JAPAN. 269 



fuch a form as renders it impolTible for them to go far to fea. 

 They are commonly about twenty-eight yards long, and eight 

 broad. The ftern is fquare, with a hole left in the middle, ex- 

 prefsly to increafe tlie danger of diftant navigation ; both ftern 

 and prow are very lofty. The (hips have only one maft, and 

 are conftructed for rowing as well as failing. The figures in 

 Kaempfer * will give the beft notion of their form. 



Korea^ and certain other territories, have been long tributary Korea. 

 to the Japanefe empire. The neighboring Korea fliall be firft 

 mentioned. I refer the reader to a future volume for farther 

 particulars of that country. Here I fliall briefly add its hiftory 

 as far as concerns the japanefe. It had been conquered firft by 

 Mikaddo Ijiuu Ai, emperor of Japan, and after that, Anno Cbrijii 

 201, by his reli6t Dfin Ju, a princefs celebrated for her abilities 

 and valor. The Koreans in time ftiook ofFthe Japanefe yoke, and 

 continued independent till Taiko, having ufurped the fecular em- 

 pire, in order to free himfelf from fuch of the nobility who were 

 difaffedted to his government (and under pretence of reducing the 

 Koreans) fent them at the head of a potent army : they landed 

 on the continent, obliged the Koreans (but not without the 

 braveft refiftance) to become once more tributary to the empire. 

 Taiko died, the affliirs of Korea were negleded, and the Japanefe 

 driven down to the coafts, and of all their conquefts left only in 

 poffeflion of the maritime parts of the province of T/ioJijn, and 

 two iflands, one called Iku, the other Xfuffitna, on which is kept 

 a garrifon of fifty men ; but thefe iflands are neither remarkable 

 for their fize or their fertility. 



* Kaempfer, Hift. of Japan, vol. ii. tab. 21. 



The 



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