Japan and the Japanese

SECOND VISIT TO JEDO TREATY. 549
"
After the exhibition of the dinner, I was reconducted to the room I first
entered, and, after I had drank of the celebrated '
powdered tea,' I left,
being conducted to the entrance by the two chamberlains, who knocked
head with all the force that was due to one who had '
seen the king, and
yet lived.' By the way, I forgot to state that the old formula of an audience,
which was '
kneel down,' '
knock head, so that the by-standers can
hear yoar skull crack,' if it ever did exist at the court at Jedo, was not
used in my case. A faint request was made to me, at Simoda, that I would
kneel, but I told them the request was offensive, and must not be repeated.
That ended it.
" My return to Simoda was on a steamer presented to the Japanese by
the Dutch."
In April, 1858, Mr. Harris returned again to Jedo, and after
three months spent in arguing with the Japanese that it would
be impossible for them to maintain their policy of isolation, he
succeeded in negotiating a new treaty. By this treaty, the port
of Kanagawa, a suburb of Jedo, was substituted for Simoda as
a place for American trade and residence ;
and in i860, Hiogo,
the harbor of the most commercial city of Osaca, was also to
be opened to them. American residents were to enjoy religious
freedom, and the privilege of direct trade with the Japanese
merchants. The right to have an ambassador resident at Jedo
was also included ; a position since filled by Mr. Harris himself.
"Within a few weeks after the negotiation of this treaty, Lord
Elgin, British commissioner to China and Japan, arrived at
Simoda with a considerable British squadron. Mr. Harris
went on board his ship, and accompanied him to the Bay of
Jedo. On the 26th of August, a treaty was signed with the
Japanese by Lord Elgin, on the basis of the American treaty.
It contained the additional provision, of which we also have
the benefit to render the clause of our treaty giving us all privileges
bestowed on other nations, that no export duty should
be charged higher than five per cent, ad valorem, and no im-
port duty higher than twenty per cent. ; certain articles, including
cotton and woollen goods, to be admitted at five per cent. On
the 9th of October, a similar
treaty was signed with Baron
Gros, who had visited Jedo as French commissioner. Similar
privileges, it is understood, are granted to the Dutch and Rus-
sians.