little regard to the presence of the foreign ships. Every day there
passed up and down the bay nearly a hundred large junks and a great
number of fishing and other boats.

Yezaimon, the governor of the town, protested earnestly against the
survey of the waters by the ships, saying that it was against the laws
of Japan. He was told that it was commanded by the laws of America, and
the soundings went steadily on. On the second day the surveying party
proceeded some ten miles up the bay, the Mississippi steaming in their
wake. This roused new agitation in the Japanese, government boats
meeting them at every point and making earnest signs to them to return.
But no notice was taken of these gestures, and the survey was continued,
deep soundings and soft bottom being found throughout.

In the evening Yezaimon came on board with a cheerful countenance,
saying that he expected good news from Yedo, though he protested still
against the doings of the boats. One of the officers speaks of him as a
"gentleman, clever, polished, well informed, a fine, large man, about
thirty-four, of most excellent countenance, taking his wine freely, and
a boon companion."

On the 12th word came that the emperor would send a high officer to
receive the letter. No immediate answer would be given, but one would be
forwarded through the Dutch or the Chinese. This offer the commodore
rejected as insulting. But, fearing that he might be detained by useless
delay, he agreed to withdraw for a proper interval, at the end of which
he would return to receive the answer.

On the 14th the reception of the letter took place, the occasion being
made one of much ceremony. The commodore landed with due formality,
through a line of Japanese boats, and with a following of three hundred
and twenty officers and sailors from the fleet. Passing through a large
body of soldiers, behind whom stood a crowd of spectators, the building
prepared for the reception was reached. It was a temporary structure,
the reception-room of which was hung with fine cloth, stamped with the
imperial symbols in white on a violet background. The princes of Idsu
and Iwami awaited as the envoys of the shogun, both of them splendidly
attired in richly embroidered robes of silk.

A large scarlet-lacquered box, on gilded feet, stood ready to receive
the letter, which, after being shown in its rich receptacle, was placed
on the scarlet box, with translations in Dutch and Chinese. A formal
recei