The early spring in that temperate latitude had now much advanced, and the weather, 

 though never very severe, the thermometer having varied during the stay of the squadron 

 from 38° to 64°, had become more warm and genial. The fields and terraced gardens 

 were now carpeted with a fresh and tender verdure, and the trees, with the t'ull growth of 

 renewed vegetation, spread their shades of abounding foliage in the valleys and on the hill 

 sides of the surrounding country. The camelias, with the immense growth of forty feet in 

 height, which abound everywhere on the shores of the bay of Yedo, were in full bloom, with 

 their magnificent red and white blossoms, which displayed a purity and richness of color, and a 

 perfection of development, unrivalled elsewhere. As soon as a village or hamlet was 

 approaclied, one of the Japanese attendants would hurry in advance and order the women and 

 the rabble to keep out of the way. This did not suit the purposes of the Commodore, who was 

 desirous of seeing as much as possible of the people, and learning all he could of their manners, 



