THE INDIAN AND ORIENTAL ISLANDS. 137 



The floors are elevated two feet from the ground, and covered witj> 

 planks, on which mats are laid. The public buildings, such as tem- 

 ples and palaces, are larger, it is true, and more conspicuous, but in 

 the same style of architecture; and the roofs, which are decorated 

 with several towers of a singular appearance, are their greatest orna- 

 ments. 



The towns are sometimes of a considerable size, always secured 

 with gates, and frequently surrounded with walls and fosses, and adorn- 

 ed with towers, especially if a prince or governor of a province keeps 

 his court there. The town of Jeddo, the capital of the island of Ni= 

 pon, and of the whole country, is said to be twenty-one hours walk in 

 circumference, or about twenty-one French leagues, and may vie in 

 size with Peking. The streets are straight and wide, and at certain 

 distances divided by gates ; and at each gate there is a very high 

 ladder, from the top of which any fire that breaks out may be dis- 

 covered, an accident that not unfrequently happens there several times 

 in the week. 



The furniture of Japan is as simple as the style of building. Neither 

 cupboards, bureaus, sophas, beds, tables, chairs, watches, looking- 

 glasses, or any thing else of the kind, are to be found in the apart- 

 ments. To the greater part of these the Japanese are utter stran- 

 gers. Their soft floor mats serve them for chairs and tables. A small 

 board, about twelve inches square, and four in height, is set down be- 

 fore each person in company at every meal, which is served up One 

 dish only at a time. Mirrors they have, but never fix them up in their 

 houses as ornamental furniture ; they are made of a compound metal, 

 and used only at their toilets. Notwithstanding the severity of their 

 winters, which obliges them to warm their houses from November 

 to March, they have neither fire-places nor stoves; instead of these 

 they use large copper pots standing upon legs. These are lined on 

 the inside with loam, on which ashes are laid to some depth, and char- 

 coal lighted upon them, which seems to be prepared in some manner 

 which renders the fumes of it not at all dangerous. The first com- 

 pliment offered to a stranger, in their houses, is a dish of tea, and a 

 pipe of tobacco. Fans are used by both sexes equally ; and are, with- 

 in or without doors, their inseparable companions. The whole nation 

 are naturally cleanly ; every house, whether public or private, has a 

 bath, of which constant and daily use is made by the whole family. 

 Obedience to parents and respect to superiors, are the characteristics 

 of this nation. Their salutations and conversations between equals 

 abound also with civility and politeness ; to this children are early 

 accustomed by the example of their parents. Their penal laws are 

 very severe ; but punishments are seldom inflicted. Perhaps there 

 is no country where fewer crimes against society are committed. Com- 

 merce and manufactures flourish here ; though as these people have 

 few wants, they are not carried to the extent which we see in Europe. 



The islands of Japan are governed by a despotic sovereign called, 

 the Kubo ; besides whom there is a spiritual or ecclesiastical empe- 

 ror called the Dairi. The veneration entertained for the latter is lit- 

 tle short of the honours paid to their gods. He seldom goes out of 

 his palace, his person being considered as too sacred to be exposed 

 to the air, the rays of the sun, or the view of the common people. He 

 is brought into the world, lives, and dies, within the precincts of his 

 court: the boundaries of which he never once exceeds during his 

 whole life. His hair, nails, and beard, are accounted so sacred, that 



Vol. H, T 



