prtncp: satsuma. 317 



Satsunia's retainers. The history of tin's catastrophe 

 may not be generally known ; 1 will therefore give a 

 short acconnt of it, tlie nioi'e so as it gives a tolerable 

 idea of Japanese political life in those days. 



Prince Satsuma, one of the most powerful Damios 

 who had always opposed the Tycoon in liis foi'eign 

 policy, and especially the treaty which admitted Eni'o- 

 peans into Japan, was on the point of quitting the 

 capital after his enforced residence there for the estab- 

 lished purpose of doing homage to his sovereign, which 

 had always been a source of considerable irritation to liim ; 

 and, on the present occasion, with a view of annoying 

 and humbling the latter by preparing a grand spectacle 

 for the inhabitants of Yeddo, the proud Prince had made 

 great preparations to leave for his ancestrtil domains, 

 instead of by the ordinary and prescribed land route, 

 by sea, on board a steam frigate he had purchased at 

 Yokohama. This could not be tolerated by the Tycoon, 

 and within twenty-four hours of his intended departure 

 the Prince received orders to follow the old custom, and 

 return by the Tokaido, the imperial highway, which runs 

 in direct line from Yeddo to Nagasaki. The latter was 

 forced to comply, smarting under the rebuke, which 

 was no less felt by the whole of his train, consisting of 

 700 retainers, soldiers, and officers. Somewhere near 



