STUDY VII. 59 



by the Turks, at a time when certain priefts, who 

 had got poffeffion of the public mind, were amuf- 

 ing them with theological fubtilities. 



In Japan, the wretchednefs of the Nobles is in 

 proportion to their tyranny. They formed at firft 

 a feudal Government, which it is fo eafy to fub- 

 vert, as well as all thofe of the fame nature; for 

 the firft of the feudal Chiefs who afpired at the 

 fovereignty, effefted his purpofe by a fingle battle. 

 He curtailed their power of determining their 

 quarrels by civil wars, but left them in full pof- 

 feffion of all their other privileges; thatof abufing 

 the peafants, who there are mere flaves, the power 

 of life and death over all who are in their pay, 

 even over their wives. The mafs of the people, 

 who, in extreme mifery, have no way of fubfift- 

 ing, but by intimidating or corrupting their ty- 

 rants, have produced, in Japan, an incredible mul- 

 titude of bonzes, of all fefts, who have ereâied 

 temples on every mountain; comedians and drolls, 

 who have theatres fet up at every crofs-ftreet of 

 their cities; and courtezans in fuch fhoals, that 

 the traveller is peftered with them on every high 

 road, and at every inn where he ftops. But this 

 very people fet fuch a high value on the confidera- 

 tion exaded of them by the NobiUty, that if fo 

 much as a crofs look palTes between two of them, 

 fight they muil; and if the infult be any thing 



ferious. 



