Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-30


ling their resolution nfsxbe turned his ships about and
anchored considerable distance down the bay would
have been in the highest degree censurable to have
tilted our curiosity at the expense OF much life
were obliged to content ourselves without having had
glimpse of Of the largest and most remarkable
cities in the world
The squadron sailed from the bay the 18th April to
visit Semodo about sixty miles distant, one OF the ports
granted by the treaty. Here permitted to go
shore and ramble about in circuit for ten miles,
much to delight, all felt the want Of exercee
Excepting at Yokohama where not allowed to 60
far from the audience house, had not been shore
since left Lew Chew They watched us very closely
at first sending guards Of soldiers to accompany us,
shutting the shops and conceang the women; but in
few days these restrictions removed and we were
left undsturbed TO wander where pleased The town.
containing 5000 people, is pleasantly situated in we'll
cultivated valley surrounded by high hills that CONCEAL
from view the entrance to its safe and picturesque bar
Dor. The streets wide and straight, and the better
class of houses two stories high pastcred and rooted
with elegant tiles. The interior is kept very clean and
from each other by sliding screws, that closed
moved at pleasure There are chimneys in Japan.
charcoal fire is built in little sand pit in the middle
of the floor, around which the family usually found
seated their knees drinking tea and smoking their
pipes Not chair any other piece of furniture
be seem Tubs Of water kept in front of each house.
as well as on the ROOFS in readiness aganst any fire. for
CONGREGATIONS frequent and extensive that whole
towns are sometimes burnt down.
The temples chiefly Buddhsts, are beautifully stuat-
ed in the suburbs The them leads generally
through rows OF elegant trees and wild cameas They
large plain structures, with high peaked roofs
bling the houses pictured Chinese porcelain. In the
space Immediately in front is large bell for sumoning
the faithful stone reservoir of holy water and several
roughly hewn stone idols. The doorway is ornamcnted
with carouslookng dragons and other animals carved
in wood Upon entering there is nothing special about
tho buildings worth noting the naked sides and exposed
rafters having gloomy appearance. The altar Is the
only object that attracts attention 1t SO much rese
bles the Roman Catholic that need describe it, Some
Of the idols on these affairs are SO similar to those have
seen in the churches in Italy that if they mutually
translated doubt whether either set of worshippers would
discover the change The priests count beads shave
their heads and analogous robes and the service is
attended by the ringing of BELLS the lighting of Candles
and the burning Of incense. In fact, except that the
is nowhere to be SEEM could easily imagine him.
self within Roman Catholic place of worship. During
the seventeenth century Christianity was introduced by
A Jesuits, and for time made rapid progres2; but the
missionaries, inflated by success became naughty and
presumptuous and beginning to interfere in politics and
government, brought about violent persecution. So
deadly hatred was conceived against the Portuguese
that in the space OF forty years they and their religion
were completely extirpaed Even to this day, in certain
parts the empire the custom Of tramplng the
is annually celebrated To such pitch the Japan
exasperated that Of the Romsh ceremonial was
permitted to survive.
Now the resemblance in the outward forms of the two
religions, have mentioned above strkingy remark
abe and is an interesting fact in reference to the pror
y OF the ceremonies of the Church of Rome it is still
undetermined whether they originated with herself or
were borrowed from Pagans Great liberty Of conscience
exists Every Japanese has right to profess whatever
faith he peases provided only be not Christianity
Religious secs said to be they in
the United States. The chief among them the Sutoo
Buddhist the former being the old national faith of
the country, and is represented by the MiksdQ sp
ritual Emperor who is thought to be the
ant OF the gods They have vague notions of the
Immortality Of the soul and Of future rewards and
punshments buddhism, the most widely dIused reli-
gion Of India is supposed to have been introduced about
the sixth century Its principal tenet is the Metempsy-
Ghosts transmgraton of the soul The Buddhiss be-
eye that the spirits of the departed enter into the bodies
OF animals and there remain passing from animal to
another until, their sins earth being purged away
they are received into the realms Of everlasting happi
ness They abstain from all animal food, and their
priests are under ayow Of ceibacy The great majority
OF the temples Buddhist In addition these there
secs of philosophers who hold the morality Of Conf
cus in great estimation. The whole tenor Of their doc
trine is to render mankind yrtuous in this life They
endeavor to preserve good conscience incnlcate ia
affection and due obedience to the laws Of their
reign All these different faiths have become mingled
and blended together and their doctrines have penc
trated each other that scarcely any religion preserves its
original purity
saw some very pretty girls here. They understand
the art Of applying rouge and pearl powder well
some Of our ladieA at home The married women have
borrid and disgusting fashion of staining their teeth
black.
On the 9th of May in company with the squadron we
sailed from Semodo, and in five days arrived at Hocko
date the second port that the Japanese had opened to
is situated the island Of Jesso is much larger than
Semodo, and possesses safe and commodious harbor
Our whalers will find it convenient place Of resort
Having completed the survey Of the harbor, sailed
for Shanghai the 31st Of May The Commodore after
touching at Semodo and Lew Chew will return to Hong
Kong from whence he expects to sail for home in the
autumn. He then intends publishing complete history
Of the expedition lie has drawings of all the important
events, that there will be want of illustration
render his book interesting
The Japan expedition has thus terminated its mission
disappointing the expectations Of those
wins said it would accomplish nothing and realizing the
hopes of those who thought well Of it. 1t has done
than any nation has been able to do for the last
turtles has DONE at small expense and without she'd
ding drop of blood that which the English to do
in China great loss Of life and millions of treasure It
has entered wedge which, in tme will be the means
Of opening the empire to the whole civilized world and
Of removing the restrictions that characterize the policy
Of this exclusive people, The peaceful in which
with which the instructions of our Government have
been carried out, well deserve the admiration of the
world.
SHANGHAI JUNE 3D.
We arrived here to-day, after pleasant through
the Japan Sea. The U. S. ship Plymouth anxossly
expecting arrival We relieve her she goes nome,
glad enough to return after three years cruise The
q. s. ship Susquehanna is also here, with MI McLASE,
the new Minister, board. She carried him to Man
king diplomatic business The object of his mission
Is procure from the rebels favorable CONNER
cia treaty than has heretofore existed under the old
He has not been able to effect any change
yet account Of the extraordinary position assumed by
Typing the leader Of the rebels He arms that he
the elder brother Of Jesus Christ that he is sent to
govern all nations, and will have communication with
outside barbarans unless they admit his and
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