WE LOOK WISE AXD SIIRUO OUR SHOULDERS. 289 
HS ; that, when they abused our citizens or violated trea- 
ties, then we declared wuir. This allusion to breaking 
treaties seemed to give them some uneasiness. They 
asked if blipon (in speaking of Japan or the Japanese 
Government they ahvays use the word ISTipon) had yet 
broken the treaty made with Commodore Peny, and, 
upon being answered in the affii-mative, cast their eyes 
upon the ground and looked hypocritically sad. They 
next supposed that, as Nipon had broken the treaty, 
America would fight Nipon as soon as the ships could 
come out. This ivas a ditficult question to answ^er; w'c 
could find neither Avords nor signs to express ourselves, 
and therefore looked very grave and shrugged our shoul- 
ders with evident effect. 
I now in turn began to question the headman. I 
asked him why he had caused us to bo surrounded the 
previous night, knowing as he must that America and 
Isipon were friends ; and his answer w'as charaetci'istie 
of their well-known policy. They who we thought had 
surrounded us were poor country-people, the scum of the 
earth, persons to be spit upon by such as us, (he and my- 
self,) &c. &c., and that they had come of their own accord 
simply to see what was going on. 
Ilis manner, however, contradicted this explanation ; 
and, upon my accusing him and Nipon in general of in- 
sincerity in most of their dealings wuth us, he laughed 
cunningly, as if it were a fine trait we Avere discovering 
in their character, and returned to the subject .of our 
“going aAvay.” 
This pertinacity annoyed me almost to the kicking- 
pitch, but I contented myself Avith informing him that 
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