Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-11-26

Editorial Correspondence q lheN. I. 1T''Vns'
scenery of the RayA-survOyluS TaFtles'
From our anchorage off Uraga, we
enjoyed charming Panorsma of the
Bay. 1t far surpassed my preconceived
ideas of Japanese scenery. The west.
crn shore is bold aud steep, running
here aud there into lofty bluffs Of light
gray rock, but the greater part Of it is
covered with turf, copsewnod aud scat
tered groves of trees, all Of the bright.
est and freshest green. From uraga to
another and shalIower blight, which
takes in nearly two miles below, the
shore is less abrupt and shows more
signs Of cultivation. The hills behind,
though not above 500 feet in height, are
beautifully unduIaing in their outlines,
and dotted with groves of pine and 9th
er trees. From Uruga to the end oFthe
promontory-a distance of a mile and a
ouarter-there is an almost upbruken
line Of villages, The houses are of
wood, with sharp roofs, some pointed in
the Chinese style, some square aud pyr-
amids. A few were painted white, but
the greater number were unpaiuted and
weather beaten. At least hundred
small craft, with uumberof juuks, lay
in tho harbor of Uraga, and thence to
the headland, there were two hundred
boats, lying close in.shore.
examined the Notifications frequent
ly and carefully, through glass, and
found that their strength had been great
ly exaggerated. Two of them appear
ed to have been recently made, aud on
bluff, half inclosing the little harbor of
Uraga on the east, there was another
still, in the course of coustruction.-
Between this and the headland, there
we're three batteries, and at the extrem-
ity one, making 6vein all. The embra-
surcs were SO large that from our posi-
ton good marksman might in short
time have dislodged every one of their
guns. The chief post was the ceutral
battery, near which was village, and
several buildings Of large size, appa-
rently arsenals or barracks.
Every morning and evening, when the
air was clear, we had distinct view Of
the famous volcanic peak Of Fusiyam-
ma, rising in the western heaven, high
above the hills, and sixty miles away
In the evening its solitary cone, of a
pale violet hue, was defined with great
beauty against the rosy flush of sunset,
hut in the morning, when the light fell
full upon it, we could see the sears Of
old eruptions, and the cold ra,ines of
snow on its northern side. 1t is the
highest mountain in Japan, and eslima.
ted 10 be twelve or thirteen thousand
feet above the sea.leyel.
On the morning after our arrival, the
Japanese put up false battery of black
canvas. about a hundred yards in length
On the shore south of Uraga. There
was no appearance of guns, but with a
glass saw two Or three companies Of
soldiers, in scarlet uniform, riding thro'
the groves in the rear. In most of the
batteries they also erected canvas
screens behind the embrasures-with
what object it was difficult to conceive.
These diversions they repeated often
during our stay, but at last we ceased
to regard them; hut it was amusing to
hear some of our old quarter-masters
now and then gravely report to Capt.
Buchanan: "Another dungaree fort
thrown up, Sir!"
On Saturday morning surveying cx.
pedition, consisling of one boat from
each ship, under the charge Of Lieut..
Bent, Of the Mississippi, was sent for
the purpose of sounding up the bay
The other officers were Lieut.. Balch, of
the Plymouth, and Mr.. Mudigan, Mas.
ter ofthe Saratoga. The boats carried
in addition 10 the usual ensign, white
flag ut the bow, and were fully manned
with armed seamen. They ran up the
way to distance of about four miles,
and found everywhere from thirty to
forty.three fathoms Of water. The re.
call was then hoisted, and a signal gun
fired, to bring them back. In the Of.
teruoon they sounded around tho blight
Of Uragu, keeping about a cables
length from the shore. They found FIVE
ia,hpms ofwaterst this distance, though
nearer 10 the BEECH there were occa.
Sional reefs. Mr.. Heine, the artist, OBJ.
taiued Panoramcsketch of the shore,
with'he batteries, villages and other OBJ
iects in detail. On approaching the
folts, he soldiers at firs came out, arm.
ed witt matchlocks, butas the boalsad
yanced nearer, they retirsd within the
walls. rhe forts were all of very rude
and imperfect construction, and alto.
gether oily mounted fourteen guns,
none of Vlich were larger than nine.
Founders. The whole number of sol.
diers seen was about four hundred, n
considerable portion of whom were
armed will spears Their caps and
shields werS lackered, and gli,iered in
the sun likepolished armor. The cur.
riages Of gns were also lackered.-I
The embrasres were so wide that the
guns were holly unprotected, while