The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-11-17
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY. O IL.

{ powers from the gOVeInucut " OoIau z
thought sufficient to bring q hitherto excluded
territory within the sphere of ommerce and
European civilization, and open up its villages,
hills and valleys to the unrestrained inspection OF
curious travellers. But the barriers wrought by
centuries of the strictest guarding and tyranny
on the part of that government, were not so
easily to be destroyed, nor the Japanese nation
to be brought by any such master strokes of
policy to associate freely with the outside world
from whom they had SO long been kept apart.
Although travellers can land ut Japanese ports
and ships recruit there, yet Japan is not fully
opened to the commercial world, nor is it likely
to be for years to come. Most of the whaleslips
which have recruited at Hakodadi during tie
past season, speak favorably of their treatment
while there. Some few supplies could be obtain
ed. but not without much difficulty, and some
of the ships have purchased collections of Japan
csc curiosities. These, however, are generally of
no other use than as mere ornaments, or speci-
mems of rare workmanship. Very few articles
of utility, such as are produced in and brought
from China, have yet been obtained, while no
large cargoes have been either obtainable or dis
possible. The trade therefore with Japan amounts
as yet to little or nothing.
In the last Friend, we find a long and interest
ing letter from Rev. Mr.. Collins, and make a few
extracts therefrom, giving a description of the
port of Hakodadi and the scenery of Japan
CRY OF HAKoDADL-On going ashore at Hako-
dadi, l was struck with the solidty of the sea wall,
built of hewn stone, and arranged with special REFER
ence to receiving and unloading cargo with lighters.
Most Of the large commercial houses are situated on
a street running parallel with the shore, and thus
extend back to this wall-there being no street 'front.'
ing the water. The streets of H.. are generally mar
| row without sideWalks buf clean with omen seuors
on each side, where all the filth of The town is
thrown. They seldom have fall enough to drain the
water, and the consequence is, that the odor arising
therefrom, especially in summer. is anything but
healthy or agreeable. The principal street is about
two miles long. filled with all sorts of shops-the
owners dwelling in the rear, or over head. In fact
Hakodadi is a town of shops, where are found, among
other things, coarse thick cotton goods, grapes, silks,
common earthern and ma ware, lacquered bowls,
cups, stands, boxes, chop sticks. cheap cutlery, ready
made clothing, sandals Of wood and rice straw, arti-
Giles Of worship, glass ware, paper ~hangings, copper
ware. books, stationery. articles of vertu. &C., be-
sides rice, wheat, barley, pulse, dried fish, sea-weed,
tea, salt. sugar, saki, soy, charcoal, eggs, sweet po-
tatoes, -four, preserved fruits, candies, cakes, tobac-
CO, pipes, &c. | cannot stop, however, to describe
the town, as it is we'll done, in the main, in Commo-
dore Perry's book l have been in a great many
Japanese houses. broken bread with the families
that is taken rice, tea, and cakes, and tried to see
all 1 could There is a general air of neatness but
nakedness in all native houses, for they have little or
no furniture of any kind; and were it not for the
neat mats the paper ~hangings, and the little orato-
ries for worship, the rooms would be quite empty.
Few Of the houses-generally built OF ine-hav
yards or any out-of-door conveniences, the water
closets. &c., being at the front door, over te sewers,
or no-tchere in particular"
In regard to trcde between foreigners and the
japanese, Mr.. Collins says
"It will be n long time before the Japanese will get
into the habit of using, or consuming foreign articles.
The great mass Of the people are very poor, and at
present live on two or three cents per day / besides,
the country has ingenuity and resources enough to
manufacture almost anything brought here. Since
the new treaty went into effect on the 4th of July
last, just one month ago, there has been greater free
dom to foreigners in the way of trade, as foreign sill
yer has been taken by weight in all the shops; still
the people are shy in all other respects, and | do not
wonder. Already there have been so many displays
of depravity in the way of drunkenness, fights, and
Righteousness, that foreign morals stand very low.
During the present season some thirty five whalers
have been in here, besides about twenty FIVE other
foreign -vessels-Russians, Dutch and English-men- |
of-war, and American merchantmen There are
usually about two hundred junks in the harbor. OF
course, the chief business done here by foreigners is
in supplying the foreign shipping with provisions and
in buying cargo. Persons here buying cargo, pro-
visions, &C., complain of high prices, Japanese
duplicity, slowness, and general vexation-but some
of these things. it is hoped will be remedied in time.
Unless somebody turns their attention to supplying
the shipping with meat, vegetables. &C., whalers de-
clare that they will not return again-but they will"
But perhaps, the most important feature in the
internal affairs of the Japanese, and which bears
the most important influence on foreign inter-
course, is the stringeney with which its currency
is guarded. 1t is true that the same obstacles to
of trade are found in Chinese ports, but
owing to the pressure of foreign influence, the
latter has yielded in a measure, and allowed the
of foreign coin. As yet nothing
Of the kind is allowed in Japan, and foreign coins
there cannot pass, but are regarded
only as articles of merchandise. So long as this
state of things exists, there can be no freedom of
OF this coin trouble, Mr.. Collins
writes: I
"When the American Treaty went into effect. a
Mexican dollar was worth $500 cash, (iron or copper,)
.wo American half dollars 800, and a FIVE franc
about 5000, according to date and wear. An itzbue ,
was worth l7OOc., and so on; and these silver ifzbnes
freely exchanged for any kind of foreign silver, /;
weight for weight. Well, everything was going along ,
'wimmingly, the native merchant getting acquainted Z,
foreign coin, and the foreigners with japanese !
;oin, when to-day, without previous notice, ifz6ues !
refused for foreign silver, and bought in by .
government. paying a Mexican dollar apiece. BY {,
rider of Government all the old native coin is TO-DAY !.
.a!led in; and worth two hundred per cent. more u
han yesterday, at least where foreigners exchange it :
OF the new coin. A new set of coin is issued TODAY. 1
which are to represent the value of foreign silver, in
rider to keep japanese currency in the country,
hough at present we hardly know the object. In
fakodadi, Americans refuse to exchange silver for a
coins, and the excitement is great. All foreign
rs have to pay three times as much now for every- r
hing, than formerly"
The following note was received by the last
nail from Japan. and being from an official
ource, may be relied on
q. 8. COMMERCIAL AGENCY,
Hakodadi. Aug. 9Th. 1854
SR For the benefit Of all parties interested 1
nform you. that by a late change in the CURRENCY Of
his country Mexican dollars are only worth one 4,
bird, lie. 33 13 cents, and all other silver coin aas !;
he same relative value according to weight. 81
Your obedient servt- E. Z. RICE. n
U. 8. Commercial Agent. II
o the Publisher Of the Commercial .adperfiser :,
Honolulu, Sandwich Islands. =,
n.