LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA

18/372

2 EARLY LIFE. the brig was under way. " I shall never forget," writes Captain Savory in 1883, ''the first interview I had with him, or how happy he felt when he saw the shores of his country fading from his view, knowing that he was safe from all harm. His sole aim then was to learn the English language, that he might be able to translate the Bible into his own tongue for the benefit of his countrymen." On arriving at Shanghai the Berlin was ordered to Nagasaki. Knowing that his young protege could return to Japan only at the risk of his life, Captain Savory secured his transfer to the ship Wild Rover, owned by Alpheus Hardy & Co., of Boston, U. S. A., under the command of Capt. Horace S. Taylor, of Chatham, Mass. In September, 1864, Captain Tay­lor sailed for Foochoo, but remained in Chinese waters through the winter, touching at Hongkong, Saigon, Shanghai again, and Manilla, from which latter port he set sail Aprill, 1865, for Boston, where he arrived in August, after a four months' passage. When this young Japanese came on board the Wild Rover, at Shanghai, he could speak but a few English words, although having some knowledge of the written language. On being asked his name he replied, "Neesima Shimeta." "I shall call you Joe,'' was the captain's laconic announcement. Shortly after reaching Boston, Captain Taylor in­formed his owner that he had a Japanese boy on the ship who was anxious to secure an education, and at Mr. Hardy's request Neesima was sent for. During the voyage he had acquired the ship's vocabulary, but was still unable to make known his wishes in intel­ligible English. To every question asked by Mrs. Hardy he replied only in monosyllables. It was im-

※このページを正しく表示するにはFlashPlayer10.2以上が必要です