of these Islands is said not to be very considerable, but they say, that some foreign Curiosities are to be seen there, and the number of Idols worship'd by the Inhabitants is much talk'd of. The yearly revenue of these two Islands amounts to 3 Man, and 5000 Kokf. 1690. The whole Revenue of all the Islands and Provinces Revenue of the belonging to the great Empire of Japan, makes up in all Empire of a yearly Sum of 2328 Man, and 6200 Kokf, according to Japan. the account above given. My Japanese Author however puts it only at 2257 Mangokf. Tho' it be not a proper place here to enter into particulars concerning the Government of the Japanese Government of Empire, its provinces, and districts, yet for the better Japan. understanding of my History it seems necessary, that before I proceed any further, somewhat should be said on this Head. The whole Empire, in general, is govern'd by the Emperor, with an absolute and monarchical Power, and so is every Province in particular, by the Prince, who under the Emperor enjoys the government thereof. The present Kubo, or secular Monarch, is Tsinajos, fourth The Emperor Successor, and Great Grandson of Jejassama, first Emperor Tsinajos now of the now reigning Family, who usurp'd the Throne reigning. upon the lawful Heir, and reign'd about the beginning of the 16th Century. Tsinajos hath the character of a severe, but just and prudent Monarch. He inherited from his ancestors along with the Crown, an absolute and unlimited Power over all his Subjects, from the meanest extraction up to the highest rank. Even the greatest Princes, and Lords of the Empire, are so far his vassals, that he can disgrace, exile and deprive them of their lives. and dominions, as he pleases, or as he thinks, the peace and welfare of the Empire requires, or their crimes deserve. Particular Provinces are govern'd by hereditary Princes, Daimio, > call'd Daimio, which signifies High-named, that is, Princes Princes of the and Lords of the highest rank. Some of these have Empire. found means by force of Arms to enlarge their dominions. > Thus the Prince of Satzuma made himself master of the two neighbouring Provinces, Oosumi and Fiugo, and the 1690. Siomio, Lords. Crown Lands Prince of Canga of the neighbouring Province Noto, on which account these two Princes are said to be the most powerful in the Empire. The Lords of smaller districts are call'd Siomio, well named, Lords of an inferior rank. Their dominions whether they be Islands, as Goto, Firando, Amakusa, Matsaki, and several others, or situate upon the continent of the three chief Islands, composing the Empire of Japan, are mention'd in the list of the 66 great Provinces, each under that Province whereto they belong, or in which they lie. All the Siomio are so far subject to the Emperor, that they are allow'd but six Months stay in their hereditary dominions. The other half year they must spend in the Imperial Capital Jedo, where their wives and families are kept all the year round, as Hostages of their Fidelity. Some of these smaller districts are Imperial demesns, how govern'd. or Crown Lands, either, because they have been appropriated of old for the support of the Crown, or because in success of time, as occasion offer'd, they were taken from their hereditary possessors by way of punishment, and annexed thereunto, it having been always one of the chief political maxims follow'd by the Emperors of Japan, to maintain themselves in peaceable possession of the Throne, by splitting large dominions into several small ones, and by endeavouring, by all possible means, to weaken the power and authority of the Princes of the Empire. The largest of these Crown Lands are govern'd by what they call, Bugios, acting in the nature of Lieutenants, the smaller ones by Daiquans, as they are call'd, or Stewards. All the revenues must be brought into the Emperor's Exchequer. . Chap. VI. The Author's opinion of the true Origin and 1690. T hath been the constant opinion of most Differing were brought out of the East by European examin'd. travellers. The first is: It once happen'd in China, that Conspiracy in several Families conspired against the Emperor. Upon China. discovery of the Plot, it was order'd, that all those, who had any hand in it, should be put to death without mercy. But the number of accomplices being so extensive, that at last the Executioners themselves grew weary of shedding so much blood, the affair was again laid before the Emperor, who thereupon resolv'd, that their sentence of death should be converted into transportation and banishment into the neighbouring, then rude and uninhabited, Islands of Japan, which they peopled, and thereby became the Progenitors of that numerous and powerful Nation, they are now inhabited by. The second Story hath been reported as follows. One of the Emperors of China unwilling to part with his Empire, and all that grandeur and power he was possess'd of, within the short term human life is limited to, endeavour'd to find out, if possible, some universal Search after Medicine, which could make him immortal; on this an universal account he sent expert and able Men into all parts of the Medicine. World. Among the rest, one of his chief Physicians persuaded him, that the proper Ingredients for such a Medicine were, to his knowledge to be met with in the neighbouring Islands of Japan, but that they were of so tender and singular a Structure, that they would wither, and lose their Virtues, if touch'd by any other, but chast and pure, hands. And the better to execute this design, 1690. Linschoot refuted. A Chinese Physician. comes over he propos'd that 300 young Men, and so many young Women, all of a strong and healthful constitution, shou'd be carried over thither, which accordingly he did himself, though far from having any real intention to satisfy his Sovereign, but rather out of a desire to escape his Tyranny, to settle in happier climes, and to people these then uninhabited Islands. As to the first of these two Stories, Linschoot is the author of it; but he not acquainting his Reader what authority he had for it, or how he came by it, and there being not the least mention made, neither in Chinese, nor Japanese Histories, of any such Conspiracy, it deserves no credit, but ought to be entirely rejected, as forged and fabulous. But as to the second, the coming over of a Chinese Physician with so many young Men, with a Colony and young Women, the same is not at all denied by the to Japan. Japanese; nay, far from it, they still shew a place upon Khumano (So they call the Southern Coasts of the Provinces) Kijnokuni, and some neighbouring Provinces, where he landed, and afterwards settled with his gallant Collony, and the remains of a temple, which was there erected to his memory, for having brought over to them from China good manners, and useful arts and sciences. As to the occasion of his coming over, it is recorded in Japanese Histories, that there was great search made after an universal Medicine, during the reign of the Emperor Si, or Sikwo, or as the vulgar pronounce it, Sino Sikwo. Emperor of This Emperor was one of the three Chinese Nero's, Sinosko, Ketzuwo, and Thuwo, whose memory will be for ever abhor'd. He not only govern'd his Empire with His Tyranny unparallel'd Tyranny, but liv'd with the greatest pride, and profuseness, and most profuse magnificence imaginable, of which there are several remarkable instances mentioned in the History of his Life. He caus'd once a large Spot of Ground to be dug up for a Lake, and having order'd it to be fill'd with Chinese Beer, he sail'd over it in stately Barges. He caused a stately Palace, nam'd Kojaku, to be built for his residence, the floors whereof were pav'd with Gold and Silver, and the whole Building of such an extent, that the Sikwo, China. Since Emperor Kooll, who usurp'd the throne upon his Grandson, |