proper opportunities, nor liberty enough for it, as M. Cleyer, who was himself Director of our trade there, and our Ambassador to the Emperor's Court, complains in a letter to the learned Scheffer. The difficulties, I own, are great and considerable, but not altogether insuperable. They may be overcome by proper management, even notwithstanding all the precautions the Japanese government hath taken to the contrary. The Japanese, a prudent and valiant nation, are not so easily to be bound by an oath taken to such Gods, or Spirits, as are not worship'd by many, and unknown to most: If they do comply with it, 'tis more for fear of the punishment, which would inevitably attend them, if betray'd. Besides, their pride and warlike humour being set aside, they are as civil, as polite and curious a nation as any in the world, naturally inclined to commerce and familiarity with foreigners, and desirous, to excess, to be informed of their histories, arts and sciences. But as we are only merchants, whom they place in the lowest class of mankind, and as the narrow inspection, we are kept under, must naturally lead them to some jealousy and mistrust, so there is no other way to gain their friendship, and to win them over to our interest, but a willingness to comply with their desire, a liberality to please their avaricious inclinations, and a submissive conduct to flatter their vanity. 'Twas by these means I work'd myself into such a friendship and familiarity with our interpreters, and the officers of our island, who daily come over to us, as I believe none before me could boast of, ever since we have been put under such narrow regulations. Liberally assisting them, as I did, with my advice and medicines, with what information I was able to give them in Astronomy and Mathematicks, and with a cordial and plentiful supply of European liquors, I could also, in my turn, freely put to them what questions I pleased, about the affairs of their Country, whether relating to the government in Civil or Ecclesiastical affairs, to the customs of the natives, to the natural and political history, and there was none

that ever refused to give me all the information he could, even when we were alone, in such things, which they are otherwise strictly charged to keep secret. These private informations I procured from those who came to visit me, were of great use to me in collecting materials for my intended history of this Country, but yet they fell far short of being altogether satisfactory, and I should not perhaps have been able to compass that design, if I had not, by good luck, met with other opportunities, and in particular the assistance of a discreet young man, by whose means I was richly supplied with whatever notice I wanted, concerning the affairs of Japan. He was about twentyfour years of age, well vers'd in the Chinese and Japanese languages, and very desirous of improving himself. Upon my arrival, he was appointed to wait on me, as my servant, and at the same time to be by me instructed in Physick and Surgery. The Ottona, who is the chief officer of our island, having been by him, though under my inspection, taken care of in a distemper of his, suffer'd him to continue in my service during the whole time of my abode in the Country, which was two years, and to attend me in our two journeys to Court, consequently four times almost from one end of the Empire to the other, a favour which is seldom granted to young men of his age, but was never done for so long a time. As I could not well have obtain'd my end without giving him a competent knowledge of the Dutch language, instructed him therein with so much success, that in a year's time he could write and read it better than any of our interpreters: I also gave him all the information I could in Anatomy and Physick, and farther allow'd him a handsome yearly salary, to the best of my abilities. In return, I employ'd him to procure me as ample accounts, as possible, of the then state and condition of the Country, its Government, the Imperial Court, the Religions established in the Empire, the History of former ages, and remarkable daily Occurrences. There was not a Book I desired to see, on these and other subjects, which he did

not bring to me, and explain to me, out of it, whatever I wanted to know. And because he was obliged, in several things, to enquire, to borrow, or to buy of other people, I never dismiss'd him without providing him with money for such purposes, besides his yearly allowance. So expensive, so difficult a thing is it to foreigners, ever since the shutting up of the Japanese Empire, to procure any information about it: What I have been able to do, I freely communicate to the Publick in this present History.

THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR

By the Translator

NGELBERT KÆMPFER was born on the 16th of September 1651, at Lemgow, a small town in the Circle of Westphalia, belonging to the Count de Lippe. His Father John Kampfer was Minister of the Church of S. Nicholas in that town, and his Mother Christiana Dreppers, a Daughter of Joachim Drepper, formerly Minister of the same Church. He had, so far as his Father's circumstances would permit, a very liberal education, and becoming the profession he was design'd for, which was that of Physick. He begun his studies at the school of Hameln, in the Dutchy of Brunswick, and was sent from thence to Lunebourgh, Hambourgh and Lubeck, at all which places he distinguished himself by an industrious application and ready progress in the learned languages, History, Geography, and Musick both vocal and instrumental. He made some stay at Dantzick, where he gave the first publick specimen of his proficiency, by a Dissertation De Majestatis Divisione, defended in 1673, and then went to Thorn. He staid three years at the University of Cracow in Poland, studying Philosophy and foreign languages, and having took his degree of Doctor in Philosophy at that place, he repair'd to Konigsberg in Prussia, where he spent four years in close application to the study of Physick and Natural History,