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P. 93: “The water now became shallow, and the channel somewhat intricate. We were just doubting whether the undertaking was practicable, when we saw in the distance some large square-rigged ships, of a tonnage which satisfied us that their anchorage would do for us; but for a moment we felt bitterly disappointed at the discovery of European-built ships, betokening, as we supposed, the presence of some foreign flag more enterprising than our own. It was only when we approached nearer that we perceived that these western-looking craft were in reality Japanese, and observed the white flag with the red ball floating from the peak of a dapper little steamer, and marking it “Imperial.”
p. 96: On the following morning, finding by our boats that we could get nearer the shore, we ran on into three fathom water, and anchored about a mile and a half from it, and in the midst of the Japanese fleet. This con-
p. 97: sisted of two large square-rigged ships, a pretty little paddle-wheel steamer, which had been purchased from the Dutch Government, and a three-masted schooner.”
p. 99: “The next day, however, was so wet that we could hardly blame them for not braving the elements ; and to relieve the monotony, a party of us went on a voyage of exploration to the largest ship in the fleet, and then on to the forts. Both the square-rigged ships looked like those cumbrous arks in which our ancestors used to circumnavigate the globe, and were, in fact, built upon old Dutch models, although of recent construction. The one we boarded was painted a bright red; her masts were of ponderous size, built and ribbed with iron hoops; the rigging bleached white, and ragged from the action of the weather and the absence of tar. We ascended the heavy ladder to a large square hole,
p. 100: which admitted us to the main deck. We were most civilly received by an individual who may be supposed to have been the officer of the watch, and shown over the ship. Two or three 32-pound Paixhan guns were lying about, but there was not a vestige of a carriage, or any bolts for side-tackles. The scantling was of enormous thickness, and the port-holes were closed with clumsily-built shutters. There was an appearance of comfort, nevertheless, about the main-deck generally, which was inhabited by the crew, whose mats were all neatly arranged round it. The lower deck was empty, with the exception of a few stores and water-casks. Under a high poop astern was the captain’s cabin. We entered it, and found two or three naval dignitaries squatted upon the floor drinking tea; one of these we afterwards discovered to be the Admiral-in-Chief of the Imperial navy. He was appointed one of the Commissioners to treat with Lord Elgin, and proved to be a most intelligent person. We had no idea that the plain-looking group before us contained so important a personage; and in answer to a polite invitation to join their party, we twisted our legs under us, received from them pipes containing homoeopathic doses of tobacco in exchange for our cigars, and refreshed ourselves with some delicious tea. Unfortunately, we were compelled to confine our observations to smacking our lips and puffing out smoke, for we were without an interpreter. We did, indeed, ultimately, by the exercise of great intelligence on both sides, get
p. 101: so far as to learn the Japanese numerals up to ten, and teach them the English ; but the intellectual effort was too great to be sustained; and we parted with feelings of mutual relief, and the warmest expressions of goodwill, as conveyed in our mother tongue. The cabin in which we had been entertained was devoid of furniture, as rooms in Japan always are; but the mats were soft, and there was an air of comfort and cleanliness about the apartment. It was built apparently of fir-wood, the carpentering of perfect workmanship.” We now made for the left-hand point of the left-hand fort, taking advantage of the opportunity to sound as we sailed slowly along. We found the forts constructed of huge blocks of stone, surmounted by guns of large calibre, and staked round with piles. Considerable knowledge of fortification has been displayed both in their construction and situation. They extend in a parallel line with the coast for some distance. Between some of them the water is so shallow as not even to admit of the passage of boats; between the two westernmost, however, it is comparatively deep. We were in the deepest channel, to judge from the size of the native craft which chose it, and found at half flood eight feet of water at our furthest sounding. At this point numbers of junks were anchored, and some small schooners built from European models. The largest of these junks may have been of 150 tons burden, high-sterned, heavily-masted, quaint-looking craft: the masts are not composed of a single spar, but built and ribbed with iron, rising
p. 102: from the deck like some gigantic forest-tree to a height of forty or fifty feet: the top of the mast was slightly bent, and from it depended a vast expanse of a coarse cotton fabric, attached to a yard on the same scale as the mast, so massive, that to hoist it must be as laborious an operation as weighing anchor. The rudder projects far astern, and is moved by a huge tiller extending half the length of the craft. An extensive assortment of anchors garnish the bow, and on deck there is frequently a thatched shed for the crew. Altogether the rig is clumsy to the nautical eye; but we met several of their junks making good weather of it when it was blowing freshly. It is said, however, that a Government rule exists, compelling them to be
p. 103: built on a principle which renders it dangerous for them to venture far from shore, so as to prevent their visiting foreign countries.”
Source
Laurence Oliphant. Narrative of the Earl of Elgin’s Mission to China and Japan in the years 1857, ’58, ‘59. London, vol. II, 1859.
