1690. coming from Japan. On our larboard we saw the Islands Gotho. Japonese Islands Gotho inhabited by husband-men, and Harbour of Nagasaki. before it was noon came into our view the high mountainous Country before Nagasaki, the long expected Harbour, which at Sunset we had at six or seven leagues distance before us, bearing N. E. by N. We sail'd with a North West breeze and a few sails towards it, and on the twenty third of September at midnight arriv'd at the entry of the Bay in 50 fathom water. But the said entry being full of rocks and Islands, which we were unacquainted withal, and which it is impossible to sail through at night, we tack'd about till morning came on, when we found 43 fathom of water on a sandy ground, and steer'd Arrival in the towards the Harbour. But being all of a sudden becalmed, we could not proceed, and therefore notified our arrival with firing five Guns, which were heard in the Dutch place of residence two leagues off. Accordingly in the afternoon four vessels came out to us, with the factors sent by our Superiors there, and accompanied by swarms of Japonese officers, clerks, soldiers, and a chief interpreter, who came to receive us, and to demand the writings, and letters, we had on board. After a short stay they left us, being saluted by us with seven Guns, and we follow'd them, though very slowly, the wind being variable, as far as the mountain call'd Papenberg, from whence we tow'd our Ship off by the help of casting anchor, till we brought her within half a league of the City of Nagasaki, and so after having return'd thanks to the Almighty for his protection in our Voyage, we cast anchor at ten at night. Death of the We had had neither sick, nor dead, during our whole Voyage, excepting only the abovementioned steward, who being denied any more Arrack, or Brandy, was the day before seiz'd with an Apoplectick fit, which soon render'd him senseless and speechless, and threw him into convulsions, which a few hours after made an end of his life. He was otherwise an able man, the son of a noted divine at the Hague, but by indulgence early fell into 1690. debauches and a dissolute life. We were no sooner come to an anchor, but we had two Japonese Guardships put on both sides of us, which all night long went the round with great diligence. All the Chinese Jonks that put to Sea this day, were each of them attended with a Guardship, till they got out of the Harbour into the open Sea. Not far from our Ship we saw a fleet of 40 pleasure boats Japanese coming to an anchor, being the usual pompous train of pleasure boats. a great Man, who had been on a voyage. They were built much after the manner of the Strubes in Russia, which are a sort of boats used on the Wolga in going from Mosco to Casan. This little fleet made a fine shew with its many lights at night, and in the morning, when it sailed, with its sails, half of which were white, and the other half black, which they hoisted all at once. On the twenty fourth of September in the morning we mov'd with a small breeze half of our way, and afterwards twenty Japonese rowing boats fasten'd to a rope towed us the other half as far as 200 paces within the City and our habitation. This Harbour is enclos'd with high mountains, Islands, and rocks, and guarded by nature against the rage of the Sea, and the fury of stormy winds. On the tops of the neighbouring Mountains stand Guardhouses with Guards in them, who with their spying Glasses are observing whatever happens at Sea, of which they give immediate Information to the Government at Nagasaki, and by this method they had notice of our arrival already two days before, being the 22d in the morning. Along the shore, which is form'd by the foot of those Mountains, which encompass the Harbour, there stand divers round Bastions, on which I observ'd only Rails, or Palisadoes, painted red, as it were for Ornament's sake, but saw no Cannon. Besides these, there are on both sides of the City, not far from the shore, on two Eminences, as many imperial head Guards, which are hung about with cloth for Ornament, as well as to hinder people from seeing the number of Cannon and Men, that are in them. When we pass'd by them, we saluted every Guard with twelve great Cast anchor near Desima. Harbour of Nagasaki. 