The Empire County argus., 1855-11-10

Wouiu cause 10 pe carried IN advance OF the pro-
cession fag indicating his rank then the nun
dred crossword officers above spoken of. making in
this retnue about one hundred and fifty persons,
and thus they about in discharge of their Of
fetal duties In advance of the whole procession
are two boys, crying such prince comes, and the
way must be clear. And they pass along, appa-
renty not observing any object to the right left
all aborers by the wayside required to fall on
their faces. and not rise until the train shall have
passed, and the most perfect order is always main
tanned In and outside the ranks. 1t was not lit
tie amusing to see the confusion created in such
! train when they CHANGED to meet me with my fam
lily. The children and our ladies never failed to
attract attention, and not even these trains could
pass US without the curiosity Of the Japanese led
them to break away from their restraint, and rush
from the ranks to examine and our clothnge
and even the waysiders would forget to pay their
usual respects to the passing retinue. Often, no
doubt, have the japanese officials wished us on the
Yankee side of the Pacific for often we had occa-
sion to notice that Yankee influence broke the
charm, or destroyed their control An officer or
prince starting on journey of several days, would
| take much larger train than the one Just de-
scribed and after the first days Journey, the host
of nesword officers would be sent back, and new
ones supplied in the town where they stopped, and
so on from day to day The officer on arriving in
the town. gives his order or requsition for men and
food, or whatever he may want, and they are all
supplied and no remuneration is offered. A citi-
zen is called upon to march in the train: he must
go; no excuse can be offered the harvest in the
field, OK in the pit, a sick child, or dead friend
to bury, no matter, no excuse can be taken, it is
enough for him to have been called And the
same is observed in their calls for supplies, if it
takes the last morsel; the Emperor calls it is his
and must be appropriated. This sort of taxation
to me at first appeared unequal and unjust, but
they appear to think it well enough, and | suppose
ole
and taxations which may balance the former in
fact all appear to be creatures of the Emperor, and
are only allowed the surplus over and above his
wants. These officers are cruel in their treatment
to their subordnates no friendship exists between
them and no intimacy is allowed and when SUBJ
ordinate is ordered he performs with trembling, in
fear that he may do it wrong, for if he is found in
error no matter how paliatng his excuse, he must
be punished, and without mercy, too. Punishment
with them is in the most summary manner, and
subordinates, in fact any officer under the En-
pcror is not sure Of his head from one moment to
another; and to hear them talk you would be led
to think that they lived in momentary expectation
of their head and body Icing separated by the cold
steel. The Governor of Simoda often communica-
ted to me that Except consented to 60 from ST.
moda directly or wrote him letter, saying that
had no right to remain there, and that | would
| leave soon, he would have his mead severed from
his body" And when | replied ''Very WELL if
your head rests on this contingency you must lose
your head he would barely shudder, and thought
to himself presume, how regardless of human
| life these Americans must be. Evidently, and
have been told so likewise by the Interpreter, these
same officers | have been describing, are the sol
diers of the country, and the only ones that are
to take part in its defence: the ter of the EARTH
the mechanic, the merchant or fisherman, are nev-
er expected to join in war, should such thing ev
er occur. Heretofore they have never dreamed of
any that could exist except among themselves
and they have never guarded against any thing
but rebellion or civil war War with other nations
they have idea of, and their exclusion from
the rest of mankind has rendered them totally un-
fit for a contest with another nation. With all
their display of force so common there, and all
this appearance of courage or austerity amongst
themselves, one American, with firm look even,
will put whole army in fright. There is act
ual acknowledgment in their every act towards
you, that you are physically and mentally their
superior. | have seen a cook from the Russian
temple drive back from following one of the Rus
sian officers, a whole guard of Japanese, consisting
of five two-sword officers These Japanese officers
are cunning and shrewd, full Of deception, and of
ten indulge in it towards their people. They
lead their people to think that all ships that come
there under their control, or subject to their
order; and hence of the first things a Japanese
officer will learn visiting a ship, is just what
day she will leave, and then he will publish to his
people that he has ordered her away on such a
day. They pursue the same course towards a
man nofwar as towards n merchantmen; and if
perchance she does not sail on that day they say
they have detained her. when in reality they have
no more to do with her sailing than they have with
the rising and setting of the moon. They are fond
of attentions from us, ready to accept wine or 9TH
er drinks we offered them, and invitations to dine
or to take any meal; always appeared to enjoy our
food and meats, although they never prepare them
or eat them amongst themselves. They are fond
of being hattercd, Are friendly and familiar in
doors, but distant reserved, and apparently ndif-
ferent when the common people can see them. In
fact one and all of the officers with whom | be-
came acquainted, expressed admiration of the
American character, and said they longed for the
time when they could mingle with unrestricted
by their government; could buy and sell our goods
visit our country, and be regarded as part of the
civilized world. n. c. REED.
s F SuCAR SPECTATOR II is related to lis