Chap. X. MARTS FOR TRADE. 155 
It would appear, therefore, that the towns of 
Hiogo and Osaca are likely to be places of con- 
siderable importance in a mercantile point of view. 
In situation these towns possess great advantages. 
They are in the central and most populous part of 
the empire, are easily approached from the sea, 
and there is good anchorage for ships in Hiogo 
Bay, or the G-ulf of Osaca. Moreover, Osaca is 
only a day’s journey from Miaco, the residence of 
the spiritual Emperor, and the sacred capital of 
Japan. Thunberg left Osaca by torchlight in the 
morning, and reached Miaco the same evening. 
He says, “Except in Holland, I never made so 
pleasant a journey as this with regard to the 
beauty and delightful appearance of the country. 
Its population, too, and cultivation, exceed all 
expression. The whole country on both sides of 
us, as far as we could see, was nothing but a fer- 
tile field ; and the whole of our long day’s journey 
extended through villages, of which one began 
where the other ended.” These ports are not only 
placed in a most favourable position for commerce, 
but they also swarm with merchants; and they 
have few of those idle, two-sworded gentry, who 
are the curse of Yedo, and who will render that 
capital unsafe as a residence for foreigners cer- 
tainly during the lives of the present generation. 
The great tea-producing districts of Japan are also 
situated in this part of the country, a circumstance 
which will render these ports of considerable value 
to the foreign merchant. In fact, if we can rely 
