FUNERAL OF AN AMERICAN 425 



Cliew, and on tho 6th of May the Macedonian, Vandalia, and Southampton preceded the 

 steamers and sailed for Hakodadi. 



One of the sailors on board the Powhatan having unfortunately fallen trom aloft and died 

 soon after, it became necessary to make some provision for his burial. 



The Japanese authorities readily assented to the rec[uest that ho should be buried ashore. A 

 place of interment was accordingly selected in the neighborhood of the village of Kaki-zaki, 

 and thenceforward appropriated as the burial place for Americans. On the day of the funeral 

 several Japanese officials came on board ship, and saying that tJieir laws rccj^uired it, asked to 

 inspect the body. They, however, politely prefaced their demands with the remark that it was 

 a formality about which the prefect and they themselves could exercise no discretion, but that 

 they had no doubt it might be dispensed with for the future, on a requisition being made to the 

 commissioners. As the coffin was still unnailed, and there seemed no good reason for refusing 

 to grant the request of the Japanese officials, they were allowed to see the body. The burial 

 then took place, according to the usual Christian ceremonies, in the place on shore which had 

 been approfiriated for the purpose. 



Everything seemed now to be on the most friendly footing, and it was with no little surprise 

 and vexation that the Commodore heard, from the reports of some of his officers, of an outrage 

 which called for a prompt rebuke, and the demand for an apology from the local authorities. 

 The Commodore's first impulse, in fact, was to dispatch a guard of marines on shore to arrest 

 the Japanese officials who had been guilty, but, upon reflection, he determined to send his 

 lieutenant to call upon the prefect and to lay before him the facts of the outrage, and to insist 

 upon the fullest explanation and apology. The occurrence was simply this : three of the officers 

 went ashore to amuse themselves in the neighborhood of Simoda with their fowling-pieces, and, 

 after a day's shooting, which was prolonged to a late hour, they betook themselves to one of the 

 temples as a resting place. As the evening was too far advanced to think of returning to the 

 ships, it was proposed that the sportsmen should spend their night in the lodging apartment 

 connected with the monastery. With a view courteously to avoid any misunderstanding, the 

 officers first informed Tabroske, the interpreter, of their intention, which was sujiposed to be in 

 perfect conformity with the understanding with the authorities, who had specifically declared 

 that either of the temples was at the disposition of the Commodore and his officers for a resting 

 place. The three gentlemen had hardly, however, entered and prepared themselves for a night's 

 rest upon the soft mats of the apartment, when a great noise at the entrance and the subsequent 

 thronging in of a troop of soldiers, led by Tatsnoske and a nimiber of Japanese oflicials, 

 disturbed their prospect of repose, and greatly aroused tho indignation of the officers. The 

 Japanese intruded themselves unceremoniously into the sleeping apartment, and rudely insisted 

 on the Americans leaving on the instant and returning to the ships. 



Tatsnoske and another official, finding that their urgent ajipeals were unheeded, left with 

 the intention, as they said, of going to see the Commodore in reference to the matter. In their 

 absence, the remaining officials and soldiers became still more rude and insolent, but were soon 

 brought to a civil silence and driven in fright from tho apartment by the formidable attitude of 

 the three officers, who stood to their arms, and significantly cocked their revolvers. There was 

 no further interruption to the tranquillity of the officers, but a guard was stationed in another 

 part of the temple, where they remained during the whole niglit. 



Tlie prefect was dispcsed at first to justify the conduct of his subordinates when the case was 

 54 J 



