ON THE JAPANESE. 235 



to death without sufficient evidence, he should 

 rip himself up. All present prayed for a miti- 

 gation of the sentence. At last the magistrate 

 told them that the man's answers convinced him 

 that he was innocent, and therefore he had con- 

 cealed him, hoping that the truth would come 

 up. He was then introduced ; and, having 

 spared the life of the usurer and his family, he 

 ordered the former to pay the accused the 650/., 

 the amount stolen. 



I have now endeavoured to give you a short 

 insight into the character of the natives of Japan, 

 with which we shall shortly, in all probability, 

 be better acquainted. They are an extraordi- 

 nary race of people, jealous of strangers, very 

 ingenious, have extraordinary memories, and 

 have a language so peculiar that it is understood 

 by no other nation. Some of their arts and 

 manufactures exceed those of any other country. 

 They will not allow books, paintings, or images 

 to be imported, and no women to land under 

 any pretence whatever. Such are the Japanese ; 

 and I hope this account of them will have 

 amused you. 



