The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-03
A GLANCE At JAPAN.
[core.palacaee q .he Boslan IIeraIa.l

Correspondence OF the Boston Icrnld-l
The city of Hakodadi contains about four Thousand
houses with population of about 80 900 the island
The city is 50 well laid Naugorad the people
are not so tidy do they show that disposition to be
socabie that their neghbors of Naugoradi and Smoda
did They appear TO be much more ignorant class OF
beings also Their streets wide and kept toerably
clean; the houses and two stories In height,
very few OF which painted the outside being covered
with the bark of trees which answers for shingles
capboards the roofs covered with thin strips OF
cars which are secured their places by large numbers
OF neayy paving cobbic stones The lower stories OF
nearly all these houses occupied shops for ALI vae
ties Of trade. Their bazars are notso richly hlled as
those at the other ports They have large number OF
temples large and small all of which are well ornament
cd with gold silver etc with plenty Of idols to worship
We permitted TO enter any OF these temples by
taking OFF shoes before crossing the threshhod This
being the custom Of the country certainly could not
object
The people here dress precisely like their ncighbors.
The mandarns and officials all go armed with two
swords long and short the police arc very nu-
merous, being stationed only few rods apart the dogs
thick flies around molasses barrel in August,
and are half bull and so where yon will your arrival is
sure be announced by their tremendous ceilings and
barkings They smell out stranger as he lands,
and their barking calls out the people who come running
their houses and shops to upon white faced
Yankee The dirty children look, are frightened, and
away from yelling and scrccching as heously as
the canine race. President Buchanan never had more
look at him. at time, than myself and friend when
visited the city of Hakodadi As we walked through
the Streets hOn0reu with dufulfinB
either side while hundreds OF boys followed in our foot
steps and from their smiles concluded that they liked
our appearance, and especially our long whskers We
met with opposition, but were permitted 70 SO where
we pleased unmoested.
The governor of the island resides in the city. His
palace is plain building. surrounded ON two sides by
two high green banks and large number OF ornamental
trees and approached by neat and wide gravclied
walk His excellency at times Is very stubborn, owing
the fact that he is too fond Of his drops He ut first
undertook to put to little inconvenience in re-
spect to provisions when first arrived here, but lind
ing that he had woke up hard customer in captain,
he became quite docie and has since shown us every at
tention We saluted Mr. Rice few days ago with nine
guns, the report Of which awoke the governor and,
from his good conduct since have been led to believe
that he does not like the sound Of Uncle Sans black
dogs
The harbor of Hakodadi is very large and spacious
probably the best the worldaDd is capable Of accom-
modating very large amount Of shipping and IS protect
ed from all dangers by high hills on all sides Every
thing even to the provisions purchased to eat on board
ship pass through the hands OF the custom
officials and pay export duty For Mexican doas
they allow us three their dollars worth about ninety
six cents. There places Of amusement here, and
one visits shore quite sufficient to see all OF
the wonders OF this part of Japan Rum is quite plenty
and be had for twenty cents per ga'lon Dns te
smell of it is enough to make Christian swear We
have been able procure beef for the ship use three
times week, but vegetables are scarce, although Mr..
Rice has imported California potatoes, and the ma
tivcs have planted large fields Of them The harvesting
of these potatoes this fall will decide how they will yield
in this part of the world String beans, radshes, and
cucubers the only vegetables we have been able to
obtain Fruit is very The winters here are cold,
and considerable snow falls. The junks which trade
among the islands very numerous, and fill up the
harbor near the town. The most notable objects OF in
terest that have seen here number of kurilcs the
hardest looking set Of human beings behed They
a Of short stature thick set with hair and whiskeIs
tending down to the middle of their persons have very
large eyes and long cars and Their home Is on
the island of Yeso Of the group, where they are
It. 49,. .1,t,n lkaNra varu
have no idea Of any other part Of the world but their
island