157 



subjects away from the beaten path. He alluded to the 

 Japanese collection at Philadelphia, and said it was by no 

 means a good exhibit of Japanese art. The officers were 

 most anxious to exhibit the progress made in foreign sci- 

 ence, but the Japanese traders, who were permitted to 

 monopolize the space allotted, took advantage to display 

 what they considered the most salable wares. 



The generally received accounts that foreigners first 

 arrived in Japan in 1542 is not correct. I have discov- 

 ered in some Japanese works that foreigners arrived there 

 in 1529-30. They mention the arrival of black ships^ 

 and that the captain of these black ships gave the prince 

 called Otomo Soriau, lord of Tanega Shima, two "pieces 

 of fire arms." The Spaniards in trying to cross the main 

 must have been from time to time carried on to the shores 

 of Japan. We find accounts of curious people lauding 

 on the coast and behaving themselves strangely. There 

 is no doubt that the foreigners who landed there have 

 influenced the arts of the people. 



From 1530 to 1630 foreigners flocked into the country 

 in large numbers ; first Spaniards and Portuguese, then 

 the Dutch and then the English. These were confined to 

 Nagasaki. At this time the foreigners intermarried with 

 the natives to a large extent. 



Sketches were exhibited of the island Pappenburg, 

 from which the foreigners are said to have been thrown 

 into the sea. 



After Perry's expedition to Japan hardly a season has 

 passed when there has not been a book written on Japan. 

 Koempfer's old book is the best we have. He had to 

 work under great difiiculty. All subsequent authors have 

 followed his method. I have dared to strike out into 

 new fields. 



A new book was lately published by Harpers called 



