Enhanced with over 200 rare illustrations, this thrilling firsthand account relates the tension and triumph attendant upon Perry's mission to establish Japanese-American diplomatic relations. Drawn from the journals of the commodore and his officers, the narrative also features entries from diaries and official correspondence and reports, all brimming with revealing anecdotes.

Table of Contents for Narrative of the Expedition to the China Seas and Japan, 1852–1854

INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I.
Probabilities of a successful mission from the United States to Japan.
Such a mission proposed to the Government by Commodore Perry.
Expedition resolved on.
Vessels selected for the squadron.
Vexatious delay in their equipment.
Commodore Perry sent in the Mississippi to the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Applications to scientific men to join the expedition refused.
Causes of such refusal.
Dr. Von Siebold.
Visit of the President and Secretary of the Navy to Annapolis to take leave of the expedition.
Failure of the machinery of the steamship Princeton on the passage down Chesapeake Bay.
Substitution of steamer Powhatan in place of the Princeton.
Final departure of Commodore Perry on the mission with the Mississippi alone
CHAPTER II.
Voyage from the capes of the Chesapeake to Madeira
View of the island.
Funchal.
Hospitality of the inhabitants.
Salubrity of the climate.
Exports of the island.
Novel mode of conveyance.
Departure from Madeira and arrival at the Canaries.
Early failure of northeast trades.
Extraordinary swell from the northwest.
General order as to private journals and communication to public prints.
General order as to scientific investigations by officers.
"The "Harmattan," consideration of hypotheses as to its origin."
Southeast trades.
Ship steered for St. Helena.
Observations on the currents.
Chaplain's observations on the zodiacal lights.
Arrival at St. Helena.
Description of the island.
Jamestown.
Longwood.
Tomb of Napoleon.
The calculating hospitality of the inhabitants of the island.
Adventure of Lieutenant --.
Fortifications of the island.
Their sufficiency against sailing vessels.
Probable insufficiency against an approach from the west by steam
Departure from St. Helena
CHAPTER III.
Passage to the cape.
Fuel for steamers.
Table rock and Cape Town.
Description of Cape Town.
Climate.
Annoyance from dust.
Violence of winds and difficulty of holding to anchorage.
Supplies at the cape.
Caffre war and its effects.
Mode of transporting produce on land.
Vineyards of Constantia.
Effects of emancipation of slaves on agricultural labor.
Mode of cultivating the vine.
Population of Cape Colony.
Bushmen.
The Caffres.
Physical characteristics.
Fin
Military organization of Caffres.
Condition of the emancipated slaves.
Departure from Table Bay.
"Passage to, and arrival at, Mauritius. "
Harbor of Port Louis.
Dangers of the harbor.
Skill of port officers in mooring vessels.
CHAPTER IV.
"Mauritius, its discovery."
Geological formation and physical aspect.
Production of sugar.
Effect on agriculture of the abolition of slavery.
Coolies.
Population of the island.
State of feeling between English and French residents.
Hospitable treatment of the expedition.
Description of Port Louis.
Grand Port.
Paul and Virginia.
Facts on which St. Pierre founded his story.
Tombs of Paul and Virginia.
Built by an eccentric Frenchman.
Cyclones.
Their probable causes.
Interest felt in them at Mauritius.
Departure of the Mississippi from Port Louis.
"Her course thence to Point de Galle, island of Ceylon."
Reasons for taking it.
"Point de Galle, description of."
Great rendezvous of steamers.
Difficulty of procuring fuel there.
American consul.
Thoughts on consular system.
Early knowledge of Ceylon.
Its several European possessors.
Climate.
Salubrity.
Causes of its diminished prosperity.
Productions.
Value of coconut palm.
Pearl fishery.
Immense numbers of elephants.
Great slaughter of them.
Boa constrictor.
Population of Ceylon.
"Physique of Cingalese, Malabars, and Mahomedans in the island."
Religious condition.
Buddhism.
Pilgrimage to the temples.
Intercourse with a Siamese naval officer at Ceylon.
Commodore's letter to the second king of Siam.
Departure from Ceylon.
Passage through the Straits of Malacca.
Arrival at Singapore.
CHAPTER V.
Singapore.
Its great commerce.
Population.
Rapid increase.
Hospitality of a wealthy Chinese merchant.
Importance of Singapore to England.
Coal depot at Singapore.
Physical aspect of the country.
Agricultural products.
Animals.
Ferocity of the tiger.
Water buffalo.
Passage from Singapore to Hong Kong.
