THE INDIAN AND ORIENTAL ISLANDS. 



The JAPAN ISLANDS consist of three large and a great number 

 of small islands, which constitute together what has been called the 

 empire of Japan. They are situate about 150 miles east of China 3 

 between the 30th and 41st degree of north latitude, and between the 

 130th and 142d of east longitude. The largest of these islands is 

 called by the Japanese, Niphon or Nipon ; but by the Chinese, Sip- 

 pon and Jepuen, whence the European name of Japan. It is about 

 750 miles in length and 80 in breadth. The islands of which this 

 kingdom consists are divided into seven departments, which again, 

 are subdivided into sixty-eight provinces, and these into six hundred 

 and four districts. 



The whole country consists almost entirely of mountains, hills, 

 and vallies, and a plain of any extent is scarcely to be seen. One of 

 the highest mountains is named Fusi : its summit reaches above the 

 clouds, and it may be seen at the distance of many leagues. There 

 are several volcanoes in these islands, one of which is constantly in 

 a state of eruption. Gold is found in several parts; but it is pro- 

 hibited to dig more thau a certain stated quantity ; nor can any mine 

 of any metal whatever be opened and wrought, without the emperors 

 express permission. The heat in summer is very great, and would 

 $e insupportable, were not the air cooled by the sea breezes. The 

 cold in winter is equally severe : the weather is in general changea- 

 ble, and a great deal of rain falls in the rainy season, rendering the 

 soil which is most industriously cultivated, exuberantly fertile. There 

 seems to be no peculiar animals in these islands. These are buffa- 

 loes, wolves, foxes, and dogs. The horses, cattle, and sheep, are very 

 few for a country so populous. Its population, however, is not known 

 with any degree of certainty ; but if, as some accounts have stated. 

 it maintains nearly half a million of men in arms, the number of 

 inhabitants may be conjectured to be between twenty and thirty- 

 millions. 



The complexions of the Japanese are in general yellowish, although 

 some few, chiefly women, are almost white. Their narrow eyes and 

 eye-brows are like those of the Chinese and Tartars, and their noses 

 are short and thick. Their hair is universally black. 



The dress of the Japanese may with more propriety be termed 

 national, than that of any other part of the world ; as it not only differs 

 from that of every other nation, but is uniform from the monarch 

 down to the most inferior subject, similar in both sexes, and (which 

 almost surpasses belief) has been unchanged for the space of 2500 

 years. It consists of one or more loose gowns, tied about the middle 

 with a sash. People of rank have them made of silk, but the lower- 

 class of cotton stuffs. Women generally wear a greater number of 

 them than men, and much longer, and have them more ornamented, 

 often with gold or silver flowers woven into the stuff. Their houses 

 are built with upright posts, crossed and wattled with bamboo, plais- 

 tered both without and within, and white-washed. They generally 

 hive two stories ; but the uppermost is low, and seldom inhabited. 

 The roofs are covered with pantile?, large and heavy, but neatly made. 



