Chap. XV. FEUDAL SYSTEM IN JAPAN. 253 
tions, the Consulates, or Yokuhama, together or 
successively, having long been a favourite plan 
among Mito’s disbanded followers and other despe- 
rate characters, it required hut a signal from any 
chief immediately to get together the men neces- 
sary for an attack ; and so it was suddenly re- 
solved upon and carried into execution at the 
instigation of the Prince’s emissary.” 
The true version of this story, whatever it may 
be, will probably never he known to foreigners, 
but that this is something near it there can be 
little doubt. I firmly believe the real instigator of 
the crime was some feudal prince, who was still hos- 
tile to foreigners, or perhaps was not unwilling to 
embroil his own Government in a quarrel which 
he supposed would in some way advance his 
interests. A feudal system exists in Japan at the 
present day not unlike that of our own Scottish 
Highlands a hundred years ago; and any chief 
can easily excite the passions of his retainers, and 
engage them in the most desperate enterprises. 
These retainers are very much like the Maclvors 
in Sir Walter Scott’s ‘ Waverley 
“The Maclvors, sir,” says Aliek Polwarth, 
Waverley’s servant, “hae gotten it into their 
heads that ye hae affronted their young leddy, 
Miss Flora; and I hae heard mae than ane say 
they wadna tak muckle to make a black-cock o’ 
ye ; and ye ken weel eneugh there’s mony o’ them 
wadna mind a bawbee the weising a ball through 
the Prince himsell, an the Chief gae them the 
