602 Analysis of Books. [Nov. 
A. That they are descendants of the Chinese. 
B. Or of some of the Tartar tribes. 
C. Or of a mixture of various Asiatic tribes. 
D. Or they are aborigines. 
Which last supposition cuts the knot at once. 
The resemblance between the Chinese and Japanese is so strong, in physiogno- 
my, religion, and manners, as as to have impressed all travellers with the idea of the 
latter people being a colony of the former. 
The author omits other considerations, and enters into an inquiry respecting 
the oblique position of the eyes, supposed to be peculiar to the Chinese, and the 
nations consanguineous with them; but as he observes, nothing can be built on this 
till it be ascertained what are the Asiatic tribes to whom this conformation belongs, 
and whether any of those of North and South America partake in it. The skin 
of the Japanese is of all colours; in town many approach to the fairness of 
Europeans, in the country they are copper red or earthy cloured. 
His next inquiry is into the resemblance of the Japanese and Chinese language 
and writing. The Chinese say, the first appearance of the Japanese among them 
was A. D. 57, at which time, they were barbarians, without writing, government or 
morals, but they at the same time assert, that Japan was peopled by a colony of 
Chinese in the year 1195 before Christ ; ifso, why did not this colony carry their 
writing and manners along with them ? The author allows that Japanese writing is 
borrowed from the Chinese, but still contends, that Japan must have been peopled 
by a nation using a different language from theirs. 
The Japanese alphabet consists of 47 letters, which are originally Chinese cha- 
racters, having the same sound ; but the Japanese language, unlike that of the 
Chinese, is polysyllabic : hence, says the author, Japan must have been peopled 
by some Asiatic tribe before the art of writing was spread through the northern 
parts of Asia. 
The author next proceeds to the religion, and, ‘‘ Though,”’ says he, ‘‘I cannot 
prove that the religion of the old inhabitants of Japan might not have been the same 
with that of their Chinese contemporaries, yet I can maintain, that the religion 
prevailing among the Chinese and Japanese in the present day has not the least 
resemblance to that of the ancient Japanese.’ P. 220. To prove this, the author 
enters into a long investigation of the ancient and modern Chinese and Japanese 
godderies, which we have found it difficult to understand, and would find it more 
so to make intelligible to our readers; we shall therefore take it for granted that 
he has proved his point, and go on to the rest of the argument. 
The author then considers the relationship between the Japanese and the 
Tartar races, but we have not leisure to follow him through this research, par- 
ticularly, as after examining the language and manners of the Japanese and the 
neighbouring kingdom of Corea, at great length he does not appear to come to a 
positive conclusion. He then asks if the Japanese are a mixed race, composed from 
various Asiatic clans ; and though the author is not very clear, we consider this the 
opinion to which, upon the whole, he is most inclined. He even considers that 
there is a strong relation between these tribes and the Peruvians, and gives 
some instances of verbal resemblances in their respective language, thus supporting 
the theory of Mr. RANKEN on the origin of the Peruvians. He concludes, ‘‘ I com- 
mit these fragments to the hands of the literati, earnestly entreating them to receive 
