The Empire County argus., 1855-11-10
From the San Francisco Herald.


find more difficulty in describing the japanese
their customs, manners and habits, than in giving
the reader an idea of the country, its appearance
etc. etc; and the reader must make proper allow
ances for the difficulties any foreigner will meet
with in going there and attempting to gain any
knowledge of them they are superstitious beyond
onception-eager to gain all information of other
countries, but slow in return to impart single
fact in relation to themselves spent much time.
and squandered much patience in trying to gain
some facts, so as to form an idea of their social
moral and religious obligations and from the best
information | could gain, am convinced they copy
in no respect from any other nation on the globe
and all their forms, obselvances, etc etc. are ori
ginal with themselves, except, perhaps, their form
of government, that being monarchcal. They may
resemble and maybe copy from other like forms Of
government; yet they claim no likeness to any
other government and totally ignore all likeness or
resemblance and they will not consent or (for the
sake of argument or to make point clear) allow
quotations from the Law of Nations saving the
Law of Nations does not apply to or affect them
The japanese put much stress upon titles and rank,
and according to his rank, so is he entitled to be
heard hence my words stood a small chance of
reaching the Emperor's ears, because they first
learned was merchant, and merchant with
them ranked with the commonest people-scarcely
allowed to speak But humble as the instru-
ment was, the Japanese could not have failed to
learn some principles in the Republican form of
government. There appear to be three distinct
classes Of people First the officers or all such as
in any manner aid in carrying the designs of
government: and these can be distinguished from
the others from the fact that they are always arm
ed with one or two swords as their rank or station
may entitle them These swords are owned by the
government, and are delivered to the wearer with
his commission, and taken from him when it ex-
pres. No merchant Is allowed to buy or sell
them. nor is civilian ever allowed to take one in
his hand or to see it unsheathed hence they are
taught to have most profound dread Of and most
perfect awe and obedience for its wearer. These
swords are samples Of the most finished cutlery
ever seen; and Yankee curiosity often threw the
Japanese officials nervous system into most I'M
controllable state by stepping up to one of them,
and, as quick as thought, drawing his sword from
the scabbard and exhibiting it to the bystanders
have often the Japanese dscomposed at
Yankee GOODNESS, but on such occasions as stated
above, their discomposure was indescribabe; still
any of them would go into your room and disarm
themselves and exhibit their weapons to your
hearts content, but such thing before their peo-
pie, with their consent, was preposterous. All the
officers under government, or those connected with
city government, such as police, constables, COM
missioners or occupying any Office under city or
general government, carry two swords and each
of these officers has his subofficers appointed by
himself, and entitled to one sword and noticed
that this style of officials often carried wooden
sword, made to initiate the genuine so perfectly
that it required close examination to distinguish
between them. All the prominent officers, such as
governors and vice-governors, spies, interpreters
etc. etc. receive their appointments direct from
the Emperor, and all actual residents of Jeddo
and if of families, they are obliged or required
to leave them behind, pledge for the faithful
discharge of their duties; and they so fully believe
in the necessity of this law, that they attributed
the same thing to me, and said | retained Mrs
Capt. Worth at Simoda as pledge from tho Cap
tain that he would faithfully perform his duty,
while on a voyage to Petropolosk with the Rus
slams. We read in McFarlan and other writers
upon Japan of immense retinues or trains of peo-
Pile attending prince official in his march thro'
the country These are common and of almost
hourly occurrence, and they reminded me of large
armies marching through or preparing for wars.
SO fond of display are the Japanese that it would
seem they never lost an opportunity of exhibiting
themselves in the largest possible numbers to one
view. These trains are made up R the following
manner: An officer of two-sword rank is allowed
about ten men as his body guards or servants each
one of which carries sword and their duties are
to march after him, carry his sun-shade, rain-coat
provisions, etc, put on and take off his shoes as he
comes out or enters a house, and when he enters
house always to wait at the door outside until he
comes out, rain or shine. Then to make up a
train, we will suppose the Governor of Smoda was
to pay me visit He would take with him two
vice-governors, two interpreters four secretaries,
two spies and his surgeon, each of which officers