Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Introduction by Ian Nish
- Note on the Text
- VOLUME I THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
- Preface
- 1 The Voyage across the Pacific
- 2 A Survey of the United States of America
- 3 A Record of San Francisco, 1
- 4 A Record of San Francisco, 2
- 5 The Railroad Journey in the State of California
- 6 The Railroad Journey in the State of Nevada and Utah Territory
- 7 The Rocky Mountain Railroad
- 8 The Chicago Railroad
- 9 The Railroad Journey from Chicago to Washington, D.C.
- 10 A Survey of the District of Columbia
- 11 A Record of Washington, D.C., 1
- 12 A Record of Washington, D.C., 2
- 13 A Record of Washington, D.C., 3
- 14 The Journey Through the Northern States, 1
- 15 The Journey Through the Northern States, 2
- 16 The Journey Through the Northern States, 3
- 17 A Record of Washington, D.C.: Epilogue
- 18 A Record of Philadelphia
- 19 A Record of New York City
- 20 A Record of Boston
- VOLUME II BRITAIN
- VOLUME III CONTINENTAL EUROPE, 1
- VOLUME IV CONTINENTAL EUROPE, 2
- VOLUME V CONTINENTAL EUROPE, 3; AND THE VOYAGE HOME
- Index
3 - A Record of San Francisco, 1
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 August 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Introduction by Ian Nish
- Note on the Text
- VOLUME I THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
- Preface
- 1 The Voyage across the Pacific
- 2 A Survey of the United States of America
- 3 A Record of San Francisco, 1
- 4 A Record of San Francisco, 2
- 5 The Railroad Journey in the State of California
- 6 The Railroad Journey in the State of Nevada and Utah Territory
- 7 The Rocky Mountain Railroad
- 8 The Chicago Railroad
- 9 The Railroad Journey from Chicago to Washington, D.C.
- 10 A Survey of the District of Columbia
- 11 A Record of Washington, D.C., 1
- 12 A Record of Washington, D.C., 2
- 13 A Record of Washington, D.C., 3
- 14 The Journey Through the Northern States, 1
- 15 The Journey Through the Northern States, 2
- 16 The Journey Through the Northern States, 3
- 17 A Record of Washington, D.C.: Epilogue
- 18 A Record of Philadelphia
- 19 A Record of New York City
- 20 A Record of Boston
- VOLUME II BRITAIN
- VOLUME III CONTINENTAL EUROPE, 1
- VOLUME IV CONTINENTAL EUROPE, 2
- VOLUME V CONTINENTAL EUROPE, 3; AND THE VOYAGE HOME
- Index
Summary
January 15th, 1872. Fine.
At first light this morning the sea fog was so thick that we could not distinguish objects which were only a foot away from us. The entire deck of the America was shrouded in mist. The captain therefore ordered the ship to heave to in the ocean for a while to await the dawn. As the sun rose and the mists began to lift, we could distinguish the mountains of California ahead. They emerged more clearly as the sun rose higher. The America advanced slowly. Directly to the east, two mountains ridges parted to reveal a great natural gateway. Through it we could see steamships passing to and fro with smoke rising from their funnels, making a truly beautiful sight. This was the celebrated Golden Gate.
In our twenty-two-day voyage across the Pacific Ocean this was the first land we had glimpsed east of Japan. Words are inadequate to express our pleasure as we gazed upon this golden gateway, where sea and sky meet directly to the west and coastal mountains rise on both sides.
Today the America steamed into the bay flying the flag of Japan emblazoned with the red sun. The citizens of San Francisco had learnt of the Embassy's visit from newspaper reports, and the news of our actual arrival was telegraphed from the Golden Gate to City Hall and to our consul.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Japan RisingThe Iwakura Embassy to the USA and Europe, pp. 14 - 20Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009