The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-30
The japanese Mission-The Jap&nese ~ .
PeUple.

The japanese Mission-Ths Jsp&ncse ~ .
People.
About the middle of June we may expect 10 SEQ dis
embark in our port the Commissioners appointed by the
Emperor Of japan to exchange the ratification Of the
American treaty The anecedens Of these functionaries
induce the belief that sha lnd them well educated
and intelligent men, who will be able 10 comprehend and
appreciate all that they here. Their names are.
Nsgaa GenbaNo Kami, Governor Of Accounts and Minis
ter Of the Navy, and iva Say Hso No Kami, Imperial
Inspector Besides the usual requirements derived under
the Japanese system Of education, the former said "
be well instructed in algebra, mathematics lad navga
hon. Some idea may be formed Of his capacity from the
fact that he navgsled the soebing, the first
ever possessed by the Japanese ON Nagrsld 70 Yedto
in 1857 He had composed entirely OF japanese
engineers and sailors, ard managed the vesse without
any European aid whatever. This Official also one
Of the commissioners employed to negotiate the last trea
ties His colleague, who acted with him that occasion
In similar rank said to have acquired considerable
knowledge Of foreign politics and Of the principles Of inter-
national law These two officials are therefore, /. viii DE
seen in condition to profit by all that they may observe
during their v1si. 10 this country.
For the American people this mission will also be one
great nerest- 20 much that Is contradictory has been
published in regard to the japanese, that should
glad to have az opportunity Of judging OF them ourselves
Some writer's testify to their honesty and superior
raly others describe them tho greatest cheats and the
most depraved with the exception OF the Chinese any
scmcvlized people on the face Of the globe. All, bow
ever concur in bearing evidence to their qlokness Of In
tegence and aptitude for learning and initiating the Ian
guage and arts OF other nations. Amongst the various
works which have been written Japan there Ia not
in our opinion which appears 10 deal fairly with the
character Of this singular people than the sketches
tar in aut bxJ
A. W. Habersham Of the United States navy. They are
daahed off in that frank careless and of hand style pccu
liar to Sailors but they present unmsakable Of
truhfuness In view Of the interest which has been
cited by the expected arrival chores OF ts ia
panese Commissioners induced 10 reproduce few
of the opinions contained in this work
OF the power and influence Of the United stles Lieut.
Habersham says that the Japanese entertain very
allied idea. They have notion that the whole Western
Continent belongs us, and that have only 10 signify
our wishes 10 the European nations to compel the latter to
keep the peace. or impressions such these
exceedingly favorable to influence in Jedlo and will
enable us TO effect any commercial objects that may
have in view in addition 10 those already attained.
OF tho honesty Of the Japanese people, Lieut. Haber
sham has very high opinion. lie says that they are,
commercially and politically, the most dishonest and
trustworthy people in the world and that good Hibuster
to knowledge Of fair dealing. rae great busbear of the
government is the fear Of foreign They well
aware Of those which the Engnsh waged successfully
against the Chinese, and nervousy afraid Of expert
encng similar treatment at the hands OF any alton they
may be SO unfortunate 10 offend He firmly believes
that they signed the first American treaty the esser
OF two evlls that they knew exactly what meant, and
that there mental reservation on their part to
spee its provisions only far they should be forced,
10 keep out Of trouble
To the existence Of undcrcurrent Of strong revolu
tonary feeling amongst this prince ridden people Lieut.
Epbertham bears the following curious testimony. His
party having their walks inland been compelled to
eye themselves Of the ioge Of the Japanese of,ials
by the administration of the drgume'um dd poseriorem
to the persop OF Of them the following the
men,s made on the feat by the delighted p'ebs:
We very glad that you kicked him, but had one Of
us done so his head would have been cut off,
We work and they walk around We have to give them
money to buy food with.
We would Ike very much to know all about yoI 10 buy
and sell with you, but they won't let US.
We cannot do what the officials do not want US to, &c
OF the natural intelligence and quickness Of the ia
panese Lieut.. Habersham gives us many proofs. The
following ancedoie WILL think, slow that his Judgment
ie founded on correct premises. He a child who
learned TO count high ten in many minutes, and
the n5zt Gay lie found him the sandy beach with
=,
readily aud accurately as many thick headed school
boys after a month Of daily druhoiuss. Hc
held in his left hand a slip Of paper, on
which the Lieutenant hal written him the numbers
the prev,us evening" and recognizing him as coon as
the latter approached he made signs that he had no
longer any for hoee and wanted him to put down
some more. Our author looked in admiration at his
childish frame and bright sparkling eyes, and began 10
conceive hioh .ssea of Japanese brains He and his
young friend seated themselves piece Of ship timber
and be wrote him down the numbers, I'D nrniGm, which
he had received he lead pencil being added
his great delight, than he commenced counting his
fingers high as each number, when, as the head
bent in assent he put the japanese character opposite
each, and the whole being translated in that way, he
smoothed of place on the beach and went to work with
bis sharp stick and will that caused Lieut. Habershsm
to ook back to his own ruant playing days and blush
This sharpness in figures of course found practical
d demonstration in the Japanese stores. Lieutenant Hi
bcraham says that, not satisfied with exhaustiug the
purscs Of hmsolf and party, the shopkccpcrs would
hold up their wares before them and temp. them
to beard the shrinking purser, until the Anlcri-
cans finally ound themselves overhead and cara
in debt They would watch them with crickcts' eyes,
while they examined their various articles, judge with as
tonshng accuracy thoec with which they seemed
most struck, ana tue ncNt oay AL siu artcics Woulu
be advanced in price, sometimes much as hundred
per cent They would take the TALES of at night and put
on others with higher marks them, and then insist
with their usual bareaced disregard for truth, that they
we're all the same as the day before.
The feather work OF the AexcAns has always been ad
mired for its extraordinary ingenuity Lieutenant Huber
sham tells that the Japanese equal adopts at it,
Orc object, artificial bird-an ordinary chicken hawk
was be says OF the moot naturally executed things
be had ever No feather work specimen Of Rio ia
nero Madeira, Mexico, or any other parof the world
ever excelled it, The bird sat upon ivory perch, TO
which he secured py chain OF the same material'
and invariably, when first scen taken for live bird.
Good roadside entertainment and companionable Box
face to be met with in Japan well in other c,un
tries Our author describes one publican with whom he
contact who might have been taken for the keeper
Of New England hosiery. He fine looking old man.
th an upright frame, an expansive forehead mild blue