Columbia gazette., 1853-12-24
brown, blue or purple color, bound with

brown, blue or purple color, bound wit
| girdle at the waist.
| About 8 o'clock the anchors were lift
ed, and the Susquehanna and Mississip
pi moved slowly down the bay, leavin,
the Plymouth and Saratoga. We sool
Jaw two boats bearing the Government
lag pulling abreast of US, but further il
shore, and accompanied by four othe
boats with red banners, probably contain
ing military escort. As the bigh
opened behind the pomontory, we saw ;
long line of canvass walls, covered Will
the Emperial crest, streaching quite
around the head of the blight. In from
we're files of soldiers, standing motion
less on the sandy beach. A multitud,
Of banners of various brilliant colors
cleaned in the sun. Near the center
o! the crescent formed by the troops
were planted nine tall standards-foul
on one side and FIVE on the other-from
which broad scarlet pennons hung to the
ground. In the rear of these, three
new pyramidal roofs showed that house
had been prepared expressly for the
Commodore's reception. On the right,
upward of fifty or sixty boats were drawn
up in a line parallel to the beach, each
having red flag at its stern. From
the head of the blight narrow valley ex-
tended inland between luxuriantly wood
ed hills On the left side was a pictur-
esque little town, the name of which,
the Japanese informed us, was Gori ha-
ma. The place was undoubtedly cho-
sen, both on account of its remoteness
from Uraga, which is port of customs,
and the facility which it afforded to the
japanese for the exhibition of large
military force--a measure dictated alike
by their native caution, and the love Of
display for which they are noted.
The anchor was no sooner down, than
the two Government boats sculled along
side, and Yezaimon, with the Interpre-
ters, Tatsonoske and Tokoshinro, came
on board. The second boat contained
the Deputy Governor, Saboroske, and an
attendant officer. They were accom-
modated with seats on the quarterback,
until all preparations for landing were
completed. They were dressed, as they
had limited the day previous, in official
garments of rich. silk brocadc, bordered
with velvet. The gowns differed little
in form from those they ordinarily wore,
but were elaborately embroidered, and
displayed'a greater variety of gay colors
than taste in their disposal. Saboroske
had pair Of short and very wide pan
falcons, resembling petticoat with a
seam up the middle, below which ap-
peared his bare legs and black woolen
socks, with an effect rather comical than
otherwise. His shoulders contained
lines of ornament in gold thread. All
the officers wore their crest, or coat-of-
arms, embroidered upon the back,
sleeves and breasts of their garments.
The boats Of the Mississippi, Ply
mouth and Saratoga were alongside in
less than half an hour after our ancher
dropped, and preparations were made
for leaving at once. Both steamers lay
with their broadsides to the shore, and
the decks were cleared, the guns prim-
ed and pointed, ready for action, in case
of treachery. Commanders Kelly and
Lee remained on board their respective
Eships, in order to act in case of necessi-
ty. The morning was very bright and
clear, and the fifteen launches and cut
ters, containing the officers, ,seamen, mar
ines and bandsmen, presented brilliant
appearance, as they clustered around
our starboard gangway Commander
Buchanan took the lead, in his barge
with one of the Japanese Government
boats on each side. Merrily as the oars
of our men dipped the waves it required
their utmost to keep pace with the ath-
letic scullers of Japan. The other
American boats followed nearly in line
and the van Of the procession was more
than halfway to the shore when the guns
of the Susquehanna announced the Com.
modore's departure. The CLEAN oi
arms, the picturesque mingling of blue
and white in the uniforms, and the spark.
ling Of the waves under! the stead )
strokes Of oarsmen, combined to form 8
splendid picture, set off as it was by the
background of. rich green hills and the
/ long line Of soldiery and banners ON the
beach. All we're excited by the occa.
sion, and the men seemed to be as much
elated in spirits as those who had more
prominent part in the proceeding. We
all felt, that, as being the first instance
since the expulsion of the Portuge: {
from Japan, when a foreign Ambassador
had been officially received ON Japanese
soil, it was a memorable event in the
history of both countries, and that, il
not an augury Of the future and complete
success Of the Expedition, it was at least
. commencement more auspicious than
We had yenturcd to anticipate.