JOURNAL 



THE SECOND VISIT OF COMMODORE PERRY TO JAPAN. 



BY A NATIVE OF CHINA. 



Among those who embarked in China on board the squadron, when it left for Japan the second 

 time, was a very intelligent and educated Chinaman, who acted as clerk to our interpreter, Mr. 

 Williams. This observant individual, on his return to China, furnished to the "Overland 

 Register," published at Hong Kong, a copy of the journal he had kept on his visit to Japan, in 

 which paper it appeared in an English translation. 



As'it is a specimen of the intelligence of an educated Chinaman, and as, besides, it presents 

 briefly the views of an Oriental, uninfluenced by the prevalent opinions of our countrymen 

 around him, (for difference of language prevented much interchange of thought,) it has been 

 supposed that it would not be without interest to the American reader, and a place has, there- 

 fore, been reserved for it in the appendix to this volume. 



From the " Overland Register and Price Current" of Hong Kong, September 11, 1854. 



" Journal of a visit to Japan. — Under this heading, in the body of the paper, will be found a 

 very interesting paper. It is a literal translation of a journal kept by a Chinese gentleman who 

 was attached to the United States squadron on its second visit to Japan. The letter addressed 

 to the journalist by Ping-saw-heem-arh-lang is especially worthy of attention." 



" JOURNAL OF A VISIT TO JAPAN. 



" Of late years, the intercourse between China and the State of California, in America, has 

 greatly increased in extent and frequency. In consequence, the government of the United 

 States was anxious that steam vessels should run between the two countries, and it became 

 necessary to have an arrangement by which they could purchase coal at the Japanese islands, 

 which lie between America and Asia. To obtain this, several steamers belonging to the United 

 States visited Japan, in the third month of last year, (April or May,) and it was attempted to 

 negotiate a treaty of peace and commerce, but the Japanese could not at once conclude the 

 matter. An agreement was deferred for some time ; and on the 10th of January, 1854, according 



to foreign computation of time, Mr. asked me if I would go to Japan to assist in the 



preparation of the contemplated treaty. After some deliberation I consented, and on the 13th 

 we spread our sails — got up our steam rather — and began our voyage. Next clay, having 

 prayed and sought for help and teaching, as I stood upon the steamer's deck, I looked up, and 

 was struck by the appearance of clouds in the south and northern quarters of the heavens. In 



