The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-01-28
From the Honolulu Friend, November l.
Interesting from Japan.

lulu, we requested one of them, who has ACQUIRED
an excellent knowledge OF our language, to make
us visit, accompanied by one of his countrymen.
lately brought hther. We shall first introduce our
readers to the interpreter, John Mung. This per.
son, with four others, was taken ten wears AGO
from desolate and uninhabited island where thew
had been cast, and where they had lived for one
hundred AID eighty days on sea fowls Thev were
brought to Honolulu by Capt w. H. Whitfield,
of Fair Haven, who then commanded whale sbip
IN the Pacific. -Four of the number remained here,
,one having died. John Mung was taken by CAPT
wv. H. Whitfield to the United States, where bs. be
learned the cooper's trade, and enjoyed good op-
portunity OF going to school. His education i.
highly respectable. He has been one whaling
voyage and then, with the multitude went to Cali
iornia There, not succeeding to his expectations,
he came to the islands, indugng the long cherished
nope that ne might obtain pass ge to his native
shores ltl his ambition to command Junk and
navigate her with compass and quadrant, and show
his japanese countrymen that the outside barba-
rams understand navigation-which science he
has acquired sufficient for all practical purposes.
Would that his fond wish might be gratifed
On Mr.. Mungs arrival at Honolulu, he learned
that there was a fresh arrival OF his shipwrecked
countrymen, and for whom he is prepared to act as
interpreter. BY his aid we learned the following
iacts respecting the Japanese taken from Junk,
by Capt. Clark, of the Henry Kneeand, on the 22d
OF April in 45o north latitude, and 1860 east ongi-
tude.
Teenzumolly was the name of the Junk. COM
manded by Capt. Husky, with Mr.. Kekuzero for
mate. There were thirteen, all told, on board the
junk. We may as well state that Kekuzero, the
mate. has furnished all the minutes from his log"
and We have no doubt that he has noted down the
facts IN true Japanese nautical style. But to pro-
coed, Mr.. MnDg acting as interpreter, and Mr.. Ke-
kuZero debating to him. The Teenzumolly was
owned by a soldier or nobleman, in town situated
in the southeast side of small island southwest
from Nlphon. The name of the island-our ear
was dull 10 catch the sound although a part of the
name we aver, was Nihung-. The town is twice
the size of Honolulu /; the people are farmers and
only two junks were owned there and
plenty of fishing boats; rice is the principal pre-.
duet, besides all kinds of vegetable products Both
Innks We're owned by the Honorable Mr.. Soumong
The Teenzumolly had taken cargo of rice to
ieddo, discharged the same, received payment,
partly in silver and partly in paper money, 1--WE
have seen specimens of both--as for the paper
money 1t appears as well any we ever saw, and
started on her homeward passage, ordinarily of
only three days, but was overaken by adverse
winds, Their supply of water was exhausted at
the end OF sixteen days, and their rice at the end
of twenty six. They were then reduced to some
refuse fish. scales, and occasional showers, but by
the mercfu! care of Divine Providence, all were
until, at the end of sixty days, their
Junk, rudderless and dismasted, fell in with the II.
kneeiand, Capt Clark, who took them all on board
his vessel, and supplied their wants They cher
lsh the most grateful feelings towards Capt Clark
and his ships company Subsequently, Captain
Clark delivered six of them TO the Russian author
tiles at Petropaulaski under The promise that they
should be returned TO Japan. Two were taken by
Capt. Sherman, of the Nimrod, and two by Capt.
Divol, of the Maringo.
There is an impression abroad that Japanese, if
taken back to their country, will be put to death.
through the interpreter, Mr.. Mung, that this is not
the fact. He asserts that, should any vessel take
them back to their native village, the inhabitants
would rejoice to hail the vessel, and would put on
board supply Of fresh recruits, without charge
We hope soon to learn that some man-of-war,
merchant VESSEL or whaleship is bound thither, on
the benevolent errand of restoring these unfortu-
nate persons to their country and home Referring
to their home leads to the remark, that seven Of
these married. and their families reside in the
village where their junk was owned.
Our Yankee propensity of asking questions was
wonderfully excited in our interview with Mr..
kekuzero, for we found that he could furnish much
valuable information respecting the Japanese
islands, and the customs of the people. The fol-
lowing facts we record, respecting his native viii
lage, containing sixty idol temples, which, accord
ing to his account, are full Of gods. Every temple
is presided over by priest, who acts e1 otcio as
school teacher. The children of all, both rich and
poor attend school together, and nearly all the in
habltants can read and write. The people are all
taxed for the support of the tempes-every farmer
paying about five bushels of rice, per acre. We
asked, :" how do the laws punish the theft" Our
informant replies: For the first and second
offence the thief is imprisoned but for the third,
his head is cut straight Off"
How do they punish the murderer," His
head Is cut oil Direct" (were the words of the in.
terpreter)
As for marriage, man is allowed but one wife :;
but If she does not please her husband he can send
her back to her fathers house, with the consent Of
the Old people; otherwise the husband must sup
port her.
iouchlog lhe IDEAS OF a iuture state, we learned
hat the bad people are believed TO go to a bad
npace after death, and the good to good place.
when person dies record is made of his name,
nd it is hung up in the house of his friends, and
he household have stated periods for praying to
'ihe spirit of the departed. In Japan there are six
principal sacred days, including New Year, which
occurs in January.