The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-06-05
A JAPANESE DESPATCH HOME.


Although our Washington correspondent has
peen unable thus far to obtain any copies of the
japanese dispatches to their Government, a gen.
tleman of Washington city has been fortunate
enough to obtain sight of friendly letter of one
of the Commissioners to acquaintance in Nj
phon. Under promise to conceal the name of
the writer he has been authorized to publish it,
| We insert it below:
From the Sacred city Of Wash:ng,on.
4 MosT ESTEEMED HoKoDApI: We have been
invited to visit next in order the great city of
Philadelphia sthe place consecrated to fraternal
affection" the capital of the province which is the
birthplace of the American Tycoon. Our recep-
ton, we are informed, will be attended with the
most august ceremonies that the city ever offers to
its most distinguished guests. The Councilmen,
after examining our credentials, have decided to
place US footing with the "most favored" for
eign Fire Companies.
All the military of the Province, ordinarily en-
gagged in other avocations, will be in arms. This
will enable to report from our own observation,
upon the extent of the military power of this vast
country. Do not fear that this large display will
induce us to act otherwise than becomes the dig
nifty of our nation; for although we have in our
whole empire but 100000 soldiers, they are fully
equal to maintain security, armed with two
swords and entire devotion. There will also be o
great exhibition of "squrts" upon our arrival.
These 1t seems, are generally prominent on all
such occasions, and have quite notoriety here
The details of reception by the American
Tycoon you have in my former letter. He is call
ed not Tycoon, but "President;" sometimes, how
ever, by strange analogy of language, old COON"
L at first thought this attempt to pronounce our
japanese phrase but am assured that it is strictly
ldlomatc, and implies astuteness and age. 1t GER
alnly seemed applicable to the head of the nation
who received us.
We find it very difficult to comply with the de-
mands of our sovereign, forbiddng us to touch the
women of this country. Not from any disposition
on our part to disobey, but from their desire to
seize us by our hands. They are apparently al
lowed here the greatest freedom but it is only in
appearance Every woman, married or single, is
fastened in cage of bamboo, or flexible steel, ex-
tending from the waist to the feet. This seems
to be arranged to give them uneasness,
but they are very much ashamed of it, and con-
ceal it under so many coverings that it renders
their appearance quite ludcrous They
restricted as to the upper part of their persons,
which they permitted to expose much az
they wish. This they seem to avail themselves
of, and on all occasions of high ceremony wear
very low-neck dresses AS in all barbarous ma
tions, they slit their ears and suspend from them
ornaments of gold and silver. They also paint
and powder themselves. and after greasing their
hair, twist it into fantastic shapes and fasten it up
with pms ana COMBS. Some OF them would be
fneooking if they did not disfgure themselves
by the hideous and vulgar custom of wearing eye
brows and keeping their teeth white. BE assured,
therefore, that we are in no danger of being capt-
waited by their appearance; we feel nothing but re-
gret that the barbarous and absurd customs of men
should thus destroy the charms which cultivation
and refinement would so much improve.
Nothing strikes us so much as the want of re-
spect these barbarians show to their highest
dignitares; they hesitate to spit before them
and it requires considerable activity to prevent
being spat upon at all times. The custom of wear,
ing sword, it seems, originated from this cause
it enables you to avoid with greater facility, the
saliva Of your neighbor. Chewing tobacco is much
prized it seems from the saliva it produces, which
is preserved, when possible, in handsome vases of
porcelain, and placed in prominent positions. None
of the inhabitants do reverence by crawling on
their bellies, except after the election of new
Tycoon when those in search Of Office come to the
central city and perform that ceremony.