, 1852-11-27
M990999AMGOO3o u 81
~ - ~~~Sr~~~~-~~r-~~0-~~~~~ ---,--~~
mko A-.a-Iao, Topo- EyrpoJtNson

Accounts from Washington represent that
the equipments for the Japan expedition are
still going on. There will be in all but six
vessels, and these six vessels will carry but
eighty guns. !, is doubtful whether a very
imposing efiec' can be produced by this
force upon the japanese. They are dcs-
cribed as brave athletic people, and skill
ful and courageous, though at the same time
cunning and treacherous. They are much
more formidable in war than the Chinese.
According to Walter Brun, the japanese
believe in Supreme Being, and in thr I'M
morality Of the soul They maintain that
the souls of the virtuous occupy the regions
of light adjoining to the heaven of heavens,
while the souls of the wicked wander thro'
the all until they have oXpiated their sins.
Thus it would seem they are species Of
r1sloralionisls. They are many Of them
polythesits, or believers in subordinate dei-
ties. The sect of Budso, originally form
lndostan, is pretty numerous. They believe
in spiritual form resembling the natural,
in he'll for the wicked, and . heaven for
tho righteous. They believe in paradise,
gardens, houses, cities and rural districts,
and would seem TO have borrowed many a
leaf form the wonderful narralions Of Swe-
denborg. From the year 1919 to 1t3S,
missionaries Of the order OF the Jesuis la
bored in propagating the Christian faith
in Japan but a quarrel with the Portuguese
put an end 10 missionary influence, and in
1898 there was great massacre Of Chris
tlans, since which time the Catholic religion
has been held in adherence in Japan,
The japanese of late years seem to have
had great aversion to the visits OF foreign
ers. So far do they carry their prcjudices,
that those of their own people, picked up at
sea, or rescured from their own shipwrccked
Junks, and returned by friendly vessels, are
cruelty treated and looked upon as strang RS.
They are not allowed to visit their families
or friends, but arc imprisoned or put out of
the way. Non-inlercourse is The settled
policy of the nation.
When the Columbus visited the shores Of
Japan for water, she was met by people
who came literally in swarms. The thir-
teen hundred men who were on board
seemed as dminutive group to the thou
sands who surrounded the ships in boats
The japanese commenced supplying the
ship with water by means Of buckets, but
finding this was a slow process, and would
keep the ship foT long time in harbor, they
constructed on shore, in an Incredibly short
time, water tanks filed them with water,
and took them to the Columbus. But the
ship remained notwithstanding, and the
captain, on being called on to answer why
he did not make sail and clear out % re-
Piled that he could not command the winds,
which We're dead ahead, and he must wait
Ior favorable breeze. Hereupon the in
Gelalilgable japanese authorities, obeying
tle Old maxim TO "speed the parting guest
issued their orders, and soon any number o.
japanese boats were seen gliding out 10
wards the Columbus, to tow her to sea-
lhls they did, htching on wherever a rope
could be attached, and despite of hcat
winds, the Columbus was soon out of sigh
o' land, much to tho relief of tho Govern
ment officials.