Washington sentinel., 1854-01-29
Wasbington Sentinel.
JAPAN AND Loo CHoo.

with their character and habits, are becoming
more and more interesting to the American
people. We extract from the New York Herald
the following discursive sketch, being the sub
stance Of late lecture by Bayard Taylor in
New York. Mr.. Taylor spoke in substance
as follows
off any of us had asked for information con-
corning Japan three years since, the answer
would have been we know nothing about
It; but now we find that we know quite as
much about it as we knew of any eastern ma
ton half century ago. "A hundred descrip-
tions cannot exhaust the resources Of country,
for no two persons see with the same feelings.
This must be my plea for talking on subject
on which | can communicate no new facts. l
merely give the experience OF one who has
been q traveller in the country.
"In Loo Choo, my facilities for acquiring
information were greater than in Japan. With
regard to the people, they are more original and
intellectual than is generally supposed They
differ materially from the Chinese. Though
both belong to the great Mongolian family,
there are wide differences between them And,
first, their languages are dissimilar. II is true
that the Chinese written character is in COM
mon use in Japan, but in intonation and ac-
cent the languages have no similarity. No
language is so disagreeable, with its continued
run Of consonants, as the Chinese. The Japan
language is the very reverse. In their physical
conformation, also there is great difference
between the inhabitants Of the two countries.
The Chinese face looks like lump OF yellow
clay; their bodies are coarse and nngraceful,
though athletic. The complexion of the Ja-
panese is a dark olive; their eyes are darker,
and their foreheads broader than the Chinese.
Their countenances are agreeable and refiec-
tive, and their motions characterized by an un-
studied grace. They are always calm and dig
nifed seldom betraying surprise. Our own
hardy seamen often found it difficult work to
keep pace with Japanese boatmen.. 1t is Q
singular fact that their boats are built very
much after the fashion of our yacht America.
They seem to have an inventive as well as i'm.
itative genius for ship-buiding.
"There is even greater difference between
the Chinese and Japanese in their moral than
in their physical nature. The former are peace
full, modest, but withal given to usury; the
latter are warlike and energetic. In China you
are oppressed with the feeling Of universal stag
nation. Nothing progresses. The mental en-
ergy Of the people seems to be hopeless for inn
provement.s The great mass of the people
maintain the profoundest apathy, even in the
midst of the present revolution. On the other
hand, the curiosity Of the Japanese is measure
less. The inhabitants of this country are tho
roughly posted up in all that goes on in the
world, and to receive this intelligence is the
reason Of their friendship with the Dutch. On
the occasion Of Commodore Perry's landing, a
large number of Japanese officers came and
examined our weapons, &c., with the greatest
curiosity. This thirst for information is a hope
full trait. 1t shows what progress we might
expect from the race fits crushing government
were removed. / will mention one more differ
ence between the Chinese and Japanese. The
former have not the slightest idea of melody,
while the taste Of the latter for music was
plainly shown when our band began to play.
A crisis is undoubtedly hanging over both
these countries. The revolution in China will
throw open that empire to foreign commerce.
"The American expedition to japan is the
entering wedge, and the crevice already made
will become wider and wider. The system now
carried on by that government is system of
espionage, which it Is difficult to imagine how
any people can have borne. In Loo Choo,
dependency of Japan, we had better opportu-
mites for observation. Formertravelers clothed
the island with their own poetic imagination;
but Commodore Perry has torn off the cloak
which concealed the deformities Of its inhabit-
ants. It's government is vice.royalty. On
account of its defenceless position, the Loo
Chooans pretend that they belong to China
but the similarity between their language and
that of the Japanese is sufficient to give this
denial. The interior of the island is fertile,
and resembles much the accounts given by
Dutch travellers Of the southern part. We
only succeeded in exploring about half the isl
and. The northern part is wild and uninhab
ited We took with us a small boats ensign,
and carried it into the centre Of the capital
town and around the viceroy's castle. After
passing through the town, we struck across to-
wards the other shore of the island. The lovely
villages with which the country is dotted, were
deserted at our approach, and so well did the
people conceal themselves that we could not
discover where they had gone. Thus, although
entered many houses, could lind no inmates,
and was unable to make myself master of the
domestic habits Of the people.
"The few people did see betrayed the most
anxious terror ON my approach. The whole
island is the most beautiful that can be ina
gined. The southern part is one vast garden.
It's temperature is hot, but that of the hills is
always cool and refreshing. The people ever
seemed kindly disposed towards us, and nothing
but their intense dread Of the government pre-
vented their Delng lrlendiy 10 us. Inc exclu-
sive policy Of Japan is no doubt in opposition
To the will of its inhabitants We always found
the people ready to meet us halfway. During
oir residence on the Island Of Loo Choo, fan
cied that could recognise strong feeling Of
sympathy growing towards US from the inhab-
tants, and proportionate dislike from the gov
ernment have noticed that there is striking
resemblance between Peru, as it was under the
dynasty OF the Incas, and Japan. The Iceroys
ofeach country governed the people bya tenure
precisely similar. Society in Peru was divided
into castles, which were hereditary, as in Japan.
In their social and domestic habits and in their
literature, there is great similarity between
the two nations.
"ln the fall Of Peru we may see foreshadow-
ing Of the fall Of Japan. l leave il to others
to decide whether Japan has not right to shut
herself out from the rest of the world if she
chooses. Destiny does not stay to consider
this. Let her only yield foot Of ground for
one Anglo.Saxon man TO stand upon, and the
days Of her despotism are over. The physical
power Of Japan has been greatly overrated.
On our arrival there, we found no defence that
we could not have destroyed in a few hours
Although not wanting bravery, they are SO
little disc;plined that our small band Of three