434 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



language. They stated that tlie officers from Yeclo, who had been delegated to meet the 

 Americans at Hakodadi, had not yet come ; and that the people had been greatly alarmed at the 

 arrival of the ships, as there had been no previous intimation of the intended visit of the squadron, 

 and they had not even heard of the treaty, or of the opening of Simoda. The Japanese officials 

 were then informed that on the next day a delegation of his officers would be sent by the Com- 

 modore on shore to confer with the authorities. 



Preparations were immediately made, on the arrival of the steamers, for a complete survey of 

 the harbor^ and this having once been begun was carried on diligently during the stay of the ships, 

 until a very effectual examination of the whole harbor was made, as had been the case at Simoda. 



On the succeeding morning, (May 18,) as had been ai^pointed, the flag-lieutenant, accom- 

 panied by the two American interpreters, Mr. Williams and Mr. Portman, and the Commodore's 

 secretary, paid a visit to the governor. On their arrival at the government house, the governor 

 Yendo Matzaimon presented himself, in company with Ishuka Konzo and Kudo Mogoro, two of 

 the principal personages of his suite. The Americans were received with the usual ceremonious 

 courtesies, and, being seated in a handsome hall with the ordinary appointments of a Japanese 

 apartment, were ready to proceed at once to business. The governor was a middle-aged man, 

 with a very benevolent expression of face, and of the characteristic mild and courteous manners ; 

 and his companions, though obsequious in the presence of their superiors, were also very 

 creditable specimens of Japanese gentlemen. The conference hall was large, and opened by a 

 wide open doorway from a narrow courtyard, in which could be seen various entrances with 

 carved wood cornices, and staircases leading to other apartments of the building. Windows 

 and doorlights, constructed in form like our own, but with paper panes, lighted the place, and 

 handsome mats carpeted the floor, while there was but the ordinary meagre supply of furniture, 

 consisting only of a half dozen camp stools. A shallow recess at one end of the room, with an 

 elaborate carved moulding along the border, contained the usual arm-chair and idols, showing 

 it to be dedicated to the rites both of hospitality and of family worship. Attendants frequently 

 passed in and out with supplies of tea, cakes, confectionary, pipes, and tobacco, and the governor 

 and his companions were never forgetful of their duties as hosts, but politely pressed their 

 guests at every moment to refresh themselves. 



The American officers now explained the object of their visit, and stated in effect that the 

 Commodore had come to Hakodadi with his squadron to carry out the stipulations of the treaty 

 between the United States and Japan, agreed upon on the 31st of March, and that any deviation 

 from the spirit and letter of that treaty on the part of the authorities of Yesso would lead to 

 serious consequences. It was then demanded that arrangements should be made at Hakodadi, 

 as had been at Simoda, securing to the Americans the privilege of going where they chose^ 

 through the streets or out into the country, into the shops and public buildings. It was further 

 required that the shopkeepers and market people should be allowed to sell their articles, and 

 that a temporary currency be established for the mutual convenience of buyer and seller ; that 

 three different houses or temples be appropriated by the authorities as places of resort severally 

 for the Commodore, the officers, and the artists of the expedition ; that such supplies as the 

 country afforded be furnished to the shijis according to a fixed tariff of prices, and that not only 

 articles of necessity, but those productions of Yesso and specimens of natural history which 

 might be objects of curiosity and interest in America, be also provided, for which a just price 

 would be paid. 



