The weekly Placer herald., 1853-12-10


gives US no clue in this case. They have
not the diminutive stature, the prominent
square-cheek bone, the small angular eye
Of the Chinese the cold, sinister, fitful
glance of the cruel Tartar-the wander
ing instincts of the ferociouS Arab-the
fatal Indifference and love of ease of the
sons of lslam-the effiminacy Of the
treacherous Sikh-the savage relentless
nature Of the bold Affghan-the sluggish
supineness of the benighted African-the
peculiar elegance of the Lascar--the com
pact but stunted athleticism of the Malay
1.-The marvellous beauty Of the Hindoo--
or the mark of that seal which God him
self stamped upon His own peculiar peo-
pc. Yet, the soft dreamy look of the
eye, the mild intelligence Of the feature,
assure us they are, nevertheless, children
Of the East. Beyond this their origin is
wrapt in mystery upon which it would
be as idle to speculate, as upon the origin
Of those great people from whom sprang
the lncas Of Peru, the ophte worship of
Montezuma, Hr the profound specimens
of architecture lying buried in the sub
terraneous city of Palenque. Still those
who feel an interest in the people of the
world and that science which unfods the
origin of the varied tribes of our race, of
which | confess myself one, must look
forward with impatence to the time when
this mystery shall be solved
There are two more features in the
history Of the Japanese, which having II
direct influence upon the issue of our ex-
pedition, cannot well he omitted, showing
rs they do the extreme difficulties to be
surmounted, before we succeed either by
policy or force, to establish an open in
tercourse with them:--first, the character
of their national holidays; second, the
extent OF their military power.
They hold their national festivities on
the beginning of the year, and one Of their
proceedings on these occasions, as prov
ing their hatred of The christian, is worthy
our notice--it is the ceremony of tram
pling upon the symbols Of the Jesults'
creed, the images Of the cross, the virgin,
and the child. These images are made
of copper about foot long. The cere-
mony has double object: to express the
national hatred of christianity, and Of the
Portuguese, and to zee whether any rem
nant of it still exists among the people
1t is performed chiefly where the chris
tians in oden times resided. At Najasa-
XII il lasts four days. Every man, woman
and child of the youngest age must be
present, except the Governor of the pro-
vince and his immediate attendants.-
Now, sir, in the face Of so bitter hatred
as ths,can we justly hope our expedition
will be successful? | fear not. What
policy can we adopt, not already adopted
by the Dutch to inspire confidence! We
may say we are Protestant Christians-so
are the Dutch. We may promise the
strictest integrity in our future trnnsac-
tons. The Dutch have proved theirs
for two centuries past. Yet not IN the
first degree has tha, integrity abated the
hatred, removed the suspicion, or inspired
the confidence of the japanese nation.
But, on policy failing, some may re-
commend q recourse to arms. God for
d:-the wars of aggression are the worst
of all wars. Besides the Japanese are II
powerful people who cannot be id tr'f1-
ed with. The population exceeds fifty
millions. In time of peace they maintain
standing army of 100000 infantry and
10000 cavalry-brave, well-armed, we'll
disciplined In time Of war, by militia
system somewhat like our own, they can
increase their army to 100000 infantry
and 40, 900 cavalry. They are adopts in
the use of firearms, besides the sabre,
pike and dagger. Their artillery it Is
true, is inconsiderable. Here we should
have the advantage. We might certain
ly destroy their shipping, and some OF
their towns, but we could never land or
conquer the country. 1t would be
then, in my opinion a paltry bit OF re-
venye, rather than glorious deed of war.
| xMhot hona tben aoain let me ask. he We