424 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



determined to evade the fiill execution of tlie stipulations of tlie^ treaty, since, I17 allowing his 

 spies or soldiers to follow the Americans, and by ordering the people to withdraw from the 

 streets and to close their houses, he was placing every obstruction in the way of that friendly 

 intercourse with the Japanese which was guarantied by the compact solemnly entered into 

 between Japan and the United States. The prefect was then assured, that if these annoyances 

 should continue, the Commodore would stop all relations with the town and return to Yedo, as, 

 although he had been eight days at Simoda, there had been very little improvement in the 

 conduct of the authorities, and his patience was exhausted. 



The prefect excused himself by averring that the Commodore was mistaken in his allegations, 

 and that the soldiers were present for the protection of the visitors, and were engaged, not, as 

 was sujiposed, in ordering the people to withdraw and close their houses, but in directing them 

 to welcome the Americans, and open their doors to them. Upon the flag-lieutenant, however, 

 urging that his personal experience proved the contrary, the prefect said then that his orders 

 had been misunderstood, and he would renew them and see that they were executed, that the 

 Commodore might have no reason to complain thereafter. In regard to trading with the 

 Americans, the prefect declared that he had received no instructions to allow of it until the 

 opening of a bazaar. He was then answered that the officers merely wanted some small 

 articles for their own use, and any purchases they might make could not be considered as 

 coming within the technical understanding of the term "trade." It was then agreed, after 

 some resistance on the part of the prefect and a long discussion, that whenever an American 

 wished to buy any article he should give an order for it to the shopman, who would be directed 

 to take the order and the purchase to the interpreter, by whom the article would be sent to the 

 ships. The prefect then referred to the case of the two Japanese who had clandestinely visited 

 the steamers, and seemed solicitous of obtaining some information in regard to their conduct, 

 but his enquiries were abruptly checked by the answer that the Commodore was not to be 

 questioned by any of the subordinates of the government. 



As the Americans, subsequent to this last interview with the prefect, began to frequent the 

 shops and select articles for purchase, it was found necessary to establish some temporary 

 currency. It was accordingly arranged, since the Japanese money, from the strict laws which 

 governed its circulation, could not be used in dealings with foreigners, that United States coins 

 should be received by the shopmen at Simoda. The value of these was estimated comparatively 

 with the Chinese cojiper cash, with which the Japanese were familiar, at the rate of 1,600 

 Chinese cash to one silver dollar. This the Japanese readily assented to, and became soon as 

 eao-er as any other trading people to become possessed of the money of the Americans. 



On the 2d of May the Macedonian arrived from the Bonin Islands with a very welcome supply 

 of fine turtles, which were distribiited among the several ships of the squadron and greatly 

 enjoyed. The market of Simoda was not well supplied with fresh meats, for, in consequence of 

 the prevailing Buddhism and the simple habits of the people, there were but few animals which 

 could be obtained for food. The poultry were very scarce, and the few cattle in the place were 

 too much valued as beasts of burden to be readily offered for sacrifice to the carnivorous 

 propensities of strangers ; so the arrival of the turtles was very gratefully welcomed by those 

 on board ship who, with the exception of a supply of fish and vegetables, had been so long 

 confined to a sea-diet of biscuit and salt junk. 



Two days subsequent to the arrival of the Macedonian the Lexington was dispatched for Lew 



