REPORTS OF JAPAN a.d. 



1565. 

 their superstitions and ceremonies, yet do they never- 

 thelesse contemne all other nations in comparison of 

 themselves, and standing in their owne conceite doe far 

 preferre themselves before all other sorts of people in 

 wisedome and policie. 



Touching the situation of the countrey and nature of 

 the soyle, unto the things eftsoones erst written, this one 

 thing I wil adde : in these Hands, the sommer to be most 

 hot, the winter extreme cold. In the kingdome of Canga, 

 as we call it, falleth so much snow, that the houses being 

 buried in it, the inhabitants keepe within doores certaine 

 moneths of the yeere, having no way to come foorth 

 except they breake up the tiles. Whirlewindes most 

 vehement, earthquakes so common, that the Japans dread 

 such kind of feares litle or nothing at all. The countrey 

 is ful of silver mines otherwise barren, not so much by 

 fault of nature, as through the slouthfulnesse of the 

 inhabitants : howbeit Oxen they keepe and that for 

 tillage sake onely. The ayre is holesome, the waters 

 good, the people very faire and well bodied : bare headed 

 commonly they goe, procuring baldnesse with sorrow and 

 teares, eftsoones rooting up with pinsars all the haire of 

 their heads as it groweth, except it be a litle behind, the 

 which they knot and keepe with all diligence. Even 

 from their childhood they weare daggers and swords, the 

 which they use to lay under their pillowes when they goe 

 to bed : in shew courteous and affable, in deede haughtie 

 and proud. They delight most in warlike affaires, and 

 their greatest studie is armes. Mens apparel diversely 

 coloured is worne downe halfe the legges and to the 

 elbowes : womens attyre made hansomely like unto a vaile, 

 is somewhat longer : all manner of dicing and theft they 

 doe eschue. The marchant, although he be wealthy, is 

 not accounted of. Gentlemen, be they never so poore, 

 retaine their place : most precisely they stande upon their 

 honour and woorthinesse, ceremoniously striving among 

 themselves in courtesies and faire speeches. Wherein if 

 any one happily be lesse carefull than he should be, even 



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