Manchester, Marietta, fl. 1895-1896 To Mother and Father

This letter written on Japanese scroll paper is concerning Manchester's travels. She mentions seeing the Aleutian Islands after many days at sea, and says a few days later they started to see the coast of Japan. She mentions many volcanos and says she was told that they do not worry about earthquakes when there is smoke. She also describes the "natives" who row out to the boats to help with bringing in cargo as there are no wharves in Japan. Manchester says the Japanese wear little clothes and it shocked them all, but they got used to seeing it. She went to Yokohama for the day and thought the foreign houses were beautifully laid out; she also mentions a missionary housing being pointed out to her. After Yokohama they traveled to Kobe and arrived just before a typhoon. They were not able to come ashore but anchored next to a bunch of other boats including ones from Germany, France, England and a captured Chinese War ship. They were able to land the next afternoon and they stayed there until Tuesday night when they changed boats to the Empress. While they were in Kobe they stated in a Japanese house. Manchester describes having to take off their shoes, sleeping and eating on the floor, and using their bathrooms. She also mentions that she had changed over money to use and that 3 cents in the US is 1 dollar in Japanese currency. While walking about Kobe they saw some Japanese soldiers and some Chinese prisoners that were being sent home, she says "they didnt want to go for the Japs had cared for them well." Manchester also describes trying to order food at a restaurant and it taking over an hour to get the food. She says they stayed at Kobe for 3 days, but it was good because there was a Church Society convention being held there. The next boat is taking them to Shanghai, and they expect to arrive the 14th of September. She says she has been praying for them and hopes that they have been praying for her. She must go because there is to be a meeting with 38 Methodist missionaries who are on the same ship.