88 SCIENTIFIC AND LITERARY NOTES. 
Prince. Attached to this province there are no fewer than 1016 islands. One of 
these, Firando, is interesting to us, from the fact that, in the year 1613, an English 
factory was established there, which however, after a brief existence, failed, in con- 
sequence of a combination of adverse circumstances to which it is not necesary 
here to allude, more especially as we have no reason tv anticipate that they will 
again arise to nip in the bud the commerce that is rapidly growing in those regions- 
Simabarra is another port of this province possessing historical interest. Its 
siege forms a celebrated but melancholy episode in the history of Christianity in 
Japan. Thirty-five thousand Roman Catholic Christians, who had taken refuge 
within its waters were bombarded by the Dutch at the behest of the Japanese 
Government, and utterly exterminated. 
In former days Nagasaki was comprised within the limits of Fisen, and even now 
the defence of the city, in time of war, devolves upon the prince. The revenue 
of this high dignitary is stated to amount to about £360,000 a-year. His territory 
is one of the most productive in the empire, which will account for this enormous 
revenue. Besides rice, and various descriptions of grain, it produces tea, tobacco, 
and cotton, with fruit of divers sorts. Among the most important of its pro- 
ducts, however, should be mentioned the vegetable tallow, one cargo of which has 
already reached this country, and been disposed of at a large profit. Among its 
mineral productions are iron, sulphur, cinnabar, and marble. There is acoal mine 
at Wukumote which some of the Dutch Mission have descended. They describe 
the mine as being well and judiciously worked, and the coal as being bituminous in its 
nature, and madeinto coke for use. Old Kainipfer tells a story (by way of illustrat- 
ing the voleanic nature of the country) of a coal mine in this province which, 
through the carelessness of the miners, took fire, and has been burning ever since. 
The nearest coal mine is not more than seven miles from Nagasaki. Another very 
extensive one is situated in Tsekugen, about one hundred miles distant. A very 
excellent description of porcelain clay is also found here, and the European demand 
for eggshell China, which is sold in great quantities at Nagasaki, is chiefly sup- 
plied by the subjects of the princes of Ligon and Satsuma. The ruler of Ligon 
is, so far as we could learn from our Dutch informants at Nagasaki, a man of toler- 
ably advanced views, and favourably disposed towards foreigners. He has 
already adopted many of our wisest inventions, but has not succeeded in thoroughly 
divesting himself of old prejudices. This was illustrated a short time prior to our 
visit, by his refusal to allow the Dutch to enter his territory to put up a steam engine 
which he himself had ordered out from Europe, to pump water out of one of his 
coal mines. But the Prince who has distinguished himself most notably by his 
progressive views is his Highness of Satsuma. Unfortunately, since our return to 
this country, we have received intelligence of the death of this most enlightened 
nobleman. A man of the highest rank, of enormous wealth, of great political 
influence, the Prince of Satsuma was ever ready to advance the interests of for- 
eigners, and to introduce into his own State their arts and inventions. I was in- 
formed by a Dutch gentlemen who had visited him that he had established an 
electric telegraph between his castle and Hagosima, the chief city of his province, 
a distance of about three miles. He has also extensive glass factories, and cannon 
foundries, in which 800 workmen are employed. 
