374 MATTHEW C. PERRY. 



of the year. These mansions are surrounded by 

 wide enclosed courts and extensive gardens ; yet they 

 cannot he said to possess much architectural gran- 

 deur, since they are only one story high : the walls 

 are of clay, the partitions of paper, and are adorned 

 merely with paintings, varnishing, and fine mats 

 spread on the floor. The imperial palace however, 

 though equally low, is built of freestone, and is five 

 miles in circumference, including a wide exterior 

 area occupied by the spacious mansions of the here- 

 ditary princes and chief lords of the court. Its grand 

 apartment, the hall of the thousand mats, is said to 

 be six hundred feet long by three hundred broad, 

 and is brilliantly adorned by pillars of cedar, painted 

 papers, and gilded dragons on the roof. The city 

 is subject to destructive fires, one of which, in 1703, 

 consumed one hundred thousand houses. It is the 

 seat of varied branches of industry, and carries on 

 also an immense internal trade. 



Meaco is situated at a considerable distance from 

 Jeddo, near the southern extremity of Mphon, and 

 a few miles in the interior. This spiritual capital 

 of Japan is still the chief seat of polished manners, 

 of refined arts, and of intellectual culture. The finest 

 silk stuffs flowered with gold and silver, the richest 

 varnishes, the best painted papers, and the most 

 skilful works in gold, silver, and copper, are here 