P. 93: “The water now became shallow, and the channel somewhat intricate. We were just doubting whether the undertaking was practicable, when we saw in the distance some large square-rigged ships, of a tonnage which satisfied us that their anchorage would do for us; but for a moment we felt bitterly disappointed at the discovery of European-built ships, betokening, as we supposed, the presence of some foreign flag more enterprising than our own. It was only when we approached nearer that we perceived that these western-looking craft were in reality Japanese, and observed the white flag with the red ball floating from the peak of a dapper little steamer, and marking it “Imperial.”
p. 96: On the following morning, finding by our boats that we could get nearer the shore, we ran on into three fathom water, and anchored about a mile and a half from it, and in the midst of the Japanese fleet. This con-
p. 97: sisted of two large square-rigged ships, a pretty little paddle-wheel steamer, which had been purchased from the Dutch Government, and a three-masted schooner.”
p. 99: “The next day, however, was so wet that we could hardly blame them for not braving the elements ; and to relieve the monotony, a party of us went on a voyage of exploration to the largest ship in the fleet, and then on to the forts. Both the square-rigged ships looked like those cumbrous arks in which our ancestors used to circumnavigate the globe, and were, in fact, built upon old Dutch models, although of recent construction. The one we boarded was painted a bright red; her masts were of ponderous size, built and ribbed with iron hoops; the rigging bleached white, and ragged from the action of the weather and the absence of tar. We ascended the heavy ladder to a large square hole,
p. 100: which admitted us to the main deck. We were most civilly received by an individual who may be supposed to have been the officer of the watch, and shown over the ship. Two or three 32-pound Paixhan guns were lying about, but there was not a vestige of a carriage, or any bolts for side-tackles. The scantling was of enormous thickness, and the port-holes were closed with clumsily-built shutters. There was an appearance of comfort, nevertheless, about the main-deck generally, which was inhabited by the crew, whose mats were all neatly arranged round it. The lower deck was empty, with the exception of a few stores and water-casks. Under a high poop astern was the captain’s cabin. We entered it, and found two or three naval dignitaries squatted upon the floor drinking tea; one of these we afterwards discovered to be the Admiral-in-Chief of the Imperial navy. He was appointed one of the Commissioners to treat with Lord Elgin, and proved to be a most intelligent person. We had no idea that the plain-looking group before us contained so important a personage; and in answer to a polite invitation to join their party, we twisted our legs under us, received from them pipes containing homoeopathic doses of tobacco in exchange for our cigars, and refreshed ourselves with some delicious tea. Unfortunately, we were compelled to confine our observations to smacking our lips and puffing out smoke, for we were without an interpreter. We did, indeed, ultimately, by the exercise of great intelligence on both sides, get
p. 101: so far as to learn the Japanese numerals up to ten, and teach them the English ; but the intellectual effort was too great to be sustained; and we parted with feelings of mutual relief, and the warmest expressions of goodwill, as conveyed in our mother tongue. The cabin in which we had been entertained was devoid of furniture, as rooms in Japan always are; but the mats were soft, and there was an air of comfort and cleanliness about the apartment. It was built apparently of fir-wood, the carpentering of perfect workmanship.” We now made for the left-hand point of the left-hand fort, taking advantage of the opportunity to sound as we sailed slowly along. We found the forts constructed of huge blocks of stone, surmounted by guns of large calibre, and staked round with piles. Considerable knowledge of fortification has been displayed both in their construction and situation. They extend in a parallel line with the coast for some distance. Between some of them the water is so shallow as not even to admit of the passage of boats; between the two westernmost, however, it is comparatively deep. We were in the deepest channel, to judge from the size of the native craft which chose it, and found at half flood eight feet of water at our furthest sounding. At this point numbers of junks were anchored, and some small schooners built from European models. The largest of these junks may have been of 150 tons burden, high-sterned, heavily-masted, quaint-looking craft: the masts are not composed of a single spar, but built and ribbed with iron, rising
p. 102: from the deck like some gigantic forest-tree to a height of forty or fifty feet: the top of the mast was slightly bent, and from it depended a vast expanse of a coarse cotton fabric, attached to a yard on the same scale as the mast, so massive, that to hoist it must be as laborious an operation as weighing anchor. The rudder projects far astern, and is moved by a huge tiller extending half the length of the craft. An extensive assortment of anchors garnish the bow, and on deck there is frequently a thatched shed for the crew. Altogether the rig is clumsy to the nautical eye; but we met several of their junks making good weather of it when it was blowing freshly. It is said, however, that a Government rule exists, compelling them to be
p. 103: built on a principle which renders it dangerous for them to venture far from shore, so as to prevent their visiting foreign countries.”
Source
Laurence Oliphant. Narrative of the Earl of Elgin’s Mission to China and Japan in the years 1857, ’58, ‘59. London, vol. II, 1859.
