YOKUHAMA. 
Chap. 11. 
that part of the shore. For a long time the 
ministers and consuls of the Treaty powers en- 
deavoured to induce their respective merchants to 
abstain from renting land or building on the Yoku- 
hama side of the hay. Curiously enough, however, 
the Japanese Government took a different view 
of the matter, and encouraged the merchants to 
come to Yokuhama by building for them dwelling- 
houses, and commodious piers and landing-places. 
Both places had their advantages and disadvan- 
tages. The argument of the consuls in favour of ad- 
hering to Kanagawa was that it was on the great 
highway of Japan ; and that, as Japanese from all 
parts of the empire were daily passing through it, 
our merchandise would, through them, be carried 
to all parts of the country, and would in this 
manner be quickly known and appreciated. It 
was also hinted that the Government intended to 
hem foreigners in at Yokuhama by means of a 
broad and deep canal ; that this in fact was to be 
another Desima ; and that we were to be made 
prisoners and treated in all respects as the Dutch 
were in the olden time at Nagasaki. 
The advantage of Kanagawa being on the great 
highway of Japan was fully admitted by the mer- 
chants, but they believed that if they located them- 
selves there the Government would lead the main 
road round by some other way, and would take 
measures to have them and their Japanese cus- 
tomers as much under control as at Yokuhama. 
As to the latter place being made a second Desima, 
