p'. on "japan. Apfil ^^. 



honihood of Netngasaki, in which employment he found 

 means to pick up a little information from the natives. 

 He likewise was allowed to accompany the Dutch ambaf- 

 sador to Jede and Miaco, the two capitals of that empire? 

 where he had an opportunity of observing a few thing? 

 with his own eyes. But he owns that the greatest par' 

 of his information was picked up from the interpreters 

 with whom he sometimes conversed, for which he was o" 

 liliged to pay them liberally and keep the secret with the 

 greatest care. 



The Japanese year fini(l\es on the i8th of February, oa 

 which day all debts ought to be paid. For by what he could 

 larn, it seems to hira that unlefs these debts were then 

 liquidated they could no longer be legally claimed. The 

 new year is celebrated with great feasting and various re- 

 joicings J at that time also they trample the emblems of the 

 Christian religion under foot, a practice, he thinks, that was 

 originally Instituted with a view to discover those who 

 were secretly inclined to favour the Europeans at the time 

 of tlieir expulsion ; and has been kept up ever since, in com- 

 pliance with that jealous policy which their fears induced 

 t.liem to adopt when they were in danger of suffering by Eu- 

 ropean intrigues. This gave rise to the report universally cir- 

 culated, that the Dutch were obliged always to trample on 

 the crofs before they were permitted to land, which he says 

 is one of those popular errors to be met with every where. 



Mr Thunberg saw several of the Japanese temples. The 

 most remarkable bears the name of Daibud ; it is a vast 

 building, supported by ninety-six columns, of which those 

 that support the principal floor are six feet in diameter. 

 It has two roofs, one above the other, and by the description 

 it seems in some respects to resemble some of our Gothic 

 churches. It has several doors, whicli are extremely high 

 'n proportion to their width 3 and in the middle of it i* 



