JAPANESE PUNISHMENT OF CRUCIFIXION. 4S7 



its presence turned the conversation on the subject of capital punishments in Japan. The 

 Commodore was ghid of the opportunity to procure accurate information on this point, inasmuch 

 as some writers, later than Kiwmpfer^ have denied his statement tliat crucifixion is a Japanese 

 mode of execution. Yenoske said that the picture itself was illustrative merely of a scene in 

 one of tlieir popular farces ; but, he added, that regicides were executed somewhat in the 

 manner represented in tlie picture, being first nailed to a cross and then transfixed with a spear. 

 In the picture, the man was merely tied to the cross. Decapitation, however, he said, was the 

 usual mode of capital punisiiment for murderers, but never strangulation or hanging. Uiion 

 Yenoske being asked if the practice of the Hari-kari or "Happy dispatch" still prevailed, he 

 replied that one of his fellow interpreters had committed suicide in that way, in his i^resence, 

 while at Nagasaki. The Commodore then inquired if it were true that tlie governor of Nagasaki 

 had destroyed himself, after the visit of Captain Pellew in 1808 ; and Yenoske declared that not 

 only the governor had done so, but that two other high officers and ten subordinates had 

 followed his example. The Japanese, after a prolonged conviviality, took their farewell of the 

 Americans, with many expressions of warm attachment to their visitors, and pulled off for 

 the land. 



The sliips were now all in readiness for departure. The Southampton, which had arrived 

 from Volcano B&y on the tenth of June, and had discharged her cargo of coal into the steamers, 

 the Macedonian, which readied Simoda on the eleventlr, and the store-ship Supply that had 

 been stationary in that port for several montlis, with tlie Mississippi, now the flag-ship, and the 

 Powhatan, composed the whole squadron, and were anchored in the outer bay, preparatory to 

 sailing for their respective destinations. Arrangements had been made to carry out the regula- 

 tions agreed to with the authorities in regard to tlie appointment of a harbor-master and three 

 pilots, and these now, at the last moment, were completed by the signature of Kura-kawa-kahei, 

 the deputy-governor, to a written contract,* copies of which were made in English and Dutch, 



* Res^ulalions respecting pilots^ and the supplij'uig of ^'Jnierican vessels entering the port of Simoda. 



A look-out place sliall be established at some convenient point, from which vessels appearing in the offing can be seen and 

 reported, and when one is discovered making apparently for the harbor, a boat shall be sent to her with a pilot. 



And in order to carry this regulation into full elTcct, boats of suitable size and quality shall always bo kept in readiness by 

 the harbor-master, which, if necessary, shall proceed beyond Rock island, to ascertain whether the vessel in sio-lit intends 

 entering tlie harbor or not. If it may be the desire of the master of snid vessel to enter port, the pilot shall conduct her to safe 

 ancliorage, and during her stay shall render every assistance in his power in facilitating the procurement of all the supplies she 

 may require. 



The rales of pilotage shall be : for vessels drawing over 18 American feet, fifleen dollars ; for all vessels drawing over 1,3 and 

 less than 18 feet, ton dollars ; and for all vessels under 13 feet, five dollars. 



These rates shall be paid in gold or silver coin, or its equivalent in goods, and the same shall be paid for piloting a vessel out 

 as well as into port. 



When vessels anchor in the outer harbor, and do not enter tho inner port, only half the above rates of compensation shall be 

 paid to the pilot. 



The prices for supplying water to American vessels at Simoda shall be fourteen hundred cash per boat-load, (the casks being 

 furnished by the vessel.) And for wood delivered on board, about seven thousand two hundred cash per cube of five American 

 feet. 



SILAS BEiVT, Flag Lieutenant. 

 KUR.4-KAWA-KAHEI, Lieutcnunt Governor. 



U.viTED States Steam-Frirate Mississippi, at Sea, June 28, 1854. 



Approved : M. C. PERRY, 



Commander-in-chief United States J^'aval Forces East India, China, and Japan Seas. 

 UhfiTED States Steam-Frigate Mississippi, Simoda, Japan, June 23, 1854. 



Bepalingen met betrekking tot loodsen, en het leveren vanbenodigdheden aan JlmeriJeaansche schepen in den haven van Simoda. 

 Op eene daartoe geschikte pl.aats /..il een uitkyk worden opgerigt van waar srhepen in de nabyheid komende kunnen worJen 



