The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-06-27
From the Philadelphia Inquirer
Apofher yaDauese Epistie.


teristic japanese epistle. The double trans
latiou. first into Dutch and theninto English,
makes it impossible to preser1e the peculiar
tiles Of the japanese language, but the senti-
meuts. we are assured, are rendered with per-
feet accuracy: ,---.-.,...-..--.
I TIE GENITAL CIrY OF WAsufScToS'
Esteemed Hakodadi: You viii perceive by
the date of my letter that we are stu at the
Central City, the sacred residence OF his
Majesty the Sly-Coon- We have been deyo-
ting ourselves since last wrote TO you, to
the study of the manners and customs OF
this new and singular people. Their most
marked peeuliarity appears to be their strange
restlessness. 1t is one Of their holy maxlms'
delivered to them by one of the fathers OF
the republic, +" that eternal vigilance is the
price of liberty" and from recent events has
also been discovered that eternal vigilance
is the price of slavery" All portions OF the
country are, therefore, in obedience TO these
wise laws, kept in a constant state Of activ-
ity. Their countenances bear evidence OF
fearful anxiety. They never, for moment,
seem to enjoy the luxury of repose SO dear
to all Eastern nations, and although they ap-
pear to be ruminsting animals, they never
chew the cud with the p!acidity of the sa-
cred cow. They est fast, drink fast, smoke
4 fast and talk fast To call them to their
meals, they have imported the great Chinese
war gong. When this is sounded, every as
sociation is forsaken, and they rush with vio-
lence TO be fed They arm themselves with
a broad fork, with four prongs, knife and
spoon, and they fill themselves in an incredi-
bly, short space of time. Their diet is main
" the flesh of animals; that of the filthy
creature, the hog, is one of their fayorite
dishes the hind legs are the most esteemed
portions, and the lard or grease is used uni
ycrsally. It is odd, that with such tastes,
they should have a prejudice against eating
much cleaner animal, the dog, so great n
fayortc with the Chinese. The dogs are
kept, as with us, for the chase, or as pets
They use the same prccaution to prevent
their doing mischief, that they employ to re-
strain their women, only they place the wire
cap on the dogs head.
Drinking is the only national amusement,
and is INDUCED in by all classes at all times.
1t is generally performed in standing po-
sition, and Is highly esteemed from its inter
fcrring so little with the pursuit Of business.
They use mainly the feumcntcd juice of the
grape, out of which various liquors are made,
most dclcclahlc to the palate, and far exceed
ing in favor our own saki. They obtain a
liquor from the Dutch called "Gm," out of
which thcy make mixture bearing the name
of the tail Of the male fowl imported from
Shanghai. They also manufacture out Of Ii /
quor called :. Brandy drink intended TO
commemorate the Introduction Of railroads.
"sma,hcs," our interpreter calls them. But |
IN incbrating wine called "Champagne," .
which cxplodes, is more to our tastes than
either gin cocktails or brandy smashes, and
it is not so powerful. The drink of tho Sly
Coon i, called whiskcy; it is made by a re-
lisious sect, settled in his patiyc province
IT. use /. also permitted to the Senators, be-
ing a part Of the treaty-making power, al
ways employed in that connection with the
Aborigines. The stronger liquors are drunk
in the morning and at night, aud the mldcr
.,,.- l,tr;r.. tl,o oftnrDnnp
The people here rarely siecp--never in the
day time. except on the first day in the week,
when they perform their religions exercises;
during these they are said to sleep quite
souulIy. The active part is taken by the
" Bouze,' and the wor,hiPpcrs are not oblig-
ed, as with Us, to turn a praying machine
themselves. They are taught as the highest
exercise Of virtue. to forgive their ehcmics.
In this the present Sty-Coon is said to excel;
when their wrath is enkinilcd against him,
he gives them what are called POST Office
Blanks; we have NJ term for this in our
language, but they quiet the most violent uh-
til they are printed. by this means he has
conciliatcd all his enemies and lost all his
friends. lie will soon, however, retire from
his high station, which it seems he never
sought, except during the last sixty-6ve years
of his life. His successor, it is said, will be
a splitter Of bamboos, or a maker Of tea !
poys. Some of the people are anxious to
place a venerable statesman on the throne,
but he was unfortunately educated in early
life by the exertions of the injudicious par
ents, and has not, therefore, been able to cx-.
iiiit the necessary self-relianee. How sol I
s;nu warning this. OH Hakodadi, against ,
parental indulgence, which often, with the |
best intention, plants = thorn which no after i
,xertions can eradicate. All the people have
1 voice in the election Of their ruler, and he
who has the greatest number Of voices is
.hosen. The head men here talk Of nothing :
but the chances Of their favoritcs. 1t IS es-
,ential that he should be in favor Of free
rade and high tariff, Of peace and the an
lexation Of Cuba, together with strict econo-
Il e Z a..