288 
THE JAPANESE IDEA OF AMERICA. 
Imudred yards down the beach, he put a hall very near 
the centre with “the utmost non-she-lau-cy.” 
This shot caused them the greatest wonder at first, but 
was shortly attributed to chance, and it required a repeti- 
tion of the exploit to convince them of its commonplace 
nature. 
They remained with. us some time, making signs upon 
various subjects; and I was surprised to observe the 
amount of knowledge possessed by this evidently-infe- 
rior class of officers in regard to European affiiirs, or 
rather in regard to the affairs of the world outside of 
Japan. 
They were not only aware of the existing war, but had 
a very fair idea of the causes which led to it. They said 
that Eussia was very large and France and England very 
small, and asked “why America didn’t join one side or 
the other and put an end to it at once.” 
They have an idea that the whole "Western Continent 
belongs to the United States, and that we are more power- 
ful than any other two nations put together : of course 
we did not undeceive them in this respect. They were 
fully aware of the railroad then in progress across the 
Isthmus of Panama, knew that the discovery of gold in 
California was a late affair, and, in short, asked so many 
unexpected questions, that one was forced to the conclu- 
sion of their being in more frequent communication with 
the outer world than is generally supposed. 
In reply to their question as to America joining in the 
war, I told them it was peace and commerce which had 
made us so powerful, and that it was our policy to be 
friendly with all nations as long as they acted fairly by 
