Page:American Diplomacy in the Orient - Foster (1903).djvu/200

 Mr. Harris brought with him a letter from the President of the United States to the emperor of Japan, and soon after his arrival he had applied for an audience of the emperor to present the letter, which would involve a journey to the capital. Such an event as the official visit of a diplomatic representative of a Western nation to the capital and his reception by the Shogun (or Tycoon) was without precedent in Japanese history. Evil portents had followed the advent of Perry. A fearful earthquake had destroyed a large part of Yedo and the surrounding towns. This was followed by a typhoon by which more than a hundred thousand lives were lost. And even at that time the capital was being ravaged by an epidemic of cholera whose victims amounted to thirty thousand. In the minds of the people, Providence was pronouncing condemnation against the intrusion of the foreigners.

But the American representative was urgent, and in order to avoid the alternative of having the President's letter borne to the capital by another fleet of warlike vessels and delivered under the guns of the intruders, it was finally decided to permit the peaceful visit of the diplomatic representative and to grant him a personal audience of the Shogun. Shimoda was situated several days' travel from Yedo, and the journey was made overland. The escort which conducted the American "ambassador," as he was termed by the Japanese, to Yedo presented a picturesque appearance. First came an avant-courrier on horseback with guards, attendants, and criers to clear the way. Next was the "standard-bearer" carrying the American flag, a strange ensign