SCARCITY OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 95 



soon reached Japan through Corea, and exerted a powerful 

 influence upon the subsequent development of the nation. 

 Agriculture was improved by the introduction of excellent 

 horses in 284, and of the Chinese mulberry and silkworm in 

 462. Many new varieties and species of vegetables, grains, 

 fruits, and flowers, were also doubtless imported, and new 

 methods of cultivation made known. 



Although the Japanese have possessed from time imme- 

 morial many of our domestic animals, yet they have derived 

 but little benefit from them in consequence of the peculiar 

 tenets of their religions, which discountenance their slaugh- 

 ter for any purpose whatever. Sheep were introduced by 

 the Portuguese in the sixteenth century, but were not con- 

 sidered of any value by a people who would neither eat 

 mutton nor wear woollen clothing. Swine ran wild in the 

 forests, but were not domesticated. Europeans enjoyed com- 

 paratively free commercial intercourse with Japan for about 

 one hundred years previous to 1G50 ; and they doubtless 

 brought in some valuable seeds and animals, though it does 

 not appear that many important results accrued from these 

 importations. The choicest animal known to have reached 

 the empire during this period was a horse transported from 

 the Philippine Islands by the Spaniards in 1592. The most 

 noteworthy plant introduced from Europe was tobacco, 

 which has become a universal favorite, and is smoked by all 

 classes and both sexes, though in moderation. 



As the chief producer of wealth, the farmer in Japan has 

 always held a high rank, only government officers, priests, 

 teachers, and soldiers being regarded as his superiors. Below 

 him in the social scale were ranked mechanics and artisans, 

 bankers and merchants, pliysicians, actors, and all other 

 classes, without regard to wealth, learning, or ability. The 

 agricultural population, according to the last census, num- 

 bers about sixteen millions, or nearly one-half the entire 

 people, and the men are usually able to read, write, and 

 cipher. Originally the Mikado was regarded as sole owner 

 of all the soil, and supreme ruler of all the people of Japan. 

 In ancient times taxation was comparatively light, but after- 

 ward became excessive, when the feudal system was in full 

 operation, and the empire was divided into about one hun- 

 dred provinces, each with its own local daimio, or ruler. 



