JAPAN. 277 



them. The Cymty^ fometimes come and trade with them. The 

 capital of this chain of iilands is called Matfumatj and is the re- 

 iklence of the prince or governor, who annually makes a voyage 

 to Jedo, to do homage to the emperor. The Japanefe once at- 

 tempted to extend their conquefts from Matfumai northward ; 

 they fucceeded at firfi", but after a revolt of the inhabitants*, 

 are now content to accept from the chieftain, whom they ftile 

 prince of J^, a tribute of very fmall value, which is annually 

 paid at Matfumai. 



We now arrive at the fouthernmoft ifles of the long chain of Kuril Isles. 

 the Kurils. I have given an account of the moll northern in 

 my introducftion to the Arclic Zoology. The whole chain di- 

 verges to the north-eaft in a dire(5t line, and concludes very near 

 to the cape oi Lopatka^ in Kamjchatka. The Riijfians reckon 

 Matfumai among the number. Thofe next to the land of Jefo 

 were difcovered by the Caflicrom. Ifchicota, KoMtafchir^ and 

 Atorkou are the mod fouthern ; the two firft lie oppofite to Mat- 

 fumai, and at no great diftance from its coafts, and Atorkou a little 

 to the north-eait. Jfcbiccta is a hundred and twenty verfts, or 

 ninety miles long, and forty miles broad. Kounafchir is about a 

 hundred and twelve miles long, and about thirty-feven broad, 

 and Atorkou^ or Etorpih is equal in length and breadth, being 

 two hundred and twenty-five miles acrofs, according to the Ruf- 

 fian accounts in the Neue Nordifcbe Beytrage\. This ifland is 

 the Staten-lafid of the Dutch, a name bellowed on it in their Staten-land. 

 voyage of 1643. 



Ouropi is the Companfs land of the fame voyagers ; and they company's 



Land. 



* Kaempfer, i. p. 65. f Vol. iv. 133. 



beflowed 



