The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-10-17
Ghpgntattgturer.
LErTER FROM Japan.
The Observations and Impressions
of n Wheeling Gentleman in the
Empire of the Rising Sun.

rom our own Special Correspondent.
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN, SeptembGrG, n.
A few years ago the man that
would have openly avowed his intention
Of taking trip for health or pleasure to
Japan or China would have been looked
upon in about the same light as one who
would now express his determination to
spend the winter ut the North Pole. Inc
countries named were then as much ezra
iaegyHita as the middle OF Africa, and to
tell the truth, in spite OF steam lines ana
regular mail communications, dOubt Dut
what even some oil the learned OF the
United States possess as much knowledge
about the latter place us they do of the
former With the laudable desire there
fore Of elcvating the readers OF the In
TELLIGEgCER above the common herd"
propose TO send you letter or two from
the Far East, giving you and them u
brict description OF my travels and the
impressions made upon me by first con-
tact with places about which | was ig'
norant before as 1t is at all desirable any
one should be,
The voyage from San Francisco to Ho-
bahama, occupying twenty-three days,
affords but very little opportunity to the
letter.writer to enlarge. Suffice II to say
that the steamers are the slargest and
most commodious that | had ever tray.
rIcd upon before. AS far as comfort is
concerned | should never have believed
without Il trial, that was possible 10 such
an extent on board ship Large, airy
state roOms-A spacious dining.
which Is also pleasant sitting rOom-a
handsome drawing.rOom saloon for ladies,
almost gaudily furnished, including libra.
nv and piano; u cosy smOking.rOOm "lOr
gentlemen only" and last, though not
least, magnificent promenade deck eX.
tending the whole length Of the vessel
and giving one the opportunity of taking
straight uninterrupted walk Of $40 feet,
are among the comforts to be enjoyed on
one of these boats. Add hereto rs good
a bill of fare rs can be had ut most OF our
hotels, with fair wines at reasonable rates,
and think you will admit with me that
one might 20 farther and fare worse than
to take u trip in one of the Pacific Mail
steamers
The steamship america" upon which
| took passage, left San Francisco on.
the lst of August. We had tol.
crably pleasant weather all the
way across the Pacific Ocean,
until within thirly.six hours Of 70.
konama when It commenced TO blow
pretty fresh, and showed every indication
ol treating us to a typhoon. A little OK.
ira steam was put on, and we arrived in
port ut dusk Of the evening Of the 23d,
lust as the typhOOn commenced, All
night long it blew terribly. Much dam.
0gc was done TO the shipping, and to the
houses on Shore and 1t was not until
noon rthc next day, when the typhOOn
nbsilrd, and boat travel was rG.Gslab.
lishcl between the shipping and the
shore, that we were able to realize that
wr were safely anchored in Yokohama,
the chcl trading port md residence Of
foreigners in the Empire Of the Rising
San.
Yokohama is situated nearly at the
head Of an immense bay called tho Bay
Ul lrlO On account of It's size II Is not
very good harbOr, but has more the
appearance Of an open rOadscad. The
foreign settlement Of Yokohama Is built
onNlnt bounded on either end by high
bluffs, and fronting on the bay. From
the ship the houses on The Blnl
lllc street nearest and running
parallel with the water,) look
handsome and picturesque. Beyond
he foreign settlement, stretching all
along the bay, could be seen the villages
and towns Of the Japancsc--thC low, two.
sDoricd lhatchcd.rOOied houses, looking
~ Il they were squeezed together in the !
smallest possible compass, There was n
ramount of shipping in port display.
ing the flags Of almost all countries, be-
sides a great number Of japanese iunks-
large unweldy looking Arks above water,
with but one large mast, which carries
M enormous piece OF canvass, and drives
the junk through the water at an aston.
ishing rate of speed
Pretty soon, the water being now calm,
the ship was surrounded by small boats,
most Of the native kind, with here and
there man.ol.war's gig. The native
boat is long V.shNpcd affair, very sharp
in the bow, very low gunwalcs, with one
narrow seat Athwartships to sit on. Al
though they arc good sCabOats, they are
by no means inviting in their appearance,
~ they convey assurance Of neither com
fort nor safety; but in spite Of appear.
anccs they do possess the latter quality
Each boat Is propelled by two swartliy
lapsCaCh oiwhom handles what looks like
two oars laslCd together, with which they I
seuII. They never use oars, rs foreigners
4. u -