302 
WE RECEIVE A NOCTURKAL VISIT. 
Running along the shore during the day, we, as usual, 
anchored at night near a small town, and about 9 p.m. 
were boarded by a bateau sculled by two Japanese, one 
of whom seemed, from his dress, to belong to the class of 
officers. lie wore no sword, how’ever; and it may here be 
worthy of remark that since leaving Matsmai, up to the 
present time, we have stopped at no village (the one of the 
boat-hook exploit excepted) where were persons residing 
entitled to wear two swords. 
Well, this nocturnal arrival came over the side in an 
easy, lounging style that was quite new in a Japanese, 
and, the captain being on deck, several of us accompanied 
him into the cabin with the new-comer. lie displayed 
some uneasiness when the door was closed, but regained 
liis off-hand manner as soon as he saw a decanter and 
glasses join the party. The first tiling he did was to take 
from his capacious garment a bundle of lacquered cups and 
saucers, which he presented to the captain, at the same 
time pointing to the decanter and glasses and intimating 
his desire to be presented with one in return. At this we 
all laughed heartily : the fellow had evidently boarded 
vessels with a like object before. Seeing us laugh, he 
looked a little annoyed, and gave us to understand that “it 
was only at night that speculating visits were permitted 
in K'ipon.” I can’t imagine what he thought we laughed 
at. The conduct of this man gave us a good opportunity 
for remarking a most unfavourable peculiarity of this 
undoubtedly deceitful and treacherous people. While 
we were laughing at his expressive pantomime toward 
the glassware, his companion came down, and, crouch 
ing on the deck, looked anxiously in the same direction. 
