The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-07-06
THE JAPAN EXPEDITION.

The interesting sketch below is a continuation q,
the letters published in Tuesdays Dispa,cb
CHRISTIAN BURIAL In JAPAN
BAY OF JEpDo, JAPAN
Thursday, March 9th, 1854 (
We have had religious service publicIv .ns
with the consent of the authorities who were s.snd
ing by, and IN the presence, too, of thousands of
the populaton,-and this in Japan. You rene,n.
Der, perhaps, the inscription on the monument mn,
up over the massacred christians at Timbara more
than 200 years ago: H'o's
So long as the Sun shall warm the earth. LET M
Christian be 30 bold as to come to Japan. and let
al all know that the King OF Spain, himself, or the
CHRISTIANS God, or the great God of ALL If he ye-
late this command, shall pay for it with his head
mentioned yesterday that at the interview the
Japanese were brought consent to allow the bodv
of the marine. Williams, to be buried here. Dur.
Ing the forenoon, to-day, their Interpreter and the
Mayor OF Uraga, with ether officials came on board
and went with our men to show them the SPOT se'
1ected for the grave. In interview with the Com
modore to day. asked him il | should bury the
Marine with the usual religious service. ayes.
exactly as you always do no more nor less But
if the authorities forbid it, and try to prevent II
still go on and have your usual service;' was the
reply
The preparations on board were for an inter.
ment exactly after our usual method upon the or.
casion of the burial of Marine A great many of
the officers would liked to have gone and some an.
piled for permission; but it was thought best to
give the occasion no unusual eclat-while at the
same time nothing was to be omitted.
About O'Clock, after all hands had been
called to bury the dead" and the Chaplain had
read from the gaugway the customary passage of
Scripture, we left the ships 10 two boats with the
flags at half mast the first containing the assistant
Surgeon, the Captain and myself in uniform and
gown and the other boat having the dead BODY
with guard of honor, consisting of Sergeant
Corporal and six Marines. We landed at spot
designated-a quarter OF mile south of the land.
ing place Of yesterday, and in front of large vii.
Yokohama the whole shore being lined with
visitors who came to gaze. The Mayor of Uraga
Interpreter, &c, received us there. had expected
that on seeing me in my official costume, and frst
knowing that there was christian minister on their
shore and among them, there would be recoil
and that they would shrink from me as from some
thing poisonous. But there was no such thing On
the contrary, they came up excessively and gave
me their hand for a shake. (They have learned
our salutation and seem TO be fond ofit)
The Interpreter, pointing to my Prayer Book,
asked if it was for ceremonies over the dead, and
smiled as before when told him that it was. The
Marines were formed in line and received the
body with presented arms, when the procession
moved on, marines first; fife and mutfied drum
playing the d" Dead March; :" the chaplain the cof
fin borne by four marines their Captain Surgeon
Hospital Steward, and six or eight sailors. Our
way laid through the village, and the occasion
seemed to excite quite holyday among them;
everybody, men, women and children, running
and gaining good places for seeing, and squatting
down on the ground till we had passed, when
observation, if they could. The street through
which we passed was however, kept clear, and at
intervals / noticed new boards stuck up, with in
scriptions probably to warn the people from in.
truding on our way. But the people, even women
and children, showed no tear nor any hesitation in
coming near us, or in being seen themselves; and
some shops that we passed were kept open as
usual Isaw myself often pointed out being doubt
gyman of the party, but it was without any exhbi
ton of dspleasure on their countenanceS, but as
they would look at any other curiosity. | saw
one woman hold up her little child to see me, and
the thought passed through my mind, that if it
should ever live to maturity it would probably see
many wonderful changes in Japan.
Our way led quite through the village, at the
farther end OF which, on wooded hill at our left
temple with two different flights OF steps
leading up to 1t, and ornamented gate-ways below.
Through the further of these gate-ways | now saw
Buddhist priest, in his officiating costume, emerge
and perceived that he took his way towards some
fresh earth-the grave little beyond.
They had selected tori the interment very pret.
ty spot, about hundred yards from the village,
and closely adjoining old burying-ground OF
their own. We found the Buddhist priest seated
there but he attempted no interference with our
religious ceremonies which commenced (all un.
covering,) as wesapproached the grave
The scene at this time was an exceedingly inter.
esting one even apart from its heing the first break
ing through of the Japanese settled oppugnation to
Christianity. The hills here formed semi.crcular
sweep, and at one end of the semicircle we were
standing. On the opposite side, ON the height
above, was the Buddhist Temple. The sides of these
hills and the whole sweep OF the crest covered
with people, quiet and attentive spectators of what
was going on.
Close to us stood the Japanese officials Just be-
low the grave the marines in line on the other side,
and near them, mat, sat the old Buddhist Priest
with table before him. which were number of
h,,u.. .l.A
Every body was quiet and attentive, while we went
through our usual service for the solemn burial OF
the dead. Then the marines fired their volley over
the grave. AS the first yoliey was given there
half shout on the hills around if giving to
deep observation and pentup curiosity, the number
on which was computed by our officers at 1000.
While they were filling up the grave, asked per-
mission to examine their burying ground, which
they readily gave, the Interpreter also going with
me and explaining the several parts: Against the
side of the hill is range sculptured stones which
he said were their Gods; some red basreliefs OF
figures like human beings on them. Across the
space were lines of small head stones OF these
also with human figures scuptured on them in front
Others with inscriptions. These were commem-
orative of individuals buried below; and when OBJ
served to the Interpreter that the space for each bo
dy was very small, he replied that the dead in ia
pan were buried in a sitting posture.
| then went down to the Buddhist Priest, venera-
BILE looking man of about 70 years of age who
was very friendly, and showed me his rosary, half
the DeaQs IN WHICH were giass anu nan Woou; diso
his book.
The Interpreter opened the papers and showed
us their contents and stated that the Buddhist had
come there as compliment to Mr.. Williams"
the name OF the deceased) On the little table, in
addition to the incense box and some rolls of un.
known material and paper, were also bowl OF
cooked rice a covered vessel filled with sacki, and
a small gong The priest now commenced his ce-
remonies sometimes touching the gong, sometimes
stirring the sacki, while he thumbed his beads, and
then muffing his hands in his robe and bowling his
head, he read some prayers in low, uninteligible
voice This outer dress was kind OF Poncho OF
very rich brocade silk, covered with fancifui
figures.
After putting head and foot board, with proper
inscription, to the grave, left the Bndhist priest
still engaged at his ceremonies, and set out on our
return the crowds gathering US before, and all civil
and polite; and 30 with drum and ME playing we
returned to our boats.
For the foregoing sm indebted to the notes o.
our chaplain. / regard it as an event OF consider
able interest to the Christian world when it is re-
mernbered that this is the first Christian burial that
has taken place in Japan for two hundred years.
NEws FROM LIBKRrA.-The Republic Of Liberia
Ia represented by adyices to the Sd of May, as
pdly advancing In prosperity, and in the arts and
of eivtlizafi0u and having within her