1845.] THE JAPANESE. 321 



vegetables, followed this visit, and the next morning 

 I landed nearly opposite to the town, in order to ob- 

 tain our Observations. Here we were visited by some of 

 the minor Mandarins or Secretaries, evidently deputed 

 emissaries, and much interesting matter was communi- 

 cated through my Chinese interpreter, who informed me 

 that our visit had been for some time expected, that they 

 had received full reports of our proceedings at the Meia- 

 co-shimas, and that they knew us to be people who 

 did not offend their prejudices, or wantonly enter their 

 towns. Upon mentioning the chances of my communi- 

 cating with the Japanese, they were silent, but some scraps 

 were written, and hastily destroyed the instant my inter- 

 preter read them, which implied that we might succeed, 

 but beware of being entrapped. To use the expression 

 of my Chinese interpreter, it would stand nearly thus : 

 " He say Japan man very cunning ; suppose he see you 

 strong, he very civil ; suppose he catch you too civil, he 

 take you head. He give plenty to eat, but no let you 

 walkee on shore." To my enquiry, if they had any idea 

 of our visit, " they thought yes." 



Ofcr communications were interrupted by the visit of a 

 French priest, who came to pay his respects and ascertain 

 if we either brought him letters, or could afford him any 

 intelligence of the movements of the French squadron in 

 this direction. He acquainted me that he had been left 

 behind by one of the French frigates, about sixteen 

 months since, under the pretence of learning their lan- 

 guage, and teaching them French ; and that they were 

 not then aware that he was a priest from Macao. Since 

 this discovery had been made they had restricted him in 



