8 JAPANESE WRECKS IN THE 



thereby to keep their jDeojDle isolated within their own islands. Once forced 

 from the coast by stress of weather, these rudders are soon washed away, 

 when the vessels naturally fall off into the trough of the sea, and roll their 

 masts out. The number, of which no record exists, which have thus suffered 

 during the past nineteen centuries niust be very large, probably many 

 thousand vessels. 



Among Japanese mariners, the fear of being thus blown off their coast, has 

 been an ever-threatening danger; and the memory of such time-honored 

 accidents, is a common feature in the traditions of every seaport settlement 

 along the eastern coast of Japan. 



By the Government Census, taken in 187-i, the total population of Japan 

 was 33,300,675 souls, and there were 22,670 registered sailing vessels of Jap- 

 anese style, (junks) of from 8 to 383 tons, engaged in the coasting trade. 

 The crews of ordinary trading junks average from eight to twelve men each. 



In the sixteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Suizin, B. C. 81, 

 merchant ships and ships of war are first spoken of as built in Jaj)an. 



Under the Shogoon lyemitsu, about 1639, edicts commanded the destruction 

 of all boats built upon any foreign model, and forbade the building of vessels 

 of any size or shape superior to that of the present junk. 



By the imperial decree of 1637, Japanese who had left their country and 

 been abroad, were not allowed to return, death being the penalty for traveling 

 abroad, studying foreign languages, introducing foreign customs, or believing 

 in Christianity. 



The Empire of Japan is situated in the northwestern part of the Pacific 

 Ocean, and is composed of four large islands and of a great number of smaller 

 ones. It faces to the northwest the Kingdom of Corea, and is separated from 

 it by the Japan sea. To the northeast the archipelago of Chijima (Kurile 

 Islands) extends towards Kamsehatka. At the southwest the Liu Kiu Islands 

 are situated opposite the Island of Formosa. 



Its whole length, extending from one end to the other of the empire, meas- 

 ures more than 500 Bis (about 1225 English miles), and its breadth varies 

 from 20 to 60 Bis (about 73% to 146 English miles.) Its total area is 23,740 

 Square Bis. 



The sources of information at command have been exceptionally good. 

 During seventeen j^ears, in which I represented the Government of Japan at 

 this port, it has been my pleasure to devote much critical attention to the 

 subject of Japanese wrecks, picked up adrift in the North Pacific Ocean and 

 stranded upon the northwest coast of America and its various outlying 

 islands, and those of the chain extending from Hawaii towards Niphon. 

 Besides keeping a detailed record of all wrecks reported during this period, I 

 have also collected and verified many cases of earlier reports, which although 

 still extant, were likely to be overlooked. 



In at least 37 of the cases quoted, I have either seen the saved, or received 

 a personal account from those who were themselves witnesses, Hawaiian 

 and Japanese traditions I have myself gathered in those countries. 



In March, 1860, I took an Indian boy on board the Japanese steam corvette 

 Kanrin-maru, where a comparison of Coast-Indian and pure Japanese words 

 was made at my request, by Fukuzawa Ukitchy, then Admiral's Secretary; 



