470 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



this dignitary, who, after having presented his credentials from the Prince of Matsmai, and 

 emphatically declared that the latter could not possibly come to Hakodadi, was officially recog- 

 nized as the representative of his superior. He, however, refused to settle definitively the 

 question of the boundary within which the Americans, in their intercourse with the place, were 

 to be restricted, and the subject was finally disposed of by a mutual agreement that it should be 

 referred to the commissioners who were to meet the Commodore at Simoda. During the 

 frequent visits of the Americans on shore, occasional disagreements arose in regard to their 

 relations with the shopkeepers and the extent and freedom of their walks in the town and about 

 the country. These little troubles, which, although they gave rise to much tedious negotiation, 

 were uniformly settled by mutual exj)lanations, produced in the end the establishment of an 

 excellent understanding and the most friendlj^ feelings between our countrymen and all classes 

 of the Japanese. 



The governor and his attendants continued to visit the ships frequently, when they were 

 uniformly entertained with refreshments, and sometimes invited to a more ceremonious dinner, 

 of which they always partook with a j)roper appreciation both of the viands and the courtesy. 

 On one occasion, some of the sailors got up a concert of " Ethiopian minstrels," which seemed 

 to ffive as much delight to the natives at Hakodadi as it had done to the commissioners in the 

 bay of Tedo. The performance undoubtedly showed that talent for grotesque humor and comic 

 yet sentimental melody which are, as some think, characteristic of the sailor, the monotony of 

 whose life on ship-board is often compensated by that hearty flow of animal spirits with which 

 natures, invigorated by a hard and hazardous occupation, console themselves for its risks and 

 privations. The sentimental strain, too, in which the sailor sometimes indulges, is naturally 

 the antagonistic tone with which the mind, surrounded by its rude associations, opposes their 

 petrifying influence. All the sailors' rough humor is hence toned down by a gentler touch of 

 feeling. The negro minstrelsy, which not only wrinkles the face with a broad and noisy laugh, 

 but also can moisten the eye with a tear, is consequently a great favorite with Jack. The 

 sailors perforlned their parts with a sympathetic interest and an earnest intensity, which would 

 have carried with them the frequenters of Christy's, and produced a marked efiect even upon 

 their sedate Japanese listeners, and thus coniirmed the universal popularity of "the Ethiopians" 

 by a decided hit in Japan. Everything was arranged appropriately as to dresses and scenery, 

 much as it would have been at home. Bills of the performance, too, were printed by the aid of 

 the press, which was on board one of the ships of the squadron, and freely worked within the 

 dominions of the Emperor of Japan, without regarding any censorship that he might possibly be 

 disposed to establish. American like, our men stuck to the principle of a "free press," on the 

 ground that the press itself and popular opinion are about the best correctives of the abuse of 

 the press. And here we may remark, that theatrical performances in the squadron were not 

 coniined to " Ethiojiian minstrelsy." Histrionic ambition took a higher flight, and ventured 

 on the " legitimate drama." There was more than one company of Thespians in the squadron, 

 composed of the men, who acquitted themselves very creditably. They generally selected some 

 good natured officer, known to have a taste for theatricals, to give them some general instruc- 

 tions, and help them at rehearsals, and with such aid, added to natural cleverness and quickness 

 of parts, they succeeded very well. The female characters were allotted to boys, and all the 

 appliances of scenery and ajipropriate costume were called in to give greater effect. 



The Japanese officials took especial interest, on the occasion of their frequent visits to the 



