Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1854-07-13
MORE CURIOUS INCIDENTS IN JAPAN.

MORE CURIOUS INCIDENTS IN JAPAN.
The American squadron carried out railroad |
and locomotive, daguerreotyping apparatus,
and an electric telegraph as presents TO the
Emperor Of Japan. An officer on board writes: |
The presents were taken on shore and de-
posted in houses built for their Teception.-
Suitable persons were appointed TO learn their
use 10 the Japanese. The railroad was built
circular, making circle OF four miles. The
telegraph they could not understand so well.
The dagueneotyping operation likewise filled
them with wonder. Japan is not so much Of
q civilized country after all. What we have
seen did not come up 10 our expeciations.--
Exaggeration, their own excluSivenesS and
mystery, have help'd to give these peope a
higher stand than they are entitled TO as q
nation. We have found them, when it was
to be expected they would be most effective
in the vicinity OF their capital, and the oppor-
tunities OF year to prepare, weak and con-
temptible. As TO the military prowess of the
nation, it is absurd; more whimsical farce
cannot be seen than that exhibited when they
received us on shore. Their miserable at
tempts at display with tawdry flags, ragged
dresses, and painted canvass, are a perfect
contrast 10 our neat uniforms and solid ranks
musketS, broadSwords, arrows, and such rude
weapons, and the Americans with everything
in the perfection Of science and order. The
dense mass of the lower classes are servie to
disgusting degree, as they may be under the
hand Of despotiSm-the deSpotism of the
learned few-the peculiar deSpotism of "a
pan, ana perfect system found nowhere else
on EARTH The upper classes, with whom our
! int bae haa nE,a1 rIa,r al
| ly, and by their own policy, too, are possessed
Of good manners, and breeding not unworthy
of civilized life; but nearer acquaintance
shows them corrupt, immoral, effeminate, and
timid, 10 an offensive degree.
| am unableto give you any information eS
to the resources Of the country, its productions
or its wants, farther than is now known. My
own opinion is that long time will elspSe
before any trade will be carried on; their wants
must first be aroused, before our goods will
find a ready market Thewealth of the coun
. try is confined among so few that a demand
for valuable manufactures is very doubtful
Coal, they say, they have in abundance, and
have sent specimens for our inspection; it is
light and inhammable, but Indifferent and
useless for sea steamers. OF gold and silver,
we see plenty, as ornaments upon sworls and
in their coins. Their swords, | should remark,
are worthy of all that has been written about
them-fne temper, high polish, land keen edged;
, the hilt beautifully ornamented with gold and
silver The wedge which We have driven in
10 Japanese exclusiveneSs, completely and
forever separates them from their old policy
, and many intelligent men who visit US, ac
knowledge that they must fall into the spiri
D of the age. They already talk of building 1
D vessel on our models, and Of visiting differen
parts Of the world. The great mass of com
: mon people seem remarkably friendly 10 us
but the officers. The Japanese have no hogs
s sheep, ducks, &C., and but few cattle, whicI
they never kill, contenting themselves wit
e fish and vegetables. They eat no anima
food.
k The day after the official interview, one @
: our marines, who had died on board ship wa
It buried on shore, with the houors Of war. Thi
solemn event was not without its effect.
II was an important point yielded by the Japan
ese 10 allow this burial; but when consent wa
e once given up, they entered with obligin
cheerfulness into the arrangements. Born
= on shore by long procession of boats, wit
- ensgns at half mast, detachment of hi
corps in full uniform met the body OF the de
ID ceased with presented arms, and so, "Slowl
q and sadly they bore him. TO his quiet grave
J. in far distant land, and lard him beside tn
bones and dust Of the ancestors of a peopl
who for centuries had closed their dools an
their soil to the Christian. There in Japan
= ese burying ground, the prayers and beautilt
es words for the dead were said; the pealin
musketry rang over his coffin, the earth close
a over our comrade, and we returned to OF
= ship, solemnly and silently. Upon our dt
70 parture, the japanese priests PERFORMED the
le own ceremonies over the grave, and erected
handsome stone upon the spot.