Journal of a cruise in the US ship, Vincennes, to the North Pacific Ocean, China Sea, Behring Strait, etc. by William Stimpson, 1853-1855
Page 160
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Transcription
206 December 1854 Kagoshima Bay slender, pyramidal, and often perforated out- lyers. We rounded "Peak Horner" a regularly conical mountain of some 2000 ft in height, and commenced beating up Kagoshima Bay. At each tack I threw over the side, and got a variety of small shells, chiefly of a curious genus allied to Margaritas. A Japanese boat came off with provisions, and by signs the men in it, some of whom came on board, ordered us out of the bay. But seeing that we persisted, they at last pointed out a good anchorage in a small bay of the Western coast there whither we went at once and came to in 5 fms coarse sand. Kagoshima Bay We spent nine days at this place, and although we experienced much bad weather, the time passed very pleas- antly in this most interesting coun- try. The air was cold, and the hills around us were covered with a slight depth of snow on one occasion, although the temperature did not descend below 207 January 1855 Kagoshima Bay the freezing point. Two volcanoes, both in activity, were seen from our ship, one in Kiisin, North of the Bay, the other an island to the south- ward. A survey of the Bay and vicinity was made, while the Japanese authorities of this part of the country were carrying on constant negotiations with us the object of which was to make us understand that we must leave these waters immediately. But since we could not speak Japanese nor they En- glish they could not impress this fact upon our minds, notwithstanding their grandees and scribes visited the ship almost daily, and tried to compile from "Medhurst Dictionary" a statement of the case. Finally it was agreed that we should sail on the reception of a quantity of wood and water, since, according to the "Perry" treaty, U. S. ships, with men-of-war and free- chantmen, can visit any port in Japan when distressed for supplies. An "Observatory" was established on shore, and instruments set up, under the superintendence of Mr Brooke This was the only point at which we