The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-10-29
From the Nep York Tribunal
THE JAPAN EXPEDITION.

We have received no letters intended
for publication from Mr.. BAyARD TAY-
LoR since he Joined the japan fleet, but
private note from him dated on June
26, at the harbor of Napa k,ang, Loo
Choo, states very briefly few facts Of
interests which, it is not improper for
Us to communicate to our readrs He
! writes As follows: "Behold me here, in
this remote and rarel y-visit-d corner of
the Pacific, sweating under the torrid
sun, clothed in the ligheSt undress uni
form allowed by the Navy Regulations,
and living from hand to mouth, now on
salt horse and sea biscuit, aud now on
turtle steaks and wiId-boar outlets. |
have not yet been two months in the
service, but its ordered, artificial lite is
S new and peculiar, so different from all
my previous experince, that, although,
am now tolerahly at home IN it, the time
seems greatly prolonged. have, in fact
Sec and done great deal since leaving
Shanghai. We sailed on the nth of
May, leaving the Plymouth there, and
after ii detention of three DAYS at the
mouth Of the Yang -kiang, sailed d.
rect for this place, at the southwestern
corner of the Great Loo Choo Island,
where we arrived on the Goth. Proba-
bly not more than dozen 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 SatSuma, and the people are
Japanese in dress, customs and govern
nent, though not, as think, in race.
They approximate nearer to the Malay.
\ iler the Regent had been received on
board, and good understanding estab-
llShcd, the Commodore appointed a par
ty of tour-oi whom was one-to ex-
rIore the interior of the island. No
white man had ever been more than
three miles firm Napa before. We
took four men and some Chinese coolies
with us and started on six DAYS tramp,
during which We made 1913 miles and
thoroughly explored more than one.
halt the island We were attended by
but did not attempt to control our
movements. We led them such dance
as they never had before, but it was i'm
possible to escape their espionage.
Scouts We're sent in advance 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, but Of their own rulers.
The island is one Of the most beautiful
in the world; very fertile, 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 sum-
nit of a mountain, besides many ancient
tombs, hewn in the rocks. The north
ern part Of the island is mountainous,
and covered with dense forests, in which
wild bears are found. The trip was al
together the most fantastic and peculiar
| ever made. We took a tent, but lodg-
ed mostly in the ng-qua's, or Govern
ment houses, which are very neat and
comfortable. Our native escort furn-
ished us with provisions, and bearers for
our baggage. On Monday, the 9th inst,
the Commodore returned the Regents
vSi, at Sheudi, the royal residence, 3
miles from here. He went in state with
procession of more than 900 officers,
sea.man and marines, with two field
pieces and two bands. Great numbers
OF ih., t, I'm
We entered the royal castle at Sheudi,
but did not see either the young Prince
or the Queen Dowager. After the re-
ception we had a grand native dinner at
the Regents house. partook of 81
-tiescript dishes, and was then oblig-
ed to stop. Everything passed Off re-
markably we'll. We left here ON the 9th
for the Benin archipelago, 800 miles to
the eastward of this, taking the Saratoga
in tow and leaving the Mississippi and
Supply behind. Alter a delightful voy-
age of five days we reached Port Lloyd,
the harbor OF Peel Island, where we re-
manned four days. | was appointed to
the command Of an exploring party.
The island is only six miles long, but
very rugged, and covered with the dens-
est tropical vegetation. never had
such a hard days work in my life, al
though we only travelled twenty miles.
had seven men-ofiicers and sea-men
with me. Two of them broke down
complete y, a third barely dragged him
self along, and the others were wofuIly
tatigued. We climbed down mile of
precipices by holding on to the corners
Of rocks and the roots of trees, shot a
wild boar, kindled fire and roasted his
flesh, and had grand time, generally.
The BONN Islands are of volcanic for
nation, and, though in lat. 81 deg. N,
the vegetation is that which is lsewhere
L. A L. 1. L