32 JAPANESE HOUSES. [1845. 



whether the enemy be human, the gale, the surf, or the 

 fatal closing of his career. On this last is the seal im- 

 pressed, and in cowardly seeking it by suicide, is cowardice 

 established. 



" The houses of persons of quality are divided into two 

 series of apartments. On one side is that of the women, 

 who, in general, never show themselves ; and on the 

 other, is what we should call the drawing-room, where 

 visitors are received. Among the trades-people and in- 

 ferior classes, the women enjoy more liberty, and are less 

 careful to conceal themselves from view : but, upon the 

 whole, the sex is treated with great respect, and distin- 

 guished by extraordinary reserve. The finest pieces of 

 porcelain, and those cabinets and boxes which are so 

 highly esteemed and carried all over the world, instead 

 of serving to decorate the apartments in ordinary use, are 

 kept in those secure places above-mentioned, into which 

 none but particular friends are admitted. .The rest of 

 the house is adorned with common porcelain, pots full of 

 tea, paintings, manuscripts, and curious books, arms, and 

 armorial bearings. The floor is covered with thick 

 double rugs, bordered with fringe, embroidery, and such 

 like ornaments. According to the law * or the custom of 

 the country, they must all be six feet in length, and 

 three in breadth. 



" The two suites of apartments, into which the body of 

 the house is divided, consist of several rooms, separated 

 by mere partitions, or rather by a kind of screens, which 

 may be moved forward or backward at pleasure ; so that 

 an apartment may be made larger or smaller as there 



* This law appears to prevail at the Meia-co-shimas, which leads to 

 the inference that they are subject to Japan. 



