The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-08-12
Japan.


published in the 0. S. Journal, from Mr..
Walcutt, who was attached to Com. Perry's
expedition to Japan:
The day after I wrote my last letter, l
visited the shore as part OF the escort Of
Commodore Perry. The object of the Com
modore's visit was to receive the compliment
tary presents Of the Emperor of Japan to the
President of the United States, himself and
some other oflicerS-I suppose a return for
those he had accepted from our country
They consisted of beautiful and richly orna-
mented articles in the shape Of dressing
cases, stands, tables, &c, all made of wood,
but highly finished with their peculiar var
nlsh, and inlaid with mother of pearl. gold.
and other valuables. Besides, they had a
great variety of silks of different patterns.
and of tolerably good quality, bat think
not equal to the Chinese. They also had
fine grapes of different patterns, specimens
of their paper, which was beautiful. TOYS for
children, umbrellas, and some other trifing
fancy artices-all Of which our country
would be better without At the same
time, they presented to the Commodore. for
the use Of the squadron, quantity of rice.
which appears to be the principal article of
food III this country. | should think they
We're all yegetizerS, as they have but few an
lmaIs: We succeed in getting few ducks
and chickens, but they are few indeed. Since
have mentioned the ducks, will relate a
singular discovery made in opening the giz-
yards of nearly all that had been killed in
the squadron that is, pieces of metal weigh
ing about halt as much as a three cent piece
which, from its color, was at first taken for
gold, creating no little excitement among us.
we decided at once that this was the n
Dorado and no mistake, but on APPLYING the
tests, the gold was converted into copper.
The japanese copper contains considerable
gold, and for that reason the Dutch have at.
tached considerable value to it.
l have seen two or three cattle. but they
were saddled and bridled like horses. and so
suppose they perform the meaner duties OF
the horse they have few horses also, in
the possession of the rich. In country
as densely populated as this, it is evidently
impossible to feed but few animals that CON
sumo much. have not as yet seen or heard
OF a pig, consequently realize to the fullest
extent being distant from Ohio: it would
be delightful to hear squeal or grunt now.
After the presents had been rendered and re-
ceived, we Were all invited outside. where
seats were provided for us, ranged along in
a line. At one end of the line, in a LARGE
pile, was the rice they had given us, in BAGS
containing 100 pounds each. After we had
got III position, much to our astonishment,
as 1t was evidently intended. fifty naked
men, weighing on an average from two to
three hundred pounds, and some upwards Of
six and half feet high, all muscularIy de-
veloped, marched in single file by us, pro-
ceeded to the rice pile, when each of them
took up two bags of rice, some holding one
high above their heads with their two hands.
while they carried the other with their teeth,
passed along in front of us again, making
another pile, some hundred yard distant from
the first; they continued this until it was
all removed, each having to make several
trips to accomplish it. After this exhibition
OF strength, we adjourned to back ward
where they had ring about l2 feet in diam
eter. These same beastly looking men were
here, and new performance commenced, in
which they were the actors. The whole
amount of the game was this two of them
entered the ring, clinched, and then he would
be the best fellow that could put the other
outside of it. This was the whole entertain
ment IN that way, unaccompanied with mu-
SIC, OF which they appear to have no knowl-
edge, although they take pleasure in listening
to ours.