JAPAN. ^s^ 



church of Rome ; fome lead moft auftere lives ; others indulge 

 like the plump Benedictines ; others are acculed of great irregu- 

 larities. 



There is one order of fingular aufterity, that of the Jamma- 

 bos, i. e. the mountain foldiers ; they in one fenfe anfwer to our mi- 

 litary religious, being bound to fight for the gods and religion of 

 their country, but never have degenerated into the voluptu- 

 oufnefs of the knights of the European orders. They pafs their 

 time amidft the holy mountains, and pradlife the greatefl mortis 

 fications ; the richer live more at their eafe in their own 

 houfes. This order is now divided into two fedls, one called 

 Jofanfa, the votaries of which bind themfelves to afcend once a 

 year the great mountain of Fikoafan, a journey of vaft difncuky, 

 by reafon of its heights and dreadful precipices, but ftill more 

 tremendous on account of the penalty attending any impure per- 

 fon making the attempt ; he infallibly is polTeiTed by the devil of 

 the mountain, and becomes ftark mad. The other fecft is named 

 Fonfanfa ; this likewife is obliged to make an annual pilgrimage 

 to the fummit of the Omine, a mountain not lefs terrible than 

 the other; but (hould any one prefume to afcend it without 

 being duly prepared by purification, he is certain of being flung 

 down the precipices, or feized with a lingering ilhiefs, the pe- 

 nalties of his neglevft. 



The Japanefe religion is fplit into a multitude of fefts ; each Vai?ious 

 differ in fome tenets, yet all agree in five indifpenfible com- 

 mandments. I. They are not to kill, or eat of any thing that is 

 killed ; 2. they are not to fleal ; 3. nor to lie ; 4. nor to com- 

 mit adultery ; 5. nor to drink w'ine. Is it not evident that 

 they brought with them, on the difperfion of mankind, fome of 



Vol. 111. L 1 the 



