The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-11
The Empire Of Japan-Its Cities, SC.

In the National Infe[Ligencer OF recent GATE
we find a communication from w. ID. Porter,
esq, relative to Japan and its principal cities
and towns. From this communication we have
condensed the annexed account of nation
whose habits and condition are at all times mat
tiers of interest in this quarter OF the globe, but
are at this time more than usually attractive:
Jeddo, or Yeddo, the capital, is situated IN the
midst of a fine pain, in the province of Musca
ca II is built in the form of a screscent, and
intersected in almost every street by canals,
their banks being planted with rows of beauti-
ful trees. The city is surrounded, ms most
eastern cities are, by wall, but has strong
castle to defend it. The river Tongag waters
IL and supplies the castle ditch and, being d
yided into five streams, has bridge over each
The public buildings are on a magnificent
scale. The imperial palace is formed by three
cinctures, or circular piles Of buildings, and en-
closing many streets, courts, apartments, paw
lions. oates. guard. houses, draw-bridges, gar
dens. canals. &c. In il resides the emperor and
hs family. the royal 6omestics, tributary princes
and their retinues, the ministers Of state, many
other officers of government, and strong gar
r;son. The walls of this magnificent palace are
bnilt of freestone without cement, and the
stones are prodigiously large. The whole pile
was originally covered with gilt tiles, which
gave Il 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 Thousand mats,
&c. The city is under the rule OF two COVER
nors, who rule year each.
The next largest city is Meaco. IT is also
royal city. and is situated on lake near the
middle Of the island Of Nippon, and surround.
ed by mountains, which give remarkable and
delightful prospect to the whole. The clrcum
iacent country between the city ard the noun.
tains il covered with temples, sepulchres, &c,
and il embellished 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 ci,y. A strong castle defends the town. II
il 600 wards in length, has tower in the centre,
and ia surrounded by two bitches, the one dry.
Tho other full Of wqter This SPLENDID city il
twenty miles long and nine wide within the
,ubuybs, which are as well populated as the city.
Th. number Of the inhabitants Of the city pro
ner is supposed to be $4,000. The universe.
lies colleges g, temples &c, are almost incredible
in number. and magnifcence. II contains twelve
capital or principal streets, in the centre Of
" itch are the royal palaces, superbly built Of
marble, adorned with gardens, orchards, pavil.
ions, terraces, groves, &c.
The next principal town is Ozeaco. IT J.
deemed the chief seaport, is very populous, and
has an army Of 10000 men always ready at the
disposal and command Of the emperor. IL is
near fifteen miles in circumference.
Almost the first accomplishment learned by
the Japanese is the art and grace of suicide
The child in the nursery stabs itself with IL
finger or a stick, and falls back in initiative
death the lover cuts ont bis intestines before
his obdura,e mistress, and the latter pours ou'
her hearts blood in the face IF her faithIess
lover; the criminal executes himself; and. "
fact, the whole nation, from early youth, revels
in the luxury Of suicide.
The mechanics and manufacturers in Japan
EXCEL in their different branches and are even far
suner;or 70 the Chinese. Their silks and cot
tons are excellent, and their Japan ware and
porcelain uneou,lled Their exports are raw
and manufactured silks, iron, steel, artificial
metals, furs, teas, finer than the Chinese, Japan
ware, gold, silver, copper, gums, medicinal herbs
roots, diamonds, pearls, coral. shells, ambergris
&c. Whatever goods the Japanese want they
pay for in gold and silver.
The Japanese worship principally two gods
Xaca and Amida. AZ Meaco there Is stately
temple built to one Of these gods. tits Of free
stone, as large as St Paul's, with an arched roof
supported BY heavy pillars, in which stands an
idol Of copper, which reaches as high as the
roof; and, according to description given BY
Sir Thomas Herbert, his chair is seventy feet
high, and eighty feet long; the head is big
enough TO hold fifteen men, and the thumb forty
inches in circumference. There is another
statue. called after the god Dabio, made Of cop
per, twenty two feet high, 10 sitting posture
This shows that the Japanese understand the ar
Of working in bronze, and they are far ahead o.
Christian nations in this particular. They ALLOW
polygamy, and they often strange Their iemaI'
children, but never the males. Inc noohty ex'
tract the two front teeth, and supply them with
two Of gold.