The Narrative of a Japanese

Hikozō Hamada/Joseph Heco (1837-1897) foi o primeiro japonês a receber a cidadania dos Estados Unidos, sendo também considerado como o primeiro japonês a ser fotografado. No século 19 foi intérprete do consulado dos EUA no Japão. Essa condição deu-lhe um privilégio ímpar na época, o de poder viajar. Numa dessas viagens passou por Macau em 1851 onde diz ter ficado hospedado num "excelente hotel" onde o gerente era "um português muito respeitável" de nome "Frank". Apesar do domínio da língua inglesa seria desafiado por outro intérprete, um norte-americano, para viajar até aos EUA e aprimorar os estudos. Assim foi, mas regressaria ao Japão anos mais tarde...

Foto de autor desconhecido publicada no "Pictorial History of Modern Japan"

O editor do livro abordado neste post foi James Murdoch que no prefácio explica como o livro viu a luz do dia: "Na primavera de 1892 recebi oito cadernos finos, mas bem escritos, com o pedido de que eu extraísse deles tudo o que fosse de interesse mais do que puramente pessoal e se eu considerasse os trechos dignos de serem tornados públicos que procedesse à publicação do mesmo." 

Era pois o diário que Heco tinha mantido desde que começou a escrever em inglês e contava a história da sua vida.

"(...) After remaining there about a week, we sailed for Hongkong and arrived there about May 20th 1852. St Mary stayed there two days and then she weighed anchor and made for Macao where we expected to find the American squadron. We arrived at Macao at night and found a large paddle steam frigate at anchor there. This was the Susquehanna, the flag ship of the US squadron in the East (imagem abaixo). She carried the flag of Commodore Aulick of Washington City. Next morning our Captain called on the Commodore, and about 11 a.m. the Commodore, the Captain and some officers of the Susquehanna, came on board the St Mary. Our Captain received them and afterwards there was gun drill.

Then the Commodore and his staff officers were shown all over the ship by our Captain and first Lieutenant. They came to where we were and stopped and made some inquiry about us through our interpreter Thomas. They then went to the Captain's cabin where they stayed about half an hour. At the end of this time they returned to their own vessel, the St Mary saluting them with 13 guns as they left.

In a few days we were to be transferred to the Susquehanna as the St Mary was on her way home after a visit to the Fiji Islands where she had been to negotiate with the natives on the matter of some American sailors who had been killed and eaten by the natives in the previous year. And on her way she had received orders to carry us as far as China and there hand us over to Perry's expedition. But as Perry had not arrived we were to be transferred to the China squadron. About the beginning of June, the St Mary set sail homeward bound. It was with great regret that we had left her for the officers and crew had been kindness itself.

As the St Mary slid alongand passed the Susquehanna the men of the flagship gave three cheers. These were returned by the crew of the St Mary and in a few hours she was out of sight. And we all were very sad for we felt as if we had just lost a very dear friend. A few days after the Susquehanna left Macao for Hongkong. Here we remained for several weeks. And the weather became sweltering hot and we suffered terribly. For the quarters provided for us on board the flag ship were extremely cramped and unpleasant. And the ways of the officers and men of the Susquehanna were not as those of the officers and men of the Polk and of the St Mary. (...)

So one day we applied to Commodore Aulick for our leave and Thomas discharge and the Commodore granted our request. Then we made ready and one day we hired a sampan to take us to Macao. We had said Sayonara to our friends and were just descending into the sampan when one of our mates and some of our elders waxed jealous and made objections to our leaving them. So we concluded not to go. But at this point the deck officer asked what was being said at the gangway. Then Thomas explained and the deck officer said that as we had permission to leave we must go and no delay about it. So we had to go perforce and straightway we started for Macao.

We arrived there in due course and took up our quarters at a hotel kept by a man named Frank, a very respectable Portuguese. This hotel was kept in excellent style and we were cared for exceedingly well. When we got to Hongkong we put up at a cheap boarding house. This was because Thomas funds were slender. However the house was kept in good order by a very respectable American. When he heard our story from Thomas he shewed us the greatest kindness and attention and made us very comfortable while we were there. In a week we saw an advertisement announcing that the British barque Sarah Hooper, an old vessel of about 400 tons, was to sail for San Francisco. So we went on board to see her, she looked pretty old and not in very good condition. However when repaired she would be strong. So our friend Thomas took passage by her at the rate of 50 for each of us. As she had no first or second cabin we had to go in the steerage. After a voyage of 50 days we arrived at San Francisco in the beginning of December 1852. (...)"

Excerto de "The Narrative of a Japanese - What He Has Seen and the People He Has Met in the Course of the Last Forty Years", Volume 1, de Joseph Heco, Japão, 1892.