During this visit the Japanese displayed much willingness to trade with us—that is, if trading means to sell everything you can for Spanish dollars and takes nothing else in return. There was one instance only to the contrary. An intelligent engineer of the ship had a revolver; a Japanese officer wished it very much. He was told that he could have it for so many _its-evoos_, which the penalty for permitting to pass out of the country was very great. He offered a large amount in silver dollars. No; at last his cupidity for the pistol overcame his fear for the consequences, and he paid for it in the _its-evoos_, and disappeared over the side. These were about the only Japanese coins that were procured during our stay in the country. Were you to offer one of the barbers of the country, “whose name is legion,” a piece of silver for one of their cash—the twelfth of a cent—he would be glad to have it, but the inexorable law is ever before his eyes. At Simoda we found a junk bound to Yedo with a large mortar aboard, purchased from the Dutch; also the model of an English boat. We ascertained, that Kyama Yezimon, under the permission of the emperor, had built a three-masted ship on the model of the Southampton, they alleging, that she was our fastest sailing ship, or made the shortest trips. Her trial-trip had given them much satisfaction, up the bay from Uraga. They painted her red, with black stripes, and called her the _Ho-o-maro_, meaning “sea-ship.” Captain Lee distributed among the imperial officers of the place, and suite, a number of cotton-cloths of various kinds from New England. They took them, because it was the part of politeness to take them, rather than because they had any use for them. The upper class would not use them, the scanty wardrobe of the poorer class does not need them, unless they could be educated to breeches, nor could they purchase them. There are times when they can not get enough to eat; indeed it is said, that there was a famine in the land at the time of the visit of the Morrison, in 1836. The fact is the Japanese are a people of few wants, and no luxuries, and the great trade prophesied with that country, should we ever get a commercial treaty, is a mere myth and exists in the brain of visionaries alone. I deliberately believe, that any clipper-ship, that would go there with the hopes of a profitable venture, would rot at her anchors, before she disposed of her cargo, or got anything profitable in return. The Mississippi took her final departure from Japan on the 1st of October, towing the Southampton as far as Volcanic Oho Sima, where the ships parted company. _Foogee_ was hid. * * * * *