1690. Desima. on board. Their pro cedures. Guns, and after being arriv'd at the place assign'd to us, we dropt anchor at about three hundred paces from the City, and as far from Desima, which is the habitation of the Dutch on a separate Island form'd purposely near the Japanese come shore without the City. Then came to us, two Buggioses, or Gentlemen of the Governors, sent by them with their Commission, with many subordinate Clerks, Interpreters and Soldiers, who called all those that were newly arriv'd, and made them pass in review before them one after the other, according to the List given them, viewing every one from top to toe, and writing his name, age and business, with a pencil on paper. Besides this, about six persons more were examin'd every one in particular, concerning our Voyage, viz. from whence we came, when we set out, how long we had been on the way, whether we did not land somewhere, &c. and the several answers were carefully written down. Many questions were ask'd upon the deceased Steward's account, and the answers also taken down, his Breast and the rest of his Skin were narrowly viewed, whether there was any cross, or other mark of the Popish Religion upon it. We obtain'd so much by our repeated Instances, that the Corpse was fetch'd away the same day, but none of us could get leave to attend it, and to see where it was interr'd. This review being over, Soldiers and Clerks were put into every corner, and the whole Ship with all her cargo taken, as it were, in possession by the Japonese. The boat and skiff was left to our Men, only for this day, in order to look to their anchors. But pistols, cutlasses, and other arms were by them demanded, and taken into custody, which were follow'd the next morning by the gun-powder packt in barrels. In short, had I not been before hand acquainted with their usual proceedings, I could not have help'd thinking we were got into a hostile Country, or had been taken for Spies. I must also remember here, that in our Voyage, as soon as we discover'd this Land, every one was oblig'd pursuant to an order from above, and ancient custom, to give his Prayer-book, and other Books of Divinity, as also all European Money he had about him, to the Captain, who, after having taken a memorandum of every one's name for it, pack'd all up in an old cask, and hid it from the Japonese till our return. This evening they sent us from the Dutch Factory divers sorts of Refreshments, viz. Fowls, Eggs, Shell-fish, and other Fish, Radishes with their Leaves, Turneps, Onions, fresh Ginger, Pompkins, Water-melons, white Bread, and a barrel of Sacki, or Japonese Rice-beer. On the 25th of September, early in the morning, came from Desima on board our Ship both Residents, or Directors of the Dutch Trade, one M. Sweras, who was to be reliev'd by the other M. Butenheim his Successor, but newly arriv'd from Batavia, with three Ships laden with Merchandize. All the Ships's Company having been call'd together, they read to us the orders both of the Dutch East-India Company, and of the Governors of Nangasaki, chiefly to this purpose, that every one of us, ought to behave soberly and discreetly with respect to the Natives, and the Laws and Customs of the Country. A Paper containing these Orders, having been read publickly, was according to the Custom of Japan, put up on board the Ship for every Body to read. In the afternoon I went on shore to Desima, on which occasion one is oblig'd to take out a Passport from the Japonese ShipGuard to those on shore, and on the return another from the Land-Guard to that on board. Finding that the use of the raw Garden Fruit, that was sent us yesterday, had occasion'd to me great pain, I was oblig'd to hasten back to our Ship, from whence I went on the 26th of September with my things, to live in the Habitation assign'd to me at Desima. 1690. [Chap. IV. J. I 97 G 1690. Chap. IV. Japanese Its names. Of the Empire of Japan in general, as to its situation, and the largeness of its several Islands. His Empire is by the Europeans call'd Japan. The Natives give it several names and characters. The most common, and most frequently us'd in their writings and conversation, is Nipon, which is sometimes in a more elegant manner, and particular to this Nation, pronounc'd Nifon, and by the Inhabitants of Nankin, and the southern parts of China, Sijppon. It signifies, the foundation of the Sun, being deriv'd from Ni, Fire, and in a more sublime Sense, the Sun, and Pon, the ground, or foundation of a thing. I. There are still some other names and epithets, which are seldom mention'd in conversation, but occur more frequently in their writings. Such are for instance. Tenka, that is, the Subcelestial Empire, as if it were the only one existing under Heaven. Hence the Emperor is call'd Tenkasama, the Subcelestial Monarch. In former times this Name was peculiar to the Empire of Japan alone, but since commerce hath made known to them several other Countries, they now condescend to honour them also with the same epithet, particularly such, whose Inhabitants are admitted and tolerated among them. Thus they call the Empire of China, To Sin Tenka, the united Provinces of the Netherlands, known to them by the name of Holland, Hollanda Tenka. 2. Fino Motto, is much the same with Nipon, and signifies, properly speaking, the Root of the Sun, Fi being the Sun, and Motto, a Root; No, is only a particle, by which these two words are combin'd together. 3. Awadsissima, is the original name of this Country, and is as much as to say, a Terrestrial Scum Island, Awa, signifying Scum, |