Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-05-05

IsfRREsrrNoACcoUASBY ruE CHAPLAIN
81 raE POWHArrAE.

The japanese Embassy.
1sfEnEsrrstSAccous TUE CHAPLAIN
OF rHE P0WHArrAs.
The journal Of Commerce publishes .
long letter from Rev. Henry Wood,
Chaplain on the Powhsttau, from which
we extract the following interesting par
ticulars:
The first Ambassador il only IS years
old, though he looks like man of 40
or SO years. The second Ambassador is
all of SIS, and the Counsellor Of about
the same age. All are princes, but not
hereditary, and among the most distiu-
guished Statesmen Of the empire. In
their manners and bearing, while there
is visible self-respect and modest dig
nifty, there could be nothing more sim
pie and free Of self-conceit, display and
arrogance. It has been most Incorrect
" stated 10 some Of the letters from ia
pan, that one or two members of the en-
bassy are censors or spies upon the con-
duct of the Ambassadors, than which,
nothing could be farther from the truth,
as learn from the interpreters. The
individual designated rs the Counsellor
was the one uuluckily called the Censor
or Spy, whereas be was simply selected,
from his wisdom and experience, to be
the advisor OF the Ambassadors in what
ever matters might require consultation
in the circumstances in their untried po-
sition. He is of low stature, but well
formed, and though his face is some
what marked by the smallpox, it
beams with intelligence and kindness.
He is by no means a Nestor in age,
though required to fill a Nestor's duties.
Both of the Ambassadors are rather tall
aud thin in form, with long and sharp
faces, and, as with all the Japanese, OF
dark complexion and jet black hair, so
far as any is left by the barber, tor they
have singular fashion in dressing the
hair, in which the men expend as much
care as the women, and take as much
pride and pleasure in its neat and fash
ionable adjustment. All is shaved off to
the very skin, except around the tenn
Piles and low down in the back of the
neck, from which it is brought up from
all sides to the back Of the head, aud
fastened by string, and then bent for
ward, we'll stiffened with pomatum, in a
queue about four inches long, and of the
size Of one finger, and pointed forward
over the front part of the lead, which is
left completely denuded Of all hair.
They dress in silk robes, and wear
two swords at their sides, according to
universal usage with the higher classes.
No nation presents SO many elements of
the Anglo-Saxon mind As the Japanese,
having the bump called gumption, or
common sense in large development,
with little or nothing Of the unreason-
ing, wild and impulsive-though their
books, their pictures and their arts show
they are not wanting 10 taste or imagi-
nation.
Among the "under officers" are an
artist, and . historIographer of the en-
bassy, who are attached to the Ambas-
sailors. The name of the artist is
Yorsida Sagosagemou, whose quick and
searching eye, with face kindled up
with sens;bility and benevolence, at
once indicate that he is poet and a
painter. Matsmoto Sannojio, the histo-
riographer, about 80 years old, is plain
and sedate, thinking twice, and speaking
once. He might be reckoned among
the philosophers, if We did not known
he was historian. One face among
the whole will arrest instant attention,
for it is all marked with the lines and
features Of youthful, manly beauty,
while the entire form is graceful, and all
the air and bearing, aud manners, such
as please and attract, and indicate life
OF affluence and familiarity with the
most refined and elevated circles. He
is son of one of the richest and most
powerful princes Of the empire, and be-
sides is possessed of great wealth in his
own right. He reads and speaks Dutch
with facility; he wishes he understood
English, whose importance he appreci-
ates, but is deferred from the attempt
to master it by the difficulties he sees,
or imagines, in its nature. A more ele-
giant aud accomplished young gentle
man is not to be found in the most &C.
complished society. His name is Ska
hara Jhugoro.
The doctors are all young men, whose
heads are shaven to the quick, accord
ing to the usage Of the profession in
Japan. They are oftentaken for Budd-
hist priests or monks, who observe the
same practice. Anatomy and surgery
are utterly unknown to Japan, unless
within few years past, the Dutch Doc
tor Of Nagasaki has succeeded in COM
municating a little knowledge to some
thirty pupils he has been teaching under
the patronage of the government; and
in medicine little is done beyond roots
and herbs and charms. These young
doctors though courteous and quiet, seem
less intelligent and inquisitive than any
class of their countrymen on board, aod
evidently command no respect from
them. l had hoped to be able to awak-
en- some curiosity and induce them to
commence the study Of English on the
long voyage, that they might in some
measure avail themselves Of the advan
tages to be derived from books and in
tercourse with the profession in our
country, and 60 back to japan prepared
to be the benefactors of their race. The
present aspect, however, is far from en-
couragirg.
The japanese send no "honza,, or