Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-07-09
THE EMPIRE or JAPAN.

At tue present Time any thlng relatlEe 10 lnl
I geography and resources of Japan is interest
/ ing to our readers. We find in the National In
, teliIgencer concise sketch Of the Empire:
1t is called by the natives, Nphon and wa,
founded about six hundred and sixty-fye year.
before Christ, by Simmu. From him TO Sinza.
kin there appears to have been sixty-one Empe-
rors. After this period, in the year ll42, a
change took place. From this time double
chronology commences, including the reigns oil
the Dearios and Cubos. The Dearlos were mil.
itarv officers, and al one period completely usurp
ed the power Of the Emperors but general by
the name of Jeret!me being crowned, succeeded
in depriving the Dearlos Of all military power
At the present time the kingdom of Japan is 90
verned by an Emperor with full military powers
Dearlos with full civil powers, and Cubo, or
prime minister, who has authority over certain
cities, their Parliament, &C. The kingdom OF
Japan consists of three large and thirty or forty
smaller islands, situated off the coast of Chin
The largest of these islands is Niphon, the next
Jesse. On the island Of Bungo, southwest OF
TOnsa, IS the city of Nangaschi, and near that
city is the little artificial island Dsna, on which
Dutch factory is bulk.
Jsdd0, or Yeddo, the pital of the empire, is
situated in the midst of a fine plain, in the pro-
vince Musace. Ii is built in the form. Of a cres-
cent and intersected in almost every street BY
canals, their banks being planted with rows OF
beautiful trees. Tho city is not surrounded, as
most European cities are, by a wall, but has q
strong castle TO defend it,
The imperial palace is formed BY three cine
lures, or circular piles of buildings, and inclos,
ing many streets, courts, apartments, pavlions
guard-houses, gates, raw-brdges, gardens, ca
mails, &c. The walls Of this magnificent palace
are bulk of trecstone, without cement, and the
stones prodigiously large. The whole pile was
originally covered with gilt tiles, which gave il
a very grand and beautiful appearance. TIE
cry Is under the rule Of two Governors, who
rule year each.
The next largest city is Macao. Il is also a
royal city, and is situated on lake near the mid
die of the Island of Nippon, and surrounded by
mountains, which give remarkable and delight
full prospect to the whole; the circumjacent
country between the city and the mountains is
covered with temples, sepulbhres, sc, &c, and
IS embcliIahed with variety of orchards, groves
cascades and purling streams. 4 strong caste
defends the town it is six hundred yards in
length, has tower in the center, and is sur
rounded by two bitches, the one dry, the other
full OK water. This splendid city is twenty
miles long and nine wide within the suburbs
which are as well populated as ihe city. The
number Of the inhabitar IS of the city proper is
supposed TO be $4,000. The universities. col.
ieges, temples, &c, are almost incredible il
number and maguiicence.
The next principal town is Oceaco. Il is
deemed the chief seaport, is very populous, anL
has army of $4,000 men always ready at the dis
posai and command Of the Emperor. Ii is near
fifteen miles in circumference
The