22 JAPANESE WRECKS IN THE 



It is sincerely hoped that the publication of this record, 'which has so inter- 

 esting an ethnological import, may result in awakening Japan to the adop- 

 tion of immediate steps in the great interest of a common humanity; for by 

 improving the models of her vessels, and adopting those with sea-going qual- 

 ities, this long record of disasters may speedily be abridged, if not wholly 

 terminated. 



About a year since it became my duty to forward to Japan, half a dozen 

 wooden models, full drawings and specifications of small vessels, varying 

 from 40 to 200 tons, ordered by the Japanese government for the use of ship- 

 builders, which the now enlightened government has recommended them 

 to adopt, instead of their present form of junks. Thus the edict of 1639 has 

 passed away forever, and young Japan is rising to take her equal place among 

 the advancing nations of the world. 



Few are better aware than the scientist, of the manifold and inevitable dan- 

 gers which attend all radical changes, when suddenly made; for success is a 

 problem seldom solved without repeated trials and inevitable failures. But 

 to-day, Japan is earnestly seeking to establish her national perpetuity, by fos- 

 tering a discriminating intelligence among her people, and by encouraging 

 general and liberal education among the masses. Thus she reverses in the 

 most j)ractical manner, the other edict alluded to as promulgated in 1637. 

 Her centuries of quiet seclusion are now embalmed with the history of the past, 

 and she seeks true greatness, in an enlightened administration of her national 

 affairs, and bids fair henceforth to reciprocate a generous friendship towards 

 all members of the great brotherhood of nations, from whom she may now 

 claim equal sympathy and neighborly protection. 



The great changes in Japan can not be better illustrated than in the fact, 

 that it is now customary for the government of Japan, in common with all 

 other nations, to present through their Foreign pflfice, some suitable reward 

 in acknowledgement of kind service, to the captains of vessels who rescue 

 their shipwrecked seamen. 



The Japanese Government have now in their navy ten war ships, five 

 dispatch vessels, and five training ships, all steamers; and in their mercantile 

 marine, one hundred and two steamers of various tonnage, aggregating 30,718 

 tons; also 32 modern sailing vessels built in foreign style of 7,346 total ton- 

 nage. 



The great Pacific Ocean and its adjoining waters, under the impulse of this 

 age of steam, is becoming the highway of an enterprising commerce, and 

 steadily unfolds an attractive field of research to ethnological and linguistic 

 archoeologists. 



Many young Japanese are already attracted to scientific pursuits, and 

 their valuable technical as well as general results, are beginning to claim the 

 attention of naturalists. 



Much valuable scientific work has been done by Japanese scholars since 

 their early lessons received from Professor Wm. P. Blake and Professor 

 Raphael Pumpelly; two eminent American scientists, whom I had the honor 

 of selecting and engaging in the summer of 1861, on behalf of the government 

 of Japan, to act as government Mineralogists and Mining Engineers. 



