Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-11-19

with three horizontal stripes, the cell.
tral one black, and the others white
In each were several persons, who by
their dress and the two swords stuck in
their belts, appeared TO be men of au-
thority.
The first boat came alongside, and
ono of the two.swordcl individuals
made signs for the gangway 10 be let
down. This was refused, but Mr.. Wells
Williams, the Interpreter, and Mr.. Port
man, the Cnmmodore's Clerk, (who is a
native of HolIand, went 10 tho ships
side to state that nobody would be re.
ccived on board, except the first in rank
in Uraga. The conversation was car.
ried on principally in Dutch, which the
interpreter spoke very well. He asked
at once if we wore not Americans, and
by his manner of asking showed that our
coming had been anticipated. HO was
told that the Commander fthe Squad
ron was an officer of very high rank in
the United States, and could only com.
municate with tho first in rank on shore.
After long parley, the Vice.Goycrnor
of Uraga, WHO was in the boat, was al-
lowed to come on board with the Inter-
prefer, and confer with Lieut.. Contec,
tho Flag Lieutenant. The japanese
Official, a very little fellow, was much
cxasperated at being kept in waiting,
but soon moderated his tone. He was
told that we came as friends, upon a
peaccable mission; that we should not
goto Nangasaki, as hc proposed, aud
that it was insulting TO our President
and his special minister to propose it,
lie was told, moreover, that The Japan
csc must not communicate with any 9TH
er vessel than the flagship, and tina, no
boats mustapproach us during the night
An attempt to surround us with cor
don of bouts, as in the case of the CO.
lumbus and Eincennes. would lead to
very serious consequences. They had
with them an official nNtico, written in
French, Dutch and English, and inten-
dciias u general warning to all foreign
vessels, directing them to go no further,
to remain out at sea, and send word a.
shore, why they came and what they
wanted. This Lieut.. Conlec declined
to see or acknowledge in any way. The
same notice was taken to the Plymouth
by another boat, but it was at once or
dered of. RtEs ll'w s.aaia n
Commodore Perry had evidently
made up his mind from the first not to
submit lo,he surveillance Of boats.-
The digniied and decided stand lie took
produced animmediate impression upon
the japanese. They were convinced
that he was in earnest, and that all the
tricks and delays with which they are
in the habit of wheeling foreign visit
itors, would be used in vain. Several
boats having followed the firstone, and
began to collect around us, the Vice
Governorwas told that ifthey did not
return at once, that they would be fired
into. One Of them went 10 tho Missis-
sippi, and after being repulsed from the
gangway, pulled forward where some
ofthe crew tried to climb on board. a
company Of boarders was Immediately
called away, and the bristling array of
pixies and cu,lusses over the vessels
side caused the japanese to retreat in
great haste. Thenceforth, all the ia
panese boats gave us wide berth, and
during the whole Of our stay, mono APP
us exceptthose containing the
officials WHO were concerned in the ne
EQUATIONS. l may here remark that our
presence did not seem TO disturb, in the
least, the cousting trade which seems 10
find its focus in Yedo. Without count
ing The hundreds of small boats and
hshingsmacks, between sixty aud sew
en,y large junks daily passed up and
down the Bay, on their way TO and from
Yelo. @af
The Japanese boatmen were tall,
handsomelyfolmed men with vigorous
and symmetrical bodies. and hardy.
manly expression of conntenance. As
tie air grew fiesher, toward evening,
they put OH sort Of loose gown, with
wide hanging sleeves, AS the crews Of
boat were all a,tired alike, the dress APP
peared to be n uniform, denoting that
they wercin Government service. The
most Of them had blucgowns, with white
on the sleeves, meeting on the shoulder.
so us To form triangular junction, and
a crest, or coat-of.arms, upon the hack.
Others had gowns Of red ond white
stripes, with u black lozenge upon the
back. Some wore upon their heads a
cap made otbamboosplinis, resembling
abroad, shallow basin inverted, but the
greater part had their heads bare, the
Top and crowd shaved, and the hair from
the back aud sides brought up and tils-
tened in small knot through which a
short metal pin was thrust. The oili:
GERS wore lightand beautifully lackered
hats to protect them from the sun, with
"a gilded coat.ol.arms upon the front
part. In most of the boats noticed a
iall spear, with lackered sheath for the
head, resembling Q number or charac-
Ter, referring to the rank Of the officer