512 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN 



their misfortunes, but, like men, went to work, seemingly but little dispirited. They were 

 busily engaged, when the Powhatan arrived, in clearing away and rebuilding. Stone, timber, 

 thatch, tiles, lime, &c., were coming in daily from all quarters, and, before the Powhatan left, 

 there were about three hundred new houses nearly or quite completed, though occasional and 

 some pretty strong shocks, during the ship's stay, were admonishing them of a j^ossible 

 recurrence of the calamity. 



The outlines of the harbor of Simoda, Commander Adams states, were not altered at all by 

 the earthquake, but the holding ground seems to have been washed out to sea, leaving no 

 bottom scarcely but naked rocks. This, however, will be resupplied, as it was furnished in the 

 first instance, by the washings from the land, which will probably accumulate rapidly. The 

 Powhatan, for want of holding ground, dragged with three anchors ahead, the wind blowing 

 across the harbor, and no sea. Indeed, she was obliged to rely on her steam to keep off the 

 rocks. 



From the place we now turn to the people. The Japanese were much more disposed to be 

 friendly and sociable than on the former visit. The officers of the ship roamed over the country 

 undisturbed, went into the villages, and were received with a welcome everywhere. Espionage 

 seemed to have been laid aside, for there was no attempt to follow or watch them. The shops 

 having all been destroyed, and not yet replaced, a bazaar was opened in a temple repaired for 

 the purpose, and was soon filled with a variety of beautiful articles brought from Yedo and the 

 interior towns. The officers were not only invited but importuned to buy, which they did very 

 freely. An anxious wish was expressed by the people to Commander Adams, that trading 

 vessels from America would soon begin to visit them, and the governor of Simoda (who was one 

 of the commissioners that made the treaty) intimated to the commander that it would be very 

 agreeable to him, personally, if a consul from the United States should be appointed to reside 

 at Simoda. 



The Japanese were exceedingly desirous of obtaining English books, particularly on medical 

 and scientific subjects ; and many valuable works were given to them by our officers. But th&y 

 coveted our books on any subject except religion. One circumstance occurred which, says 

 Commander Adams, "made me feel a little ashamed." " The governor of Simoda sent off a 

 bundle of religious books which he said ' Bittinger ' (one of the chaplains of Commodore Perry's 

 squadron) had left there clandestinely, which was contrary to Jajianese law, and ' not right ;' 

 and he begged me to take them away with me, which I agreed to do." 



Commander Adams found that they had learned to manage the locomotive which the 

 President had sent to the Emperor ; they had also the life-boat afloat with a trained crew, but 

 the magnetic telegraph they said was too hard for them yet. Every day, when Commander 

 Adams was not employed on shore, the lieutenant governor or some official of high rank came 

 off to visit him, and their meetings were those of old friends. Some of them indeed were old 

 acquaintances ; the governor of Simoda was Isawa, Mimasaki Nokami, one of the treaty 

 commissioners, and our old friend the interpreter, Moryama Yenoske, who assisted in making 

 our tramslation of the treaty, (he understood English,) was also at Simoda, having been very 

 deservedly promoted ; others of the commissioners were also there for the purpose of exchanging 

 ratifications, and Commander Adams was not allowed to feel as if he were among strangers. 

 The commissioners inquired with great interest about Commodore Perry, sent many messages 

 of friendship and remembrance, and charged Commander Adams to say to him that his " name 

 would live forever in the history of Japan." 



