The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-25
Expedition to Japan.

From the Honolulu Friend January o.
japan seems to be the terra t,tcogata that now the
busy world desires to know more about and any
thing relating to that country is interesting Ship
wrecked Japanese have, from time to time, found
their way to the Sandwich Islands. A few weeks
since, the whaleship Copia took several to China
but some remained at Honolulu. Three of these
have since sailed in the Sarah Boyd bound to Shang
hal, China. Captain Whtmore promised that, on
his route, to Shanghai, he would pass the Loo
choo Islands, and there leave these three Japanese,
whose names are John Mung, Demo-, and Goeman.
According to statement made by Mung, before
the United States Consul, they have been about ten
years from their native land. Their statement was
to this effect We left the s. +. part of the island
of Nippon, in fishing vessel, and wrecked.
After remaining on an uninhabited island for about
six months, we were taken off by Captain Whit
field, master of the ship John Rowland, and brought
to the Sandwich Islands Demo- and Geoman re-
manned here Mung went to the United States,
and was there taken care of and educated by Capt.
Whitfield After being absent several years, Mung
returned to the islands, and here found his former
companions
On learning that Captain Whitmore would land
them at the Loochoo Islands, Mung, with the as
sistance of few friends, purchased good whale
boat oars and sails. Having learned the science Of
navigation, sufficient for all practical purposes, he
supplied himself with quadrant, compass, charts,
&c. 1t is not expected that the Sarah Boyd will
come to anchor at the Loochoo, but launch the
whale boat of the islands, and leave the three
japanese to make the best Of their way to land.
from their native shores, yet Mung, (whom we
shall now call Capt. Mung,) thinks that he knows
enough of the relative situation Of the Loochoo and
japanese Islands to find his way across. He says,
that annually large japanese junk visits the Loo
choo Islands, for the purpose of receiving tribute
money, and that the junk leaves Japan in February
and returns in June. He supposed that they might
get passage in her; at any rate they would make
the trial.
We shall anxiously wait to learn the success of
Capt. Mung's expedition He is u smart and intel
lgent young man, and has made good use of his OPP
portunties, being able to speak and write the Eng
fish language with tolerable accuracy. Should he
succeed in reaching his native land in safety, his
services may be of Importance in opening an inter
course between his own and other countries He
would make excellent interpreter between the
japanese and the English or American.
Success to Capt. John Mung, commanding the
whale boat "Adyepturer."
SOMETHING New IN HoSoLULA.-We rejoice that
On the opening of year, there is something
new in Honolulu. We have new market, new re-
servoir and acqueduct, new town clock, stores,
new houses, new wharves, new fences, new names
to our streets, people, and new Athenaum; be-
fore the year 1851 shall close, hope to be able to
report that many other new and desirable improve
ments and changes have been madc.-AUtoidu
Frt(,td, jan. 9.