The passage shows that Manjiro is thinking more independently than he did at the beginning of the story. He is not as influenced by the fears and ideas common in his culture; instead, he recognizes that the "barbarians" on the ship are simply people just like him.
Manjiro's natural curiosity as a natural philosopher had been developed which develop realization that show he has begin to understand the new individuals around, be less afraid,expect the unexpected and not be so harshly judgmental of new experiences .