"Currents, rocks, tides."
Chinese fishing boats.
Arrival at Hong
Finding there sloops-of-war Saratoga and Plymouth and store-ship Supply.
Susquehanna gone to Shanghai.
Disappointment of the Commodore.
Condition and prosperity of Hong Kong.
"Run to Macao, thence to Whampoa on Canton river."
Navigation of the river
First impressions made by the city
Disappointed expectations
Hospitality of American consul at Canton.
The hongs or factories.
Streets in Canton.
Proper name of the city.
Bocca Tigris.
Chinese forts.
Pirates on the river.
Attempt to rob one of the officers.
Canton market place.
Trade of Canton with Europe and America.
CHAPTER VI.
Hospitable treatment at Macao.
Usages of the foreign merchants toward visitors.
Depressed condition of Macao.
Description of the place.
"Tanka boats, and girls who manage them."
Cave of Camoens.
Departure of Mississippi from Macao.
"Saratoga left to bring Mr. Williams, the interpreter. "
Difficulties of navigation from Hong Kong to the mouth of Yang-tse-keang.
Entrance of the river dangerous.
"Susquehanna, Plymouth, and Supply all aground."
Mississippi saved by the power of her engines only.
Description of Shanghai.
Its immense trade.
Cultivation of the country.
Population of the city.
Visit of the Commodore to the governor of the city.
Chinese rebellion.
Its effects.
Plymouth left at Shanghai to protect American interests.
Departure for Great Lew Chew.
"Arrival of the squadron at the capital, Napha, the Saratoga having joined at the entrance to the harbor."
CHAPTER VII.
Number and position of islands of Lew Chew.
Their supposed political relations to Japan and China.
"Description of the island of Great Lew Chew, as seen on the first approach to it."
Visit of officials to the Susquehanna.
Visit of Dr. Bettelheim.
"Refusal of presents, and consequent mortification of the Lew Chewans."
Exploration of the island resolved on by the Commodore.
Daguerreotyping on shore.
Coral insect and its formations.
Second visit of the authorities of Lew Chew.
Regent of the island received by the Commodore.
Friendly nature of the interview.
Surprise of the Lew Chewans at sight of the steam-engine.
Commodore announces to them his intention of returning the
"Description of Napha and its vicinity, by one of the officers."
"Exploring party sets out, placed under the command of the chaplain, Mr. Jones."
"Mr. Bayard Taylor attached to it, with orders to take notes and furnish a detailed report of the journ
Negotiations with the Lew Chew authorities to obtain a house on shore.
Their manifest opposition.
Commodore persists and succeeds.
"Officers, when on shore, continually watched by spies. "
Captain Basil Halls account of the Lew Chewans somewhat exaggerated.
Impressions made on the officers as to the character of natives.
Hydrographic surveys.
"Boat exercise of the crews, and drilling on land of the marines."
CHAPTER VIII.
"Report of an inland exploration of the Great Lew Chew, by a party from the squadron, under the command of Commodore Perry"
CHAPTER IX.
Efforts of authorities of Lew Chew to prevent a visit to the palace.
All unsuccessful.
Landing for the visit.
Procession.
Appearance of the country.
Reception at the palace.
Embarrassment of the regent.
Entertainment at the regent's house.
Saki.
New dishes.
Commodore invites authorities to a dinner on board the Susquehanna.
General impressions produced by the visit
Espionage still kept up.
Daily exercise of sailors and marines.
Settlement of accounts with Lew Chew authorities.
Mississippi and Supply remain at Lew Chew.
Susquehanna and Saratoga leave for the Bonin islands.
Death of an opium smoker on the passage.
Inhumanity of Chinese.
Sunday on board.
Arrival at Port Lloyd
CHAPTER X.
Situation of Bonin islands.
First discovery of them.
Europeans have no claim as the discoverers.
Mixed character of present settlers.
External appearance of Peel island.
Geological formation.
Harbor of Port Lloyd.
"Productions of the island, animal and vegetable."
Resort of whalers.
Condition of present inhabitants.
Commodore causes the island to be explored.
Reports of exploring parties.
Kanakas.
"Examination of Stapleton island, and report thereon."
Survey of harbor of Port Lloyd.
Land purchased for a coal depot.
Departure from Bonin islands on the return to Lew Chew.
Disappointment island.
Its true position.
Borodinos.
Arrival at Napha.
CHAPTER XI.
Changes at Napha.
New regent.
Banquet on board of the Susquehanna.
Excessive dignity of the new regent.
