The New York herald., 1874-08-20
FORHlOSAN WEDDING.
Several Conferences with Friendly Chiefs and
an Alliance Against the DOutan Warriors.
PEN PICTURES OF SAVAGE LIFE
Confer noe Arranged and New Landing
Place secured-The Morals of the Coun-
try-curlous Wedding Ceremonies.

For the past lew days the troops have rested
anu refreshed themselves. Much more has been
accomplished in a single month than was actually
laid out for the entire work OF half year. The
plans agreed upon IN Jeddo never contemplated
an advance into the interior during the present
summer. In the prevailing ignorance as to num-
bers and resources OF the hostile tribes it was
thought prudent TO occupy the first few months IN
establishing q fortified camp upon the coast and
forming advantageous relations with such OF the
aDorlgfnes as seemed well disposed 1t was also
believed that the excessive heat would in
capacitate the men from active operations. But
these precautions, though undoubtedly judiciously
devised, nave all proved needless. After the first
week II became obvious that no attacks would
be attempted by the savages, and the line OF earth
works was left in half finished condition. The
sKirmish OF May %, although brought about by un-
expected circumstances showed the utter
inability OF the Boutan warriors TO make
stand against the Japanese, and more.
over, produced restless excitement that could
not have been easily allayed in any other way
than by sanctoling general advance. The heat,
although much greater during the daytime than
In any part OF Japan, was Iound 10 be not abso-
lnteiy intoleraole-partly owing to the relief
afforded by the cool nights. The eXpediency of
departing from the original purpose will not now
be questioned. The greater part or the task Of
Furnishing the Boutans and their companions, and
teaching them the penalty OF numbering inoren-
slve castaways, Is already effected. When the
Chinese oricias were here, three weeks ago, they
expressed abundant sympathy with the purposes
OF the expedition but politely doubted its eicacy.
They SAID their own government had some time
ago undertaken the suojugation OF the savages IN
war which had lasted over a dozen years, and
had then abandoned the enterprise as hopeless.
IL Is clear enough that the Boutans believed them
selves inylneible, and all their nelghbors looked
with an incredu1ty that was hardly dis
guised upon the pretension OF penetrating their
hitherto inaccessible mountain wids. But in less
than thirty days from the time OF disembark1ng
the CHIEF strongholds and most OF the tributary
villages OF the aggressive tribes were in ashes,
the inhabitants scattered in the hills, and their
lands IL possession OF the enemy they had defed
IL Is true that none OF these events would have
taken place but Tor the haste of the savages to
attack the Japanese long before any attempt had
been made 70 approach their territory. Apart
from the original claim for retaiiaton-that Of the
slaughter Of the Liukiu Islandeys-the first and
repeated provocations came from the Boutans.
Then the exactioD OF redress became inevitable
and, since IL had TO be done, 1t was well 1t was
done qulcky. II Is nevertheless true that II they
had offered any sign OF repentance before the
march o. the first day OF this month began hosttli-
ties would have been stayed and pacific means
or settling al the questions at issue would have
been adopted. 1t was only necessary for them
20 give q reasonable guarantee for their good be-
haviouf IN iuture and TO accede TO such terms as
would supply safeguard against an infracuon OF
faith on their part to escape the heavy indcuons
that have now oelallen them.
A CONFERENCE WITH THE FRIENDLY TRIBES.
considerable amount OF WORK yet remains to
be done, IN a military way, but it viii be carried
out by small detachments IN various localities.
With view to establishing ports on the eastern
coast, and thus completely eucircling the dis
persed iugitives, a third conference with the
''aead men" Of the friendly tribes was arranged.
The Interpreter, Johnson, and the guide, Mlya
were sent 70 summon them on the 6tn inst. on
the evening Of The sth they came 10 Sialiao,
panied by about 200 armed men-a circumstance
which showed that some OF them, at least, had not
freed themselves from apprehension as to the in
tentions OF the japanese toward them. They
were advised By Johnson, before our officers were
notified OF their arrival, 70 send their retinue
back TO the hills, which, after some hesitation
they wisely concluded to do II they had Kept
them the presence Of 80 large body must have
become known TO the soldiers generally and it
would have been difficult to explain their prox.
unity to the camp in time TO avert probable
mischief. After these supernuous attend
auts had gone the "chlefsn expressed
great anxiety 20 have their interview al once, to
get II over as speedily as possible and to start Of
for their homes before daylight. The preceding
meeting mad been held at night, and that they
found an excellent and most suitable precedent to
be followed forever. This was not however, the
view Of the Japanese officers who had little fancy
for nocturnal excursions OF the sort, and the
visitors were requested to wait until morning.
They did so, although with great reluctance many
al,
night
LOOSE IDEAS OF MORALITY
1t is possible that the festivities in which the
people OF sialiao were just then engaged had some
thing 10 do with their wakeiuness. For two or
three days the house OF Miya had been, and stin
was. the centre Of a Wedding celebration OF some
importance A grandson OF the aged ''headman u
and nephew OF Miya was the bridegroom The
bride was a daughter OF one OF the subjects OF
Issa, a native Of Sawai. This custom OF
fntermaTriage between the two races-the
Malay-nRe Inhabitants of the interior ana
tue Chinese OF the coasts not uncommon.
] am tod, indeed, that tie women
OF ali tribes are allowed 10 circulate freely in every
part o: tne peninsula, even where no mutual in
tercourse is carried on among the men. II this
mixture OF blood has been OF long continuance 1t Is
surprising that so much dIstrust and hatred ex-
lists between the opposite branches OF the popula-
uon, anu hafuly less remarkable that each should
stu preserve such widely different pecullarities OF
appearance habits and individual character. The
savages have nothing whatever OF the Chinaman
In their exterior aspect, and their WAYS OF life are
totally antagonistic. The divergence o, their dis
position Is most strikingly shown IN the contrast
between the nsatiate greed OF the west coast peo-
pie and the indifference to gain OF the mountain.
GERS. In spite OF the cruelty ferocty and ignorance
Of the latter, and Notwithstanding the superior
approach 10 civilization OF the Chinese-speakino
community, 1t is impossible not 10 recognize the
higher average OF natural qualities In the ruder
race. They are open In the avowal OF
the enmity which the Chinese secretly ana
craftily cherish, and they are respectable in the
fact that their pledges are, to extent, trust.
worthy. what they promise they adhere to with