THE INLAND SEA OF JAPAN. 321 



shores of which were crowded with towns, villages, 

 and white palaces, and the water all dotted over with 

 innumerable junks making their way to or from the 

 great port Ohosaka. The end of this bay forms a 

 large semicircle, across which ran a ripple-line mark- 

 ing the influence of the fresh water from the river 

 Engawa, which falls into it. On shore the semi- 

 circle was occupied by the town of Ohosaka, extending 

 apparently about ten miles, and diversified by large 

 white palaces surrounded with trees. A thick line 

 of junks kept advancing into the river, showing that 

 the trade of the place must be enormous ; and as they 

 followed the Avindings of the stream, their sails ap- 

 peared to be moving among the trees on land. The 

 fields to the left of the river as we faced the town 

 were very low, and protected by large substantial 

 sea-walls. Numerous junks were lying at anchor 

 besides similar walls raised for their protection, and 

 lines of stakes pointed out the way of entrance. 

 Many of the junks were lying beside a large building, 

 probably the custom-house ; and near it there was 

 a strong fortification, armed with cannon. The river 

 appeared to be run off into numerous canals, which 

 traversed the town in all directions, and were fre- 

 quently crossed by elegant bridges, over which streams 

 of passengers were passing. Though foreigners have 

 not been at Ohosaka for long, it was visited by Jesuit 

 missionaries in the sixteenth and seventeenth cen- 

 turies ; and it was in 1614 that the Emperor Xogun- 

 VOL. IL x 



