CIO J A P A N. 



Chinefey which argues their defcent, fothat the new comers were 

 tonficlered as countrymen. They are principally hufbandmen 

 and fifhcrmen, and are a moft cheerful happy people, diverting 

 themfelves, after the labor of the day, with a glafs of rice beer, and 

 with their mufical inftruments, which they take into the field 

 with them. A few centuries ago, thefe iflands were conquered 

 by a prince of Satzuma^ a province of Japa?!, who governed 

 them by his lieutenants ; they ftill remain in the fame ftate of 

 dependence, but are taxed with much gentlenefs. The inhabi- 

 tants alio fend annually to the emperor of Cbina^ a gift in token 

 of loyalty and fubmiflion. They carry on a commerce with 

 Saizuma, and vilit it once a year ; they have there a companv of 

 merchants, but are confined in their commerce to that port, and 

 limited to the value of their trade, but by the connivance of the 

 Japanefe officers, they difpofe of an infinitely greater quantity 

 than the law admits. They import into Satzuma all kinds of 

 filks and fluffs, and various Cbinefe commodities, which they 

 carry over in their own jonks, and fome of their own produce, 

 fuch as corn, rice, fruit, and pulfe, and a fort of brandy made 

 from the remainder of their crops. They bring great quantities 

 QyfKXJt of the CyprcC(2 Monetae, or cowries, the fame fpecies which is 



found ni the Maldive ifles *; from thole fliells is alfo prepared a 

 white varnifli, with which the boys and girls paint their cheeks; 

 they befides export a fort of large flat fliells, which when po- 

 lifhed, are almoft tranfparent, and ferve the Japanefe for glafs 

 in their windows ; to thefe add fome articles of luxury, in various 

 fcarce flowers and plants brought in pots, and a few other mat- 

 ters of a trifling nature. Not with flanding thefe people are really 



* Outlines of the Globe, vol. i. p. iji. 



fubjedt 



