CHAPTER LXVII 

 THE JAPANESE SPANIEL 



NE of the few foreign breeds that seem to h^ve been taken up 

 here before becoming an English show dog is the Japanese 

 spaniel. We seem also to be in possession of information 

 regarding these spaniels at as early a period as anything was 

 published in England, and both date back to official docu- 

 ments. The first English record is that of Robert Fortune, who was com- 

 missioned by the Indian government to visit China and Japan to obtain in- 

 formation regarding the tea plant and its cultivation. He mentions the 

 Japanese lap-dog as being much prized and as having snub noses, but he 

 must have been misquoted or made a slip of the pen when sunken eyes were 

 mentioned as characteristic of the breed. 



Our American authority is no less than Commodore Perry whose ex- 

 pedition to Japan was made fifty years ago. From "Commodore Perry's 

 Expedition to Japan," Appleton's 1857 edition, we quote as follows; 



"The Commodore upon subsequent enquiry learned that there are 

 three articles which in Japan, as he understood, always form part of an 

 Imperial present. These are rice, dried fish, and dogs. Some also said 

 that charcoal was aJways included. Why these should have been selected 

 or what they particularly symbolise he did not learn. The charcoal was 

 not omitted in the gifts on this occasion, and four small dogs of a rare breed 

 were sent to the President as part of the Emperor's gift. We have observed 

 also in the public prints that two were put on board of Admiral Stirling's ship 

 for her Majesty of England,. 



"The fact that dogs are always part of a royal Japanese present sug- 

 gested to the Commodore the thought that possibly one species of spaniel 

 now in England may be traced to Japanese origin. In 1613 when Captain 

 Saris returned from Japan to England he carried to the king a letter from 

 the Emperor, and presents in return for those sent to him by His Majesty of 

 England. Dogs probably formed part of the gifts and thus may have been 

 introduced into the kingdom the Japanese breed. At any rate there is a 



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