The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-11-02
THE EXPEDITION TO JAPAN.

THE EXPEDITION TO JAPAN.
The .fe,e York Tribune publishes the fol-
lowing interesting extract Of letter from Bay
ard Taylor, who has joined the Japan expedi-
ton. 1t is dated Napa Kiang, Loo Choo June
26, and gives an account ofthe movements Of
the squadron down TO that date
Behold me here, in this remote and rarely
visited corner Of the Pacific, sweating under
,orrid sun, clothed in the liehest undress uni
form allowed by the Navy Regulations, and lie
wing from hand to mouth, now on salt lake
horse and sea biscuit, and now on turtle steaks
and wild boar outlets have not yet been two
months in the service, but lis ordered, artificial
life is so new and peculiar, so different from all
my previous experiences, thtt, although am
tolerabiy al home in it, the time seems greatly
prolonged have, in fact, seen and done a
great deal since leaving Shanghai. We sailed
on the 18th of May leaving the Plymouth there
and after the detention of three days at the
mouth Of the Yang Kiang, sailed direct for
this place, at the southwestern corner of the
Great Loo Choo Island, where We arriv. on
the 26 h.. Probably not more than a dozen
vessels had ever been here before, and the arri-
val 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 Saisuma, and the people are Japanf Sc in
dress customs aud government, though not, as
! think, IN race. They approximate nearer to
the Malax After the Regent had been recei
we'd on board, and good understanding estab-
lished, he Commodore appointed party of four
al whom was one-to explore the interior
| OF the island No white man had ever been
more than three niles from Napa before. We
In, f,,,r Il
us, and started on six days tramp, during
which We made los miles, and thoroughly ex.
plored more than one half the island We
were attended by the Government officers, who
| acted as spies, but did not attempt to control
our movements. We led them such dance as
they never had before, but it was impossible Ia
escape their espionage Scouts were sent in adj
| vance wherever we went, and the natives
driven away from the road. The inhabitants
either shut up their houses or hid themselves
not through fear of US, as many little incidents
proved, put Of their own rulers The island is
one Of the most beautiful in the world: very
| fertile. admirably cultivated, and combining ia
its scenery the characteristics both of the
troPic and temperate zones We discovered a
ruined cas- le, $50 feet long, the summit of a
mountain, besides many ancient tombs, hewn in
the rocks The northern part Of the island is
mountainous, and covered with dense forests, in
which wild bears are found.
The trip was altogether the most fantastic and
peculiar ever made. We took tent hut lod-
ged mostly in the cang-qua's, or Government
houses, which are very neat an, comfortable -
Our native escort furnished US with provisions
and bearers for our baggage On Monday, the
9th inst, the commodore returned the Regent .
visit at Sheudi, the royal residence, three miles
from here. He went in state with prooe ssion
OF more than two hundred officers, seamen and
marines, with two field pieces and two bands
Great numbers of the natives came to witness
our array We entered the royal castle at She
udi, but did not see either the youno Prince
or The Queen Dowager. After the reception
we had grand native dinner at the Regent $
house. partook of 81 nondesorpt dishes, and
was then obliged TO stop. Everything passed off
remarkably we'll We left here on the 9th for
the Benin Archipelago, 800 miles TO the east.
ward of this, taking the Saratoga, in tow and
leaving the Mississippi and supply behind, After
a delightful voyage Of FIVE days, we reached
Port Lloyd, the harbor Of Peel Island, " here we
reme'ned four days. was appointed to the
command ofan exploring party. The island is
only SIX miles long, but very rugged, and cover.
ed with the densest tropical vegetation. never
had such hard days work in my life, although,
we only travelled twelve miles. ! had seven
men-officers and seamen-with me- Two Of
'eH uIohe uoWn completely, third tarelV
drag Led himself along, and the others were wo-
fully faiigued- We climed down mile Of pr, :.
cipices by holding on to the the corners of rocks
and roofs oftrees. shot wild boar, kindied fire
and roasted his flesh, and had grand time gem
orally.
The Benin Islands are Of volcanic formation
and though in lat. q deg NJ, the vegetation is
that which is elsewhere found near the EQUATOR
The inhabitants-30 in al-are American. En-
g!lsh, and kanak--mosly runaway sailors,
who raise few vegetables which they sell to
sailors. Por, Llyod is splendid and secure
harbor, and the only one in all this part of Pac-
nc which Will answer as stopping place and
calling station for our new Pacific steamers,
when they get under wav We can even afford
to lose the chance Of a station in Japan, if we
get Port Lloyd Altogether have employed
my time pleasantly and prof,ably since entering
the service. We returned on the Odd and found
The Plymouth in from Shanghac wit, the mails
my first news from home in nearly seven
month. We leave here for Jeddp in three DAYS.
The length of our stay is Of course uncertain,
but as soon as get back again to some Chi
nese port, l shall resign, and make strait across
the Pacific. have mighty hunger to get
back to civilization. am tired TO teath of
ba'barians, especially OF the Chinese with their
monstrosities and denominations, and suppose
the Japanese are not much better. What | see
OF the operation of the Japanese laws in Leo
Choo disgusts me- think we shall certainly
san on Wednesday and spend our Fourth, of Jn-
dy IN the Bay Of Jeddo. Amateur tt.eatri-
Gals !, to mo row night on board the Mississi-