Grass Valley telegraph., 1853-11-24
From the New York Tribune.
THE JAPAN EXPEDITION.

W e have received no letters intended for
publication from Mr.. Bayard Taylor since he
Joined the Japan fleet, but a private note
from him dated on June 26, at the harbor of
Napa Kiang, Loo Choo, states very briefly a
few facts of interest, which, it is not imprOp-
er for us to communicate to our readers. He
writes as follows Behold me here. in this
remote and rarely visited corner of the Pa
cltic, sweating under torrid sun, clothed in
the ighteSt undress allowed by the Navy
regulations, and living from hand TO mouth,
now on sait-hOrSe and sea-biscuit, and now
on turtle steaks and wild-boaf outlets.
have not yet been two months in the service.
but its ordered, artificial life is So new and
peculiar, so different from all my previous
experience, that, although [ am now tolera-
bly, at home in it, the time seems greatly pro-
lOnged. [ have, in fact seen and done q
great deal since leaving Shanghai We sail
ed on the 18th Of May, leaving the Plymouth
there, and after detention Of three days at
the mouth of the Yang g-tse-Kiang, sailed di-
rect for Leo-ChOO Island where we arrived
on the 10Th. Probably not more than a doz-
en- vessels had ever been here before, and the
arrival OF our two great steamers, with the
Saratoga and Supply, created, as you may
suppose, an Immense sensation. LOo-ChOO
is tributary to the japanese Prince of Satsu-
ma, and the people are japanese in dress,
customs and government, though not as |
think, IN race. They approximate nearer to
the Malay. After the Regent had been re-
celYed on board, and a good understanding
established, the Commodore appointed a par
ty OF fOur-0f whom [ was one-tO explore
the interior Of the island. No white man had
ever been more than three miles from Napa
before. We took four men and some Chinese
coolies with us and started on six davs'
tramp, during which we made I08 miles. and
thoroughly explored more than one half of
the island. We We're ATTENDED by Govern
ment officers, who actedAs spies, but did not
attempt to control our movements We led
them such dance as they never had before,
but 1t was impossible to escape their espiOn-
age. NocOuts were sent in advance wherever
we went, and the natives driven away from
the road. The Inhabitants either shut I'D
their houses or hid themselves through
fear OF us, as many little incidents proved,
but OF their own rulers. The islands, one of
the most beautiful in the world; very fer
tile, admirably cultivated, and combining in
its scenery the characteristics both of the
trOpic and temperate zones We discovered
a ruined castle, $50 feet long, on the top of
q mountain, besides many ancient tombs.
1lCNu Ill IuC IOCho. LIZ pdIG vi GuC
isl&nds is mountainous and. covered with
dense forests, in whieh-wifds .boars are found.
The trip was altogether the most peculiar
and fantastic Lever made. We took tent,
but lodged mostly in the cung-qua's, or Gov
aernment houses, which are very neat and COM
Portable. Our native escort furnished us
with provisions and bearers for our baggage
On Monday, the 9th inst, the Commodore re-
turned the Regents visit at Sheudi, the roy
al residence. three miles from here. He went
in state with procession of more than 200
officers, seamen and marines, with two field
pieces and two bands. Great numbers of the
natives came to witness our array. We en-
tered the royal castle at Sheudi but did not
see the young Prince or the Queen Dowager.
After the reception we had a grand native
dinner at the Regents house. 1 partook of
81 nondescript dishes, and was then OBLIGED
to stop. Everything passed off remarkably
well. We left here on the 9th for the Benin
Archipelago, SEQ miles to the. eastward of
this, taking the Saratoga in tow and leaving
the Mississippi and Supply behind After
delightful voyage of five days, we reached