Stateliness of Lew Chewans thawed out by the dinner.
Guests sent home.
Bamboo village.
Interior of Lew Chew houses.
Men indolent.
Gossiping at Lew
Lew Chew loom.
Different classes of the people.
Their fear of spies.
Slavery of peasants.
Causes of degradation.
Excellence of agricultural cultivation.
Origin of population of Lew Chew.
Former kingdoms on the island.
"Relation of Lew Chew to China and Japan, respectively."
Education in Lew Chew.
Religion of the inhabitants.
Christian mission in Lew Chew.
Distinctions of dress.
People sell themselves as slaves.
Clanship.
Coin in Lew Chew.
Sugar making.
Natural products of the island.
CHAPTER XII.
Departure from Napha for Japan.
Course of the ships.
Oho-Sima.
"Island seen by Commander Glynn, probably Oho-Sima."
Cleopatra islands.
Currents.
Fourth of July on board.
Approach to Cape Idzu.
"Squadron, led by the Susquehanna, enters the bay of Yedo."
Rock island.
Hazy atmosphere of Japan.
Surprise of the Japanese at sight of the steamers moving against wind and tide.
Bay of Sagami.
Appearance of the coast and country inland.
Fusi-Jama.
Ships made ready for action.
Fleet of Japanese boats put off from the shore.
Left behind by squadron.
Bay of Uraga.
Opposite coast of Awa.
Japanese forts.
Squadron comes to anchor in the bay of Uraga.
Soundings on approaching the anchorage.
Japanese guard-boats put off.
No one permitted to come on board the ships.
Appearance of guard-boats and crews.
Skill of the Japanese in managing their boats.
"Guard-boat comes alongside of the Mississippi, and Japanese functionary demands to come on board. "
Not permitted.
"Notice in the French language, ordering the ships away, held up to be read."
Interpreters directed to inform the Japanese that the Commodore would confer with no one but the highest official in Uraga.
Japanese replied that they had the vice governor on board.
This officer and his interpreter allowed to come on board the Susquehanna.
Not permitted to see the Commodore.
"Conference with Lieutenant Contee, who explains that the Americans have come on a friendly mission, and that the Commodore bears a letter from the President of the United States to the Emperor."
Desires the appointment of an officer of suitable rank to receive it from the Commodore.
Commodore refuses to go to Nagasaki.
Informs the Japanese officials that if the guard-boats are not immediately removed he will disperse them by force.
The boats are withdrawn.
"Vice governor returns to the shore, promising further communication on the mor
Policy resolved on by the Commodore.
Meteorological phenomenon.
Visit on the next day from the governor of Uraga.
Conference between him and Commanders Buchanan and Adams.
Second refusal of the Commodore to go to Nagasaki.
"Determination expressed to deliver the letter there, and, if necessary, in the city of Yedo itself."
Governor proposes to refer the matter to Yedo.
Commodore assents and allows three days for an answer.
"Survey by the squadron's boats of the bay at Uraga, and ultimately of the bay of Yedo"
CHAPTER XIII.
Reply from the court at Yedo.
Efforts of the Japanese to get the squadron out of the bay of Yedo.
Commodore's firm refusal to leave Uraga.
"Agreement of the Emperor to receive, through a commissioner, the President's letter."
High breeding of the Japanese gentlemen; not ill-informed.
Survey of the bay of Yedo.
Fogs of Japan.
Second visit from the governor of Uraga.
"He brings a letter from the Emperor, authorizing a prince to the empire to receive, in his name, the President's letter."
Arrangements made for the Commodore's reception on shore to deliver the letter.
Minute attention of the Japanese to etiquette and ceremonials.
Preparations in the squadron for the visit on shore at the reception.
"Ships brought near the land, so as to command the place of meeting."
"Landing and reception, and delivery of the letter and other documents."
Princes of Idsu and Iwama.
Contents of President's letter.
"Commodore's letter of credence, and his letters to the Emperor."
Receipt given by the Japanese for the papers.
Return to the ships.
CHAPTER XIV.
Concessions of the Japanese.
Relaxation of their restrictive laws.
Satisfaction of both Japanese and Americans at the result of the visit on sing the Commodore to go to Uraga with the ships.
Commodore invariable refuses.
"At length the Japanese are informed that the Commodore will allow captain Adams to meet a commissioner on shore near the ships, or that he will proceed up the bay to Yedo."
Note from the commissioners to the Commodore.
His reply.
Captain Adams sent down to Uraga to commu

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