418 



EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



return to the sliip lie Wcas accompanied by several of the Japanese officials, who proposed to make 

 some arrangement for the supply of such provisions as might be required by the squadron. 



Presuming upon the privileges secured by the treaty, the officers began now to frequent the 

 shore and stroll freely about the streets of the town and the neighboring country. The common 

 people, as had been elsewhere observed, seemed very much disposed to welcome the strangers 

 and engage in friendly converse with them. They exhibited their usual curiosity, and thronged 

 about the Americans, examining their dress, and, with almost childish eagerness and delight, 

 fingered the officers' buttons, swords, and gay accoutrements, and, pointing to them, would ask, 

 in their pantomimic way, the Englisli names for each article which struck their fancy. It was 

 soon discovered, however, that the Japanese authorities were not disposed to allow of this free 

 intermingling of the people with the Americans, and no sooner was it observed than various 

 armed soldiers or policemen came up and dispersed their countrymen. Not satisfied with the 

 exercise of this severe discipline upon the poor Japanese, the officials seemed determined to 

 practice their authority upon the American officers. It was found that, wherever the latter 

 went, they were followed by a squad of soldiers, who watched every movement, and dogged 



Group of Japanese Women— Simoda. 



their steps with the pertinacity of a pack of hounds. The people, under the orders of the local 

 authorities, fled, and the town, with its shops closed and its streets deserted, was as sad as if it 

 had been devastated by the plague. Even in their strolls into the country, the American 

 officers tound that they could not divest themselves of the perpetual presence and jealous 

 watchfulness of the Japanese spies, who were evidently resolved to restrict the freedom of their 

 visitors, and put them under the most rigid surveillance. 



