New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-08-09
REVELATIONS OF JAPAN.



has published work entitled, "Japan N ,ijne
StGdtSkund,Se en- burgerluke Iarigtngen,"
Japan in It's Political and Civil InStitu-
tions,) which contains much that is new
and curious respecting that mysterious En-
pre- We have translated and arranged
for TIE Tribune the most interesting por-
tons of his revelations. They will amply
repay perusal
The Japanese, like many other races, connect
the fabulous period OF their history with their
religion They consider the ruler of the En-
pre 70 be descended from a divinity. who came
down from Heaven upon the Japanese Islands.
which he made fertile and populated, lnstructrng
the inhabitants IN the arts OF life and the doc
TIMES OF religion. In order that this supernai-
ural race shall not become extinct. the Emperor
Is allowed twelve wives. and Is succeeded 10y
his eldest son From tiis sanctity OF origin Is
/ derived the custom OF never wearing the same
clothes more than once The dishes and cups
M which food and drink are handed TO HIM are
also used bu, once and likewise the cooking
implements Nevertheless. these vessels are
7
throughout Japan, but Of clay or porcelain,
which, after one use, Is shvered to pieces. The
present relgnng family dates back to the seventh
! century before Christ, and numbers upward of
/ l2i rulers
The second son OF the Mtqdo emperor was
formerly his fathers chief military officer. but
afterwards one OF the rulers, ont Of love for his
L. fl,-b
tween the second and third sons In the course
of a few generations, 50 much jealousy arose be-
tween the alternate Generals, that, IN their dis
senslons, the Emperor himself was robbed OF the
greater part of his power, and, since the year
1886, has been little more than nominal ruler
However, he is sjil considered as holy and a.
absolute IN power. though the Njoglm or Crown
General. takes his place IN all civil affairs.
Each chief city or province of Japan has two
Governors. who relieve each other every alter
nate wear The one not IN office remains IN
Jeddo. the Capital City OF Japan, where he re-
ceives rom his colleague regular communications
concerning everything that occurs, SO tina, he Is
ready 10 resume the authority at the appointed
time Every Governor has TWO Secretaries,
who divide the departments OF justice between
them. and control the subordinate civil officers.
During the absence of the Governor, Secreta-
rieS and Justices IN the appointed province their
wives and children are left IN Jeddo as hostages
for the faithful performance OF their duty. The
Princes are subject to the same rules as the Gov
ernors. spending a wear on their domain and
wear IN Jeddo alternately During their absence
from the Capital. they are obliged to 1--we IN the
greatest sechsiOn, leaving their residence only
on stated occasions. All their duties are 80 ar
ranged beforehand, that they are mere automatic
IN action Besides this. they are surrounded
with secret spies who report all their move
ments 10 the Capital.
The government of the cities, Al least at Ma
casakl, the trading port OF Japan Is IN the hands
of nine Burgesses. whose ohcc l. hereditary
They can only Judge boy a unanimous vote Tn
der them are the Oroaas. who have charge OF
street NJ quarter. and who also dHec, the police
and decide arblirations Under these again are
the Kas,ras. who take care OF single houses ana
families In NagasakI a well a. through the
whole Empire. each street Is ia Dutch Yards III
length. with = door Al each end 80 that al com
,nuu,cation with the rest of the city may be cut
off Each street has hundred OF more houses
a., H. end Is a small shrine on a stone pedestal
shaped like a lantern, and containing two OF
three images Of the gods. Their are, -.so' IN
each street. several watchhOuses. which al night
and Oh all extraordinary occasions are provided
with aWarcl. chosen 10y turns from among the
inhabitants Of the street The japanese con
sider the Waterman holy. and opposition TO MN
ar rdIcue OF his Office are considered capital
ofepses. and punished with death. In times Of
DANGER. each family furnishes one man hNe men
from the adjoining houses form a troop ana
TWENTY-FIVE troops march togeiherun under the com
naud Of the Kas,ras and tie Ottonas.
! The head OF the family i responsible Tor ms
children and associates. no matter who the latter
may he besides which, every i've adjoining
families are responsible for each o1ne'. II
therefore the duty OF each heai OF fanny %
take notice of the affairs Of MS neighooT' ana
,rouaint the Kaslra with everything that nap
mems Il this Is not promptly done, ne i ln'oiSeo
N MS uelchbors. gulll and suffers me same pun
i,hmeut. even II /, be banlshmsnt OF lea'N- l MS
universal responsibility prevents many crimes
/ and reasonable plots and executions seidoH
! take place The Judge disregards all mltiga'hg
cjrcun stances IN the exercise OF MS ONCE ou'
he Is careful to punish only when the avs nave
been knowingly and willfuly broken Nowhere
= there greater security OF person and property
than IN Japan. This cunning system isuaced on
reciprocal espionage and reciprocal responsible
~. binds together a. with an intricate net high
and low. princes and subjects From the ar
,sries of the BODY petite II branches out into
,be fines, bairdrawn channels in every depart
men, of trade and society.
Not Only Princes, Ministers OF State and otner
high officers transmit then stations to iheH eldest