DEPARTURE FOR IIAKODADI. 427 



involved by the disputatiousness of the prefect of SImoda and his satellites. He had, however,, 

 succeeded in making a thorough survey of the harbor, had acquired a considerable knowledge 

 of the place and its resources, and, above all, impressed the people with a just idea of the 

 friendly relations he wished to establish with them, and taught the authorities that no infringe- 

 ment, in the slightest degree, of the stipulations of the treaty of Yoku-hama would be allowed 

 to pass with impunity. 



On leaving the outer harbor, Oho-sima and other islands of the cluster, lying at the entrance 

 of tlie Gulf of Yedo, came into full sight. For the sake of examining the former, and observing 

 more closely the volcano on it, the steamers were steered so as to pass near its southern end. 

 The volcano was in a state of active erudition, and there seemed to be either several craters, or 

 one of great extent, as tho vajjor and smoko could be seen rising at short intervals and at 

 different places along the crest of a ridge of mountains which extended to a distance of four or 

 five miles. After passing Oho-sima, the steamers hauled up for Cape King, for the purpose of 

 establishing the position of that important headland by the meridian observations. Up to the 

 soutliern end of Oho-sima there was but little current discovered, but after reaching the channel 

 between that island and Cape King it was observed to run with considerable rapidity in a 

 direction nearly east, and on doubling the Capes its velocity increased still more. 



In running along the coast between Capes Susaki, Serofama, and Firatatsi, or as the last is 

 most generally called. Cape King, the three prominent southern headlands of tho promontory of 

 Awa, there was a good view of the land^ and every one was struck with tlie extraordinary extent 

 and perfection of its cultivation. Every portion of earth, from the base to the very summits of 

 the mountains was terraced and planted with grain, and innumerable towns and villages were 

 seen crowding, in all directions, the hill sides and the valleys. 



Cape King, Firatatsi, tlae southeastern extremity of tho island of Nippon, and included within 

 the district of Awa, is in latitude 34° 53' 15" north, and in longitude 140° 18' 50" east, according 

 to the observations taken on board the steamers Powhatan and Mississippi during the voyage. 

 The headland, which forms the cape, runs off in an easterly direction to a low point that rises 

 gradually inland, and about two miles from the extremity of this point is a cone-shaped elevation 

 crowned by a tuft of trees. A little more than half way between Cape King and Cape Sirofama, 

 near the shore, is another conical hill, also topped with trees, which offers a good land-mark. 

 A strange navigator, first making this part of the Japanese coast, might mistake Cape King for 

 an island. Vessels bound to Simoda from tho east should endeavor to make Cape King, and 

 after getting it to bear north, at a distance of six miles, should steer for the southern end of 

 Oho-sima, which can bo seen, in this position, in clear weather. After passing the southern 

 end of Oho-sima, the navigator should steer west for the harbor. No specific account is here 

 given of the currents, which are rapid and irregular throughout tlie Gulf of Yedo. The only 

 sure guides, therefore, are the charts, the cross-bearings of the more prominent islands, and a 

 good look-out. Along this part of the coast, the influence of the stream, called by the 

 Japanese, Kuro-siwo, was quite perceptible. It never ceases to run in a northeasterly 

 direction. 



On this current the observations of our officers are particularly interesting. A detailed 

 report thereon, made by Lieutenant Bent, will be found in the Nautical Appendix. We will 

 therefore here present merely the general results attained by the gentlemen of the expedition. 

 They found on the coast of Japan a stream analogous, in many respects, to the " gulf stream " 

 on our Atlantic coast. 



