File:Harper's New Monthly Magazine Volume 21 June to November 1860 (1860) (14596790290).jpg

Identifier: harpersnew21harper (find matches)
Title: Harper's New Monthly Magazine Volume 21 June to November 1860
Year: 1860 (1860s)
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Publisher: New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers
Contributing Library: Brigham Young University-Idaho, David O. McKay Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University-Idaho

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1 who touched the ground reverentially with hisforehead whenever called upon to exercise hisfunctions. Compliments duly made, refresh-ments were served. These consisted of tea, thena kind of tea-syllabub, which Mr. Oliphantthought on the whole preferable to senna andrhubarb, followed by sweetmeats. The next day the six Japanese Commissionersappeared at the residence of the embassador, toexchange credentials, and enter upon the pre-liminaries of the treaty. The Japanese official costume is remarkably simple—straw-color, blue,and black being the predominant colors. Thecut of the trowsers which are worn in audienceswith the Tycoon is the most noticeable featurein the state costume. On such occasions everyone is supposed to come into the imperial pres-ence upon his knees ; but as this would be prac-tically inconvenient, a compromise is effected bymaking the legs of the trowsers a half yard longerthan the limbs which they encase. This extralength trailing behind, gives a tolerable repre-
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322 HARPERS NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE. sentation of a man shuffling along upon hisknees. The commissioners took occasion to an-nounce that the Tvcoon, being childless, hadadopted a son, wl^N would be his successor.This was a part of a system of elaborate mystifi-cation, as will appear in the sequel, the objectof which is unexplained. A goodly amount ofham and Champagne having been disposed of,credentials were formally exchanged, and everybody lighting a pipe or cigar, the provisions ofthe treaty were rapidly agreed upon. The Japa-nese Commissioners proved themselves astute diplomatists, never agreeing to any stipulationuntil they had mastered it in all its bearings.Once indeed a difference occurred so serious thata special supply of wine had to be introduced towash it away. The principal provisions of thetreaty relate to commerce, the right of consularrepresentation, and the tribunals before whichoffenses by people of one nation against thoseof the other shall be tried. In general, British

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