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After meeting chief interpreter Williams, Bettelheim felt that Williams was insufficiently competent, and decided that he himself should serve as interpreter/translator for the commodore. He pressed upon Perry that he take action against the Ryukyuan government, which had so mistreated him over the years. The Commodore, for the most part, refused, but used Bettelheim as his interpreter in his various meetings with the Ryukyuan regent. Williams criticized Bettelheim's manner of using hand gestures and facial expressions, and in particular the self-assured way he complimented himself on making certain suggestions, even when he had equally self-assuredly suggested the opposite mere hours earlier. Bettelheim is said to have reveled in being seen in association with Perry, and in the powerlessness of the Ryukyuan authorities to stop Perry from doing as he wished.

After meeting chief interpreter Williams, Bettelheim felt that Williams was insufficiently competent, and decided that he himself should serve as interpreter/translator for the commodore. He pressed upon Perry that he take action against the Ryukyuan government, which had so mistreated him over the years. The Commodore, for the most part, refused, but used Bettelheim as his interpreter in his various meetings with the Ryukyuan regent. Williams criticized Bettelheim's manner of using hand gestures and facial expressions, and in particular the self-assured way he complimented himself on making certain suggestions, even when he had equally self-assuredly suggested the opposite mere hours earlier. Bettelheim is said to have reveled in being seen in association with Perry, and in the powerlessness of the Ryukyuan authorities to stop Perry from doing as he wished.

Bettelheim soon began to make demands, however, that the Americans provide him with various necessities, including candles, soap, shoes, and butter. He hesitated to accept supplies from the ships even as he pressured the Ryukyuan authorities to provide gifts and supplies to the ships; yet, he made these demands, and accepted some of what was given, nevertheless. On 1853/4/23 (May30), he helped Perry and his men break into a schoolhouse in [[Tomari]] and seize it for use as a residence, despite the strong objections of Ryukyuan officials (led by one named [[Ichirazichi]]) that the Americans could not be permitted to establish a house on shore.

Bettelheim soon began to make demands, however, that the Americans provide him with various necessities, including candles, soap, shoes, and butter. He hesitated to accept supplies from the ships even as he pressured the Ryukyuan authorities to provide gifts and supplies to the ships; yet, he made these demands, and accepted some of what was given, nevertheless. On 1853/4/23 (May30), he helped Perry and his men break into a schoolhouse in [[Tomari]] and seize it for use as a residence, despite the strong objections of Ryukyuan officials (led by one Bettelheim calls [[Makishi Chochu|Ichirazichi]]) that the Americans could not be permitted to establish a house on shore.

A few days later, on 4/26 (June 2), Perry sent off one of his ships, the ''Caprice'', which took a number of things back to Shanghai for Bettelheim, including letters and $800 to be deposited into Bettelheim's bank accounts. It is unclear where Bettelheim obtained these funds to begin with, or the other goods he provided as gifts to Western ships he met at port. It is said that throughout his stay in Ryûkyû, he ate whatever was given him, and paid whatever he chose, never being told he owed any particular amount.  

A few days later, on 4/26 (June 2), Perry sent off one of his ships, the ''Caprice'', which took a number of things back to Shanghai for Bettelheim, including letters and $800 to be deposited into Bettelheim's bank accounts. It is unclear where Bettelheim obtained these funds to begin with, or the other goods he provided as gifts to Western ships he met at port. It is said that throughout his stay in Ryûkyû, he ate whatever was given him, and paid whatever he chose, never being told he owed any particular amount.