Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-10-20
THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN.

Japan is called by the natives, Niphon, and
was founded about six hundred and sixty.fve
years before Christ, by Simmu. From him to
Zinzaking there appears to have been sixty-one
cmperors. After this period, in the year ll42,
a change took place. From this time, double
chronology commences including the reigns of
the Dearios and Cubos. The Dearios were
military officers, and at one period completely
usurped the power of the emperors but a gen.
eral by the name of Jeretimo being crowned,
succeeded in dcpriving the Dearios of all mill.
tary power. AT the present time, the kingdom
of Japan is governed by an emperor with full
military powers, and a Cubo or prime minister,
who has authority over certain cities, Parlia-
ment, &c,
The kingdom of Japan consists of three large
and thirty or forty smaller Islands, situated off
the coast of China. The largest of these islands
is Niphon, the next Jesse. On the island of
Bungo. southwest of Tonsa, is the city of Ma.
gasehi, and near that city is the little artificial
island, Disna, 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 crescent, and intersected in almost every
street by canals, their banks being planted with
rows of beautiful trees. The city is not sur
rounded, as most eastern cities are, by wall,
but has u strong castle to defend it. The riv-
er Tonga waters it, and supplies the castle ditch
and being divided into five streams, has ditch
over EACH The public buildings are on a mag
ni6cent scale. The imperial palace is formed by
three cnctures, or circular piles of buildings,
and enclosing many streets, courts, apartments
pavilions, guard.houses, gates, draw-bridges,
canals, &C. In it resides the emperor and his
family, the royal domestics, tributary princes
and their retinues, the Ministers of State, many
other officers of government, and strong gar
rison. The walls of this magnificent palace are
built of free stone, without cement, and the
stones prodigiously large. The whole pile was
originally covered with gilt tiles, which gave ii
a very grand and beautiful appearance. Many
of the stately apartments are formed and alter
ed at pleasure, by movable screens. The prin-
cipal apartments, are the Hall of Attendance
the Council Chamber, Hall of n Thousand Mats
&c. The city is under the rule of two govern
ors, who rule year each. The next largest
city is Macco. 1t is also royal city, and is
situated on lake near the middle Of the Island
Nphon, and surrounded by mountains, which
gave remarkable and delightful prospect to
the whole; the circumjacent country, between
the city and the mountains, is covered with
temples sepulchers, &c. &C., and is embellish
ed with variety of orchards, groves, cascades
and purng streams. Three considerable riv
ers water this fertile plain, and unite thci
streams in the center of the city, where a mag
nifcent stone bridge facilitates the communica
tion between the different parts of the city,
A strong castle defends the town; it is COZ
yards in length, has tower in the center, and i
surrounded by two bitches, the one dry, th,
other full of water.
This splendid city is twenty miles long AM
nine wide within the suburbs, which are as wei
populated as the city. The number Of inhabit
ants of the city proper is supposed to be $40
600. The universities, colleges, temples, &c