DISCIPLINE ON BOARD. 417 



approacbed, Cape Diamond will shut in the Ukona rocks and Kock island to the southward, 

 while in the Simoda roads they are both visible from all points. To the westward of the harbor 

 there ate several beaches and banks of sand, which, as they can be plainly discerned at the 

 distance of six or eight miles, will serve as good land marks. 



A vessel from the southward and eastward should pass to the west of the island of Meac-sima, 

 which may be known by a remarkable snow-white cliif on its western side, and a patch on the 

 summit toward the north. To the southward and westward of the island there are two groups 

 of dangerous rocks, some fifteen or twenty feet high, which were called by the Commodore, 

 Kedfield, after the well-known scientific investigator of that name. One set is in latitude 33° 

 56' 13" N., and longitude 138° 48' 31" E. ; the other in latitude 33° 57' 31" N., and in longitude 

 138° 49' 13" E. 



There are but two hidden dangers in the harbor. The first is the Southampton rock, so called 

 from the ship which touched upon it, and lying in mid-channel, bearing N. ^ W. from Vandalia 

 bluff", between which and Centre island it is situated about three-fourths of the way. The rock 

 is estimated to be aboiit twenty-five feet in diameter, and has two fathoms of water covering it. 

 It was marked by the surveyors with a white spar-buoy. The other concealed danger is the 

 Supply ]-ock, which bears S. by W., at a short distance from Buisako islet, and has a sharp edge 

 with eleven feet of water upon it. A red spar-buoy indicates its position. 



The general discipline of the sq^uadron had been excellent during the whole exjiedition, and 

 under circumstances calculated to test, with some degree of severity, the government of the 

 officers and the obedience of the men. From the necessity of conciliating the strange people of 

 Japan, and conforming, in some respects, to their habits of non-intercourse with foreigners, it 

 required great tact, on the part of those having authority on board ship, to reconcile the natural 

 desire of occasional liberty on the part of the sailors with the rigid reserve of the Japanese. 

 This was, however, accomplished with general success, and there was but little occasion for any 

 but the ordinary exercise of the rules of discipline to secure the preservation of that good order 

 which was the characteristic of all the ships of the squadron. Neglect of duty and small 

 oifences were promptly rebuked and punished by the usual penalties, and great severity was 

 rarely called for. On the 19th of April, however, it was found necessary to convene a general 

 court martial on hoard the Mississippi for the trial of several seamen, and the result was the 

 finding of two of the men guilty of desertion. It was, however, but technical desertion, 

 consisting in what Jack calls "French," meaning " taking French leave," by wandering off 

 from a boat ashore, without permission, to look for drink. The laws of the service, however, 

 properly enough, deem such conduct desertion. The sentence was duly read in all the ships of 

 the squadron, and the delinquents suffered the usual penalty of confinement for a time and 

 stojipage of pay. 



On the third day after reaching Simoda, April 21st, the Commodore, accompanied by a small 

 suite of officers, landed, and paid an official visit to Kura-Kawa-Kahei, the prefect. The party 

 was received with the usual formal courtesies by the Japanese official and Moryama Yenoske 

 who had come to Simoda to exercise his functions as an interpreter, and to aid, by his experience 

 in carrying out the conditions of the treaty just negotiated at Kanagawa. The Commodore, after 

 partaking of refreshments, walked through the town to take a general survey, and entered 

 various temples, which are the chief objects of interest to the stranger at Simoda. On his 

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