The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-12-30
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSD4Y. DECEMBER 80.

W.
have made frequent inquiries of captains VINO
have visited Japan, touching generally at the
shove named port, where the American Consniis
located. The impression generally received there
hv shipmasters is q favorable one- They all
sneak highly of the port of Hakodadi; and the
treatment received from japanese officers and
others with whom they came in contact. was
courteous, and in no sense annoying. We Judge,
however, from all the information we can gather,
that the pleasure of a %sojourn there or a visit
arises more from the novelty of the scenes met
with than from any superior advantages offered
for recruiting; for on this score it would appear
that there are many disadvantages.
Knowing that Capt. Asa Taber, of the whale
ship Adefne. of New Bedford, winrered in the
port of Hakodadi last year, in company with
Capt. West of the Rapid, we requested him to
furnish us with some facts in relation to his visit
there. which he has done. Leaving Cape Eliza
beth in the Ochotsk Sea, in company with the
Rapid, Oct. LIST. 1857, they steered south through
the Saghalien Sea for Perouse Straits, and in the
passage encountered heavy gales and bad weather
generally. Passed through the Straits Oct. 10 IN
q thick fog. seeing no land except a rock which
lies in the passage. After passing the Straits they
had the same heavy weather and gales, mostly
from the :. W.. which was dead ahead, and ar
rived at Hakodadi ON the 22d Oct. after a pas
sage of twenty-five days-an average passage
from the Ochotsk to Honolulu. Capt. Taber
thinks, however, that the passage can be made in
from ten 10 fifteen days. We quote the letter
About twenty minutes after We had anchored, the
Japanese officials made us a visit, and l was quite
surprised to see such a noble and Intelligent looking
-. I-.on arr,x;a IN boar-1 fhe interpreter IN
trUduced himself and his fellow officers, who by the
way could not speak or understand English. THEM
terpre,er asked, What for you come here:' Upon
being told that we came in for supplies for our ship
and pe,ple. he asked, Whist kind of supplies we
v.n,ei,' I told him that We should want wood and
vater, fresh meat and vegetables, together with the
products of the country generally. This was made
known by the interpreter to the high officer in attend
ance, who msde known to US through the same me
dunn that we should have everything We wanted tna'
the country afforded, and they all appearet mucn
pleased with our visit to their country, and quite as
much with their visit on board our ship We were
therefore received with a hearty welcome, and 3 free
pass given to come and go whenever We liked and
would here say that the government, from the time
we arrived until our departure. did As they SAID they
would, all they could to make us comfortable while
there, aud furnished US with all necessary supplies
W NuDQ t11L We CDdlI tpt84A MUS 20 sHS
sary supplies that ships stand in need Of First, We
Got fresh beef. being the aHt. rs l was informed, fur
uished to any merchant or whale ship. The beef IS
tender and very sweet, and costs about eight cents
per pound. The japanese do not kill beef cattle to
eat themselves, nor do I remember Of seeing beef
cooked as food in any way on shore; bat when they
came on board ship they dropped all scrupies they
ever had on that matter. and put = good quantity out
Of sight, as if they owed somebody 8 spite Potatoes
we're also obtained, which were of an excellent quai-
i,y, though small. and As to quantity there seemed to
be an abundance; but, from some cause or other,
quite . number Of whale ships in the spring could not
get potatoes Il Was reported that they Lost = great
many in the winter by frost. and by the severe thaws
that take place after the heavy SHOWS. Overlooking the
potato holes or cellars They say such failures shall
be remeiiei another year. though, in fsct, they know
very little shout raising potatoes or taking care OF
them after they have raised them They are very
much ike other people in counting the cost, and, If
anything, a lille more So There Was also plenty OF
rice, and some Of the best rice l ever saw, az two
cents per pound; qnite a variety Of beans, sugar, rice
four, buckrheat aour. Abundance Of fish, Of a very
nice quality, and fresh cod were caught in the bar
Dor all winter
"Ihsre vas also an abundance Of chickens and
eggs, and in the winter, venison vas plenty. ali Of
which could DC bougai at reasonable rates y TIE
aoaey could Re got at at = reasonable rate, which vas
the most rexasious thing met with in our stay there
The government pays for gold coin tuenty-two cents
for the dollar, and silver eoin Except only Spanish
and Mexican dollars, which passed st SIX per cent
discOunt.) rezf By usiskf. the average deduction
being about one-third. or ,hirty-,hree per cent; 70
ssy nothing Of drawing a bill at hfy per cent dis
count, to which ought to have been aided one-half at
-. - che -arn1 q 4, a .,,~@. Howsxer We
got through i, in the way of ssaeraI average pretty
well, ater all
The barber OF Hakoisii cannot be surpassed for
safety. I, Is sufficiently large to shelter several hun
dr~i sal Of vessels in an anchorage averaging from
three to eight fithoms water, with sof, muddy bot
tom The harbor also abo1nds with sea fowl in win
ter, Of various and choice kinds. to say nothing Of
the sport Ct taking them The japanese are . very
shrevd and close-alculating people. they offer Us
about one-fourth the cost Of our goods. and when we
refuse to sell, they say, Very vel, what We cannot
make ourselves. there Is no use Of our having but
time viii drive that notion ont of their heads, because
/ they are very fond of dress
g As the japanese become more acquainted with
the American people. their manners, customs, &C.,
they viii drop many Of their own abeurdit;e. A few
American residents with . storeor two would do much
TO begin the work While We were there, the people
we're not allowed to receive or make any presents.
which vas. IL course, = difficult thing to control, the
curiosity Of 10th parties being very much excited
Several books, EDITORIALS, magazines, Gcdey's, Har-
pers, Sc, were sent back. and the people punished
that received them
There might be . great deal more said about the
Jap2nee thai would appear strange to US; but I hope
70 ind them more nlightened, and les exclusive,
should I viS, them again. which l hope to do"
In regard TO beef and other animal meats. Mr..
Heeko, the japanese on board the Feaninaors
Cooper, informs Us that cattle are sacred Ae
cording 10 the japanese religion, an animals that
utter q sound are held as sacred, and never killed
for food Hence fdthfui japanese never eat beef,
venison. pork, veal. mutton. nor birds of any
description. Their food is confined to vegetables,