218 PAST AND PRESENT. 



able to the Japanese, except when expressions, words, 

 or manners are used to imitate foreigners. The semi- 

 civilized, uncouth, no-nation sort of beings that merchant 

 ships are usually manned by, bring an amount of vice 

 and badness with them, which is terribly detrimental to 

 aborigines everywhere. The foreign merchants who first 

 appear on the scene, at any lately-opened country or port, 

 are by no means the best specimens of their class. In 

 fact, the foreigner in these cases, who is necessarily a 

 European, shows a wonderful aptitude to take to the 

 very habits and customs of the natives, which are so 

 preached about and condemned by the missionary. 



The Japanese are a happy race ; they take life easily 

 and lightly ; fun, amusement, and frolic, are constantly 

 going on. Picnics are in great vogue. I have often 

 had boat-loads of whole families come great distances 

 to see the ship and picnic on board. On such occasions 

 the children were never left behind, and it was quite 

 amusing to see these holiday-takers, got up, as they 

 always were, in their best. The young ladies of the 

 party delighted in seeing themselves in a large mirror 

 in my cabin. I remember an old doctor and artist, 

 who constantly came off, accompanied by a very pretty 

 daughter, who, while her father showed his sketches, 

 used to sing song after song, and drink tea. 



