Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-06-02
THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN.

| As public attention is now directed to Japan, the
| following account of that Empire communicated t.
the National Intelligencer by w. D. Porter Esq.
Will be found interesting:
Japan is called by the natives Niphon, and was
founded about six hundred and sixty five years be-
fore Christ, by Simmu. From him to Sinzakn
there appears to have been sixty-one Emperors
After this PERIOD in the year 1872 change took
place From this time double chronology COM
mences, including the reigns Of the Dearios and
Cubos. The Dearios were military officers, and at
one period completely usurped the power of the
Enperors, but general by the name of Jeretmo
being crowned, succeeded in depriving the Dearios
of all military power. AT the present time the
kingdom of Japan is governed by an Emperor with
full military powers, Deario with full civil powers
and Cubo or prime minister, who has authority
over certain cities, their Parliament, DC.
The kingdom of Japan consists of three large
and thirty forty smaller islands, situated off the
coast of China. The largest of these islands is Nj
phon, the next Jesse. On the Island of Bungo.
southwest of Tonsa, is the city of Nangaschi, and
that city is the little artificial island of Dsua,
on which Dutch factory is built.
Jeddo, or Yeddo, the capital Of the whole en-
pire, is situated in the midst of fine plain in the
province of Musace. 1t IS built in the form of a
crescent, and intersected in almost every street by
canals, their banks being planted with rows of beau
tiful trees. The city is not surrounded, as most
Eastern cities are, by WALL but has strong castle
to defend it. The river Tongag waters it, and sup
plies the castle ditch and being divided into five
streams, has bridge over each. The public build
ings are on a magnificent scale. The imperial pa
lace is formed by three cnctures, circular piles
of buildings, and enclosing many streets, courts,
apartments, pavilions, guard-houses, gates, draw
Bridges gardens, canals DC. In it resides the En-
peror and his family, the royal domestics tributary
princes and their retnues, the Ministers of State,
many other officers of Government, and strong
garrison. The walls of this magnificent place are
built OF treestone, without cement, and the stones
prodigiously large. The whole pile was originally
covered with gilt tiles, which gave it a very grand
and beautiful appearance. Many of the stately
apartments are formed and altered at pleasure by
movable screens. The principal apartments are the
Hall of Attendance, the Council Chamber, Hall of
a Thousand Mats, &c,
The city is under the direction of two governors,
who rule year each.
The next largest city is Meaco. 1t is also aroyal
city, and is situated on a lake near the middle of
the Island of Niphon and surrounded by noun
talns, which give remarkable and delightful pros
pect to the whole the crcumiacent country be-
tween the city and the mountains is covered with
temples sepulchres, &c, &c, and IS embelIished
with variety OF orchards, groves, cascades, and
purling streams. Three considerable rivers water
this fertile plain, and unite their streams in the
centre of the city, where magnificent stone bridge
facilitates the communication between the different
parts of the city. A strong castle defends the
town; 1t as sac hundred CARDS IN length, has a
towerin the CENTRE and is surrounded by two ditch
es the one dry the other full of water This splen
did city IS twenty miles long and nine wide within
the suburbs, which as we'll populated as the city
The number Of inhabitants of the city proper is |
supposed to be $4,000 The universities, colleges,
temples, &c. almost incredible in number and !
magnifcence. 1t contains twelve capital or prin-
cpal Streets i'll the centre of which are the roval
places, superbly built of marble, and adorned with
gardens, orchards pavilions, terraces, groves &c.
The next principal town is Ozeaco. It is deemed
the chef seaport is very populous, and has an ar