The New York herald., 1868-03-22

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE Of THE HERALD
From Hong Kong to Hioso-Scenery Of the
Coasf-Run In the Inland Sca-Boardcd by
Natives and in Highland Costume-Bowing
Down 10 the Marines-How the City is De-
fended-National Revenue.
UNITED STATES STEAMER ONEIDA,(
HARBOR OF HIOGO, Japan, Dec. 80, 1867.
We left Hong Kong on the nth inst for Nagasaki,
Japan, arrived at the latter place in safety and
left at midnight on the oath of December for
this place. There were at Nagasaki, which is al
ready opened to the commercial world, two American
war vessels, the stOreships Onward and valetta,
and three English war vessels, one OF which
preceded us to this place by about eight hours
at starting. Japan to seaward, is in Its entirety
country abounding in hills and mountains, some of
which are immense IN magnitude and altitude, being
cloud capped.
After leaving Nagasak we entered The inland
Japanese sea, through which we were pilotcd by
Dutch and Japanese pilot, each relieving the other,
for four days. anchoring each night; this was
count OF the numberless small islands encountered
In all directions here This inland sea stretches away
some four hundred miles, land being constantly In
view on either side, and which sometimes approx
fnates so closely as TO barely leave good ship
channel. Nearing these places, the uninated would
deem themselves completely surrounded by noun
on close up to the rocky Shore and there at last
disclosed 10 view narrow sea way, which being
passed we have again broad and ample sea room in
the form of magnificent lake studded with islands
This was recurrent during all this inland passage.
The country is almost imberless all along. Villages
are everywhere and in every available spot along
Shore and the mountains are cultivated up their base
as far as available, but all above IL barren as
the earth before the dawn Of vegetation. On the
shelving shores and ravines built these neat and
picturesque villages. The houses story high,
some tiled and others thatched, but all neat and
prosperous looking and although the country is svery
populous no one was to be seen on shore moving
about. The view all along was grand and unsur-
passed in panorama by anything in the States, and
quite as novel, If not so interesting, the pano
rama Of the Nile and mountains OF the moon, for
mery on exhibition at New York, and you know we
the territory of the Emperor of China, who
signs himself in his treaties "brother to the sum-
cousin to the stars Emperor of China and king Of
ten thousand isands''the latter too little, believe
to be correct from the number of small islands of
the Chinese coast.
There are many boats, called sdmpd1as on these
waters, plying their calling as either fishing mar
kct boats in all directions. However, the Japs are
reticent and do not offer anything for sale to u.s.
Many go without pants, coat or vest, having merely
u sLlrt cOloFcu, anu opcu tie DOSO1n, ana
rag round the middle, even in December as you
have il, this being in about the same north lati-
tpde. We had number on board at Nagasaki
thus dressed, coaling ship and of those so en-
ployed four were women petticoats being the
only distinguishing point In dress. The Japs thus
knock spots out OF the Highland kilt the saying
is, in point of nudity. You are allowed to land at
certain places and return, but will not be allowed to
remain on shore over night by the Japanese au-
thorities. This does not apply to the crew as they
are not allowed to land by the Admiral
The inhabitants of the middle stature, robust in
make and Of a rhoughtful cast Of countenance.
They wear neither hats nor shoes sandals only being
worn. They have the front OF the head up to the
crown close shaved and the long back hair drawn
forward to the front into small queue in the middle
Of the crown, pointing forward and tied and waxed
| to keep 1t In position.
AT one OF the places at which we anchored coming
here two Japanese boats alongside to sell some
| fish and the crews were allowed 10 walk over the
vessel. They could talk no English, but expressed
the eleven.inch gun, into which one Of 'as them
thrust his head. They were delighted with q
Looking ns glass %@,r one Of the crew showed them
and they pr0strated themselves upon their hands
and knees on the deck to the marines, account OF
t0regard our officers as OF secondary Importance.
They seemed to be sorry when informed by signs
% One % Of our our ofiicers nice had Ssen an old navy cap,
having faded gold wreath ON Il, 10 one Of them OF
ne s very s IKE put on he
field day. and did not seem inclined to leave the
vessel until made to do so. Perhaps he thought he
was enlisted in the service.
At the entrance to this harbor about fifteen miles
distant, two water batteries, either side
that on the starboard entrance being sand battery
and that To port granite. On rounding the point on
which this city built there Is circular granite bat
terry Of some twenty guns and similar one close up
to the city, There are also three Japanese
sells in port formerly purchased In the United States.
There are at present ten English rigates, corvettes
and tenders or despatch boats and two troop ships
here Our government is represented here by the
following vesses:-The Hartford. flagship Admiral
Bel. Shenandoah, Oneida, IroquOis and Aroostook.
France represented by two or three frgates which
are cruising about every day without coming to
anchor and apparently accommodating.
Ii Is midday on the LIST day Of January, 1858, and
the rus OF iliOgo and Osak have been thrown open
to the commerce Of the world by the Japanese EN-
peror. The Japanese ensign Ii up to the main Of all
the vessels OF the ileet-a red ball on white
ground-and the national ensgns at the
fore and mizzcnmasts. They are unfurled
OF twenty-one guns each from all the vessels
of the fleet simultaneously. The sound Of artillery can
also be heard here from Osaki, twenty miles distant,
turned by Japanese lrgate anchored In front OF the
outer battery. Thus II Is already thing OF the
past, but that thunder Of artillery has proclaimed TO
Japan the ratification Of an event which will find an
echo through the world, VIZ, that the selfish policy
which so long sealed up Its ports to commerce has at
length by wise policy yielded to the onward march
During the same day the American mail steamer
Hermann OF the San Francisco line, arrived, and
steaming past was saluted by the flagship Hartford
with fifteen guns; also by the English Admiral's flag
ship with O like number. subsequently there was
music, each Admiral's ship playing the national airs
OF the other out Of compliment and by way OF wish
ing q happy new year. Thus the English flagship
played .Partant Pour Ia Syre" while the French re-
sponded with "GOd Save the Queen" &c. &c., and
all went merry rs o marriage bell.
The population OF HiOg0 Is about fifty thousand
souls the buildings being two stories high and
the tout ensemble unimp0sng.