Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-02-08
Japan and Loo CIloo.
Bayard TAYLOR delivered the first Of

Japan and Loo Choo.
Bayard Taylor delivered the first Of d
second course of lectures on Friday even
ing before the members of the New York
Mercantile Library Association and large
audience. Subject--Japan and Loo Cboo-
Mr.. Taylor spoke IN substance as follows
If any Of us had asked for information
concerning Japan three years since, the an
swer would have been, ave know nothing
about it," but now we find that we know
qGte as much about 1t as We knew of any
Eastern nation half a century ago. A hum
dred descriptions cannot exhaust the resour-
ces OF cou',ry, for no otwopersonsseew with
the same feellhrs. This must be my plea
for talking on sutect on which can con-
experience OF one VIII. has been traveller
in the country. ~
In Loo Choo, my facilitie> Cor acquiring
information were greater than, JananS .
With regard to the people. they 90 more
original and intellectual than IS gene,,Ily
supposed. They differ materially from Ii,
Chinese. Though both belong to the great
Mungolian family, there are wide differen-
ces between them and first, their Ian
guages are dissimiar. 1t Is true that The
Chinese written character is in common
use in Japan, but in intonation and accent
the languages have no similarity. No Ian
guage 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 a
grea. difference between the inhabitants of
the two countries. The Chinese face looks
like lump of yellow clay. their bodies are
coarse and ungraceful, though athletic
The complexion of the japanese is dark
olive-their eyes are darker, and their fore
heads broader than the Chinese. Their
countenances are agreeable and reflective,
and their motions characterised by an un-
studied grace. They are always calm and
digniied-seldom betraying surprise. Our
own hardy seamen often found it difficult
work to keep pace with Japanese boatmen.
It is a singular fact that their boats are
kullt very much after the fashion OF our
scht America. They seem to have all IN
vntive, as we'll as initiative genius for ship
btding.
There is even a greater difference be-
TWEEN the Chinese and Japanese in their
mon than in their physical nature. The
fornr are peaceful, modest but withal CIV
Ell tolsury: the latter are warlike and en-
ergeti In China, you are oppressed with
the feSng of universal stagnation. Moth
ing processes. The mental energy of the
people sems to be hopeless for improve
ment. be great mass of the people main
tain the fofoundest apathy, even in the
other hant the curiosity of the japanese
is measures. The inhabitants of this
country areboroughly posted up in all that !.
goes on in tk world, and to receive this
intelligence 1.-THE reason of their friendship
with the Dutc, On the occasion of Com
modore Perry landing large number Of
japanese ofhcts came and examined our
weapons. Sc, wy rnc grcarrst vuriusuy.
This thirst for infmation is hopeful trait.
1t shows what pgress we might expect
from the race fits crushing government
were removed II will mention one more
difference beteen the Chinese and Japan
ese. The fdmer have not the slightest
idea of meloS, while the taste of the lat
ter for musiiw plainly shown when our
band begarto play. A crisis is undoubt'
edlv bane,g over both these countres.-
The revoItlon IN China will throw open
that empfe to foreign commerce.
The merican expedition TO Japan is the
enterini wedge, and the crevice already
made yill become wider and wider. The
systeu now carried on by that government
is ssstem of espionage, which it is ditfl-
cult 10 imagine how any people can have
borre. Tn Loo Choo, dependency ofJa-
pan we had better opportunities for obser-
vatnn. Former travellers clothed the is
land with their own poetic imagination, but
Commodore Perry has torn off the cloak
which concealed vice royalty. On account
of its defenceless position, the Loo Choo-
ans 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 a.
bout half the island. The northern part is
wild and uninhabited. We took with US
small boats ensign, and carried it into the
centre of the capital town, and around the
walls of the Viceroy's castle. After pass
ing 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 find no inmates, and was
unable to make myself master of the do
mestlc 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 imagined. The southern part is one
vast garden. Its temperature is hot, but
hat of the hills is always cool and refresh
ng. The people ever seemed kindly dis
posed towards us, and nothing but their in
ense dread Of the government prevented
heir being friendly to us. The exclusive
policy OF Japan is no doubt in opposition to
he will Of its inhabitants. We always
ound the people ready to meet us halfway.
During our residence on the island of Loo
Jhoo, fancled that could recognize a
trong feeling of sympathy growing towards
Is from the inhabitants and proportionate
lislike from the government l have no.
iced that there is striking resemblance
,etween Peru-as it was under the dynasty
If the Incas-and Japan. The viceroys of
ZACH country governed the people by
enure similar. Society in Peru was div.
led into castles, which were hereditary, as