NOTK. 19 



the Sr.vc; and Yi AN d\ Superintendents of Foreign Trade were appointed at 



each port, under the name X/,il<-ji-s*t'i ( ~t\i |fl fj). At the beginning of the present 

 dynasty (MlM;) tlii :nained unaltered, Inn \va.s afterwards allowed to fall 



into neglect. In the period from 1465 to 1506 it happened that in the more 

 powerful families connected with commerce there were adventurous persons who 

 went on large ships heymid seas to trade. There were at that time bad men who 

 secretly opened out new paths in which to gain profit, while the officers placed in 

 charge ('ailed to secure, openly at least, in these profitable transactions any share for 

 the (Jo\ eminent. At first they succeeded in gradually enriching themselves, but 

 in course of time this sort of trade degenerated into a rivalry as to who should shoot 

 his arrow farthest and into various irregular proceedings." The same work further 



that " Along the seashore there is much land which is so full of potash and soda 

 that the tanner can realise no harvests from it It is only possible to look on the 



:.s the soil to be worked. Tliis led to various employments connected with the 



The rich collected a revenue from imported goods, and safely brought back 



with them the sheaves which they reaped in the harvest of the waters. The poor 



also laboured for a wage, and stretched out the hand to seize the pint measure of rice 



which they needed to support them in their toil. But the day of rigorous prohibition 



: ' 



arrived. These people could not, as before, gain a living through the arrival of 

 merchant ships. They were strong and hearty. They would not fold their hands 

 and sit down inactive in poverty and want. Troubles consequently occurred in 

 succession, resulting in disturbances of the public peace. Men of this class hid 

 themselves in places beyond the local jurisdiction, and having rudely impinged on 

 the law's net they dared not return to be apprehended. In addition to this they 

 conducted barbarians from a distance on various occasions into the places to which 

 they belonged." 



The author proceeds to say that when the prohibition was withdrawn from 

 Foreign commerce and revenue collected from goods and merchant vessels, the Govern- u * de - 

 ment gained in revenue and the people in tranquillity. In particular the local military 

 expenditure was supplied to a fixed extent each year from this sour<>. lie then 

 remarks, " The duties levied were of three kinds, according to the rules then in force : 



