to drive their bargains with the Japanese, whose ships yearly frequent this port for commercial purposes. "At length we entered the Tsuzima factoryhouse, and were presented to the President, Fooroo-gawoo-udsi, at the sight of whom we rejoiced, as if already we again beheld father and mother. He received our report of the manner in which we, fifteen Japanese, had fallen into captivity on the Tatar coast, and been thence taken to Peking. He took the travelling papers given us by the Peking authorities, and by the King of Chao-seën. He asked us the proper questions, had every thing reduced to writing, and then appointed us an inn, where we were provided with all necessaries. In the harbour lay many vessels ready for sea, and as soon as the wind was fair, the secretary to the factory put us on board a ship that was carrying troops to Tsuzima. "By the 17th of the second month, we made Wani-ura in Tsuzima, and on the 22nd arrived at Futsiu, the capital of the principality; where our papers were taken, and ourselves examined as at Fusankai. It was not till the 2nd of the sixth month that we left this island, fully clothed in the Japanese garb by the governor. On the 16th we landed at Ohosaka, where the officer who had brought us from Tsuzima led us to the official home of our native prince. His agent ordered some soldiers to take us straight home. Then we were, of course, presented in the first instance to our prince, after which every man hurried to his own home, when the joy of wives, children, parents, and kindred at sight of us, amounted well nigh to frenzy. The families and connexions of our slaughtered companions, meanwhile, covered themselves with mourning garments, and offered up the death sacrifice." It is evident that these enfranchised captive traders were not punished for their misfortunes, as Japanese similarly situated would be at the present day; but the germ of the later and harsher secluding system is also evident in the investigations, forms, and delays (the latter probably occasioned by the time requisite for inquiries or reports) that obstructed their return to their families for so many months after they were in their native country, continuing up to the last minute. This is not the least curious illustration of Japanese Manners and Customs, afforded by these specimens of Japanese narrative literature. NOTES. NOTE I.-Page 4. A BRIEF account of the different writers upon Japan, of whom by far the greater number have been consulted for the contents of the present volume, may satisfy the reader, if not of the perfect authenticity of all the statements herein given, at least that no pains have been spared to authenticate them. The earliest writers from whom we derive any knowledge of this insular empire, are the Jesuit Missionaries. But though they afford much information, they do so for the most part, incidentally; their reports to their superior relating chiefly to their success in making converts, and latterly, to the persecution endured by their flock and by themselves. This persecution constitutes likewise the main subject of the histories of Japan compiled from Jesuit materials by the learned Father Charlevoix and Crasset. From the expulsion of the Jesuits, A.D. 1640, the additional communications respecting Japan given to the European public, consisted of a few notices by Dutch voyagers, and Albertus Montanus's Atlas Japonensis - professedly a compilation from the journals of several Dutch embassies, the compiler having evidently no personal knowledge of the country, and being of a credulous disposition, as also somewhat ignorant, a fact that appears from his statements relative to natural history, and other matters, in regard to which we have better means of testing his accuracy. To these must, however, be added one important and very instructive work, though little adapted to the present taste for light and easy reading; namely, Kampfer's History of Japan. This author's two ponderous folio tomes,-ponderous in every sense of the word-contain so much information as to make the reader wonder how he could collect it, having spent only two years in Japan, and that when the anti-foreigner system flourished in youthful vigour. Kæmpfer was a German physician, attached to the Dutch factory in his professional capacity, at the end of the 17th century. In the year 1775 Dr. Thunberg, a Swedish physician and eminent naturalist, was similarly sent to Japan, as the medical attendant of the Dezima factory. Like Dr. Kæmpfer he passed only two years there, during which he as diligently as his predecessor studied the land of his temporary sojourn. Upon his return to Europe he published some scientific works upon the natural history of Japan; and four volumes of travels, of which about one was dedicated to the general appearance, manners, customs, &c. &c., of that singular country. He is more amusing but less instructive than old Kæmpfer. The next works treating of Japan appeared after the lapse of more than a quarter of a century, and are the Russian Captain Golownin's Account of his Captivity in Japan, and Recollections of Japan. The circumstances of this naval officer's captivity in a remote part of the empire, as mentioned in the chapter upon the attempts of foreigners to open commercial relations with Japan, prove that his opportunities for personal observation could be but few; and as his communications, during the greater part of his enforced abiding |