393 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



prostrated themselves in the presence of the Commodore and his party, should he considered 

 rather as a mark of their reverence for the strangers than as an evidence of their suhordination. 

 That in the large towns and cities of Japan there is great licentiousness, it is reasonahle to 

 suppose, for such seems, unhappily, a universal law in all great communities ; but it must be 

 said to the credit of the Japanese ■women, that during all the time of the presence of the 

 squadron in the bay of Yedo, there was none of the usual indication of wantonness and license 

 on the part of the female sex in their occasional relations with the miscellaneous ships' people. 



On the 9th of April, notwithstanding a note received from the commissioners, in which they 

 urgently remonstrated against the movement, the Commodore sent word that he would on the 

 following day approach with the steamers as near to Tedo as the depth of water would allow. 

 Accordingly, on the next morning, the whole squadron got under way from the anchorage at 

 Kanagawa, and moved up the bay. The Japanese interpreters came on board the Powhatan 

 just as she started, and were evidently in great dismay. They earnestly begged the Commodore 

 to desist from his purpose, iirging that the safety of the Empire, perhaps, and certainly that of 

 their own lives, depended upon the issue. Not being able to dissuade the Commodore, 'he 

 Japanese remained on board to mark his movements. The steamers Powhatan and Mississipjii 

 advanced beyond the other vessels and doubled the point near Sinagawa, the southern suburb of 

 the capital, and came so close to the far-famed Yedo that, if it had not, unfortunately, been for 

 a fog, so common on that coast, the capital would have been distinctly visible. The general 

 outline of the city could, however, be made out, showing an immense and thickly crowded 

 number of houses and buildings covering a large surface. Though there was every indication 

 of the great size of the town, there was a general similarity in the low peaked houses and the 

 terraced gardens to the other populous settlements on the bay. Upon the heights and projecting 

 points commanding the capital there were the usual forts, with canvas outworks, and other 

 fortified places. The Buddhist temples, however, which are generally the highest and most 

 conspicuous buildings in these Japanese towns, may possibly, from the prevailing haze which 

 confined the view, have been mistaken for fortifications. 



Along the whole sea front of the city there appeared to be a row of high palisades, with 

 occasional openings for the admission of boats or small junks. Whether these were arranged 

 to protect the landing places from the washing of the sea, or to defend the city from an attack, 

 it was impossible to decide. It was quite probable, however, that they had been put up in 

 consequence of the visit of the squadron, to prevent the approach of the armed bo its in case of 

 an attempt on the part of the Americans to land by force. One thing, however, seems quite 

 certain, that the city of Yedo can be destroyed by a few steamers of very light draught of water 

 and with guns of the heaviest calibre. 



Considerable preparation had evidently been made at first by the Japanese to impress the 

 Americans with a great idea of their military power. New works of defence were commenced, 

 and large numbers of troops paraded ostentatiously within sight of the squadron, during the 

 first visit to Yedo bay, and it is probable that it had been seriously discussed in the Japanese 

 councils whether or not to resist by force all intercourse with the Americans. On the second 

 visit there was evidently a change of policy, and a studious avoidance of all show of military 

 resistance. An extensive fortified work that had been begun in the neighborhood of Yedo was 

 discontinued, and a fire which destroyed it and the large wooden shed which had been built for 

 the accommodation of the numerous workmen, was suspected to have been applied at the 



