For the Japanese, Perry's squadron was an unusual gathering of different national and racial groups. Perry brought with him a number of Chinese who served as stewards on his ships. The standing Chinese in this picture, who seems to be wearing an apron, may well show such a steward. Japanese were familiar with Chinese who continued to trade with Japan through Nagasaki during the Tokugawa period. In fact, the standard term for all foreigners in Japan at this time was "t_jin" or "Man from China." Even Americans and Europeans were referred to as t_jin.

More unusual to the Japanese were sailors of African descent. The U.S. Navy at the time included a variety of blacks. They often served as deckhands and cooks, though some held higher positions. When Perry landed at Kanagawa in 1854 he was escorted by six black officers who were fully armed. His standard bearer, as other Japanese pictures show, was a very tall and powerful sailor, and on the occasion of the first presentation of the American President's letter two impressive blacks served as armed guards to the young men who carried the boxes containing the documents.

The figure at the far right is Jonathan Goble, one of Perry's marines, who was a devout Christian and spent a good deal of time with the Japanese on shore. He seems to have gotten to know the artist who made the original drawing, for he is one of the few foreigners whose name is given next to his image.

Next Image | Previous Image | Image Gallery | Black Ship Scroll Main Page