The Japanese artist who painted these scrolls was interested in everything the Americans brought and used. In this image, he carefully records the size, capacity, and use of one of the American landing boats. The author notes that "small boats" of this type were about "two and a half ken" (about eight feet) in length. "Large boats" of the same type could be as long as "five ken" (fifteen feet). Americans called these "houteu," he notes, which appears to be his transliteration of "boat" in Japanese. Obviously the artist who made these pictures was in close enough contact with the Americans to ask them what they were called in English. Japanese, who had no national flag at the time, were intrigued by foreign flags. Note the careful depiction of the rigging, oar-locks, and tiller. The artist also comments on the color schemes of these vessels.

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