Japan and the Japanese

522 JAPAN. A. D. 18171854.
fashion, and, wore it not for the quantity of grouse usea in dressing
it, would be a very cleanly one.
" Two audiences a week were held, at which the same programme
that we fared more luxu-
was performed as related above, except
riously.* Becoming better acquainted with our taste, they feasted
us with a broth made of fish, boiled shrimps, hard-boiled eggs, and
very good raw oysters. At one of the interviews (March 13), the
presents from our government were delivered. They consisted of
cloths, agricultural implements, fire-arms, &c., and a beautiful loco-
motive, tender, and passenger-car, one fourth the ordinary size,
which we put in motion on a circular track, at the rate of twenty
miles an hour. A mile of magnetic telegraph was also erected on
shore, and put in operation. The Japanese were more interested
in it than anything else, but never manifested any wonder. So
capable are they of concealing and controlling their feelings, that
they would examine the guns, machinery,