518 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Japan. 



ducted by interpreters and officers through a small part of the town to a 

 little bridge, from which lie is taken on board in a boat, after having gone 

 through the strictest search. The hanjoses and interpreters, who accom- 

 pany him, do not, however, go on board the ship, but wait in their boats 

 till he has transacted his business on board, from wheuce he is conducted 

 back to the factory. 



" Custom-houses are not known, either in the interior of the country or 

 on its coasts, and no customs are demanded on imports or exports of goods, 

 either from strangers or natives. But that no prohibited goods may be 

 smuggled into the country, so close a watch is kept, and all persons that 

 arrive, as well as merchandise, are so strictly searched, that the hundred eyes 

 of Argus might be said to be employed on this occasion. "When any 

 European goes ashore, he is first searched on board, and afterwards as soon 

 as he comes on shore. Both these searches are very* strict; so that not only 

 travellers 1 pockets are turned inside out, but the officers' hands pass along 

 their bodies and thighs. All the Japanese that go on board of ship, are in 

 like manner searched, excepting only the superior orders of banjoses. All 

 articles exported or imported undergo a similar search, first on board the 

 ship, and afterwards in the factory, except large chests, which are emptied 

 in the factory, and are so narrowly examined, that they even sound the 

 boards, suspecting them to be hollow. The beds are frequently ripped open, 

 and the feathers turned over. Iron spikes are thrust into the butter-tubs 

 and jars of sweetmeats. In the cheese a square hole is cut, in which part a 

 thick-pointed wire is thrust into it towards every side. Nay, their suspicion 

 went even so tar, as to induce them to take an egg or two from among those 

 we had brought from Batavia, and break them. The same severe conduct 

 is observed when any goes from the factory to the ship, or into the town of 

 Nangasacki, and from thence to the island of Dezima. Every one that 

 passes, must take his watch out of his pocket, and shew it to the officers, who 

 always mark it down whenever it is carried in or out, Sometimes too, 

 strangers' hats are searched. Neither money nor coin must by any means 

 be brought in by private persons; but they are laid by, and taken care of 

 till the owner's departure. No letters to be sent to or from the ship sealed ; 

 and if they are, they are opened, and sometimes, as well as other manuscripts, 

 must be read by the interpreters. Religious books, especially if they are 

 adorned with cuts, are very dangerous to import; but the Europeans are 

 otherwise suffered to carry in a great number of books for their own use ; 

 and the search was the less strict in this respect, as they looked into a few 

 of them only. Latin, French, Swedish, and German books and manuscripts 



