the ceremonies usual in European courts, he making the three customary bows on appearing in the imperial presence. He describes his uniform as follows: "My dress was a coat embroidered with gold after the pattern furnished by the state department, blue pantaloons with a broad gold band running down each leg, cocked hat with gold tassels, and a pearl-handled dress-sword." In contrast with the attitude of the American representative, all the officials present at the audience including the chief minister of state, the princes, and even the three brothers of the Shogun, prostrated themselves in his presence and only moved by crawling on their hands and knees.
Mr. Harris records that the prince, who had been assigned to accompany him during the audience, afterwards told him "that all who were present were amazed at my 'greatness of soul,' at my bearing in presence of the mighty ruler of Japan; they had looked to see me 'tremble and quake,' and to speak in a faltering voice." While Mr. Harris enters this in his journal, he says he is inclined to think there is an admixture of "soft-sawder" in it. The audience was followed by a dinner sent by the Shogun to the diplomat's apartments, and later by an exchange of presents, among those of the American prominently appearing champagne and liquors.[1]
The great work which Harris had in hand still remained to be accomplished—the granting of residence to diplomatic ministers at the capital and the opening
- ↑ For journey and audience, Harris's Journal, Griffis, chaps, xi. and xii. For Harris's letter, July 3, 1858, Littell's Living Age, 1859, p. 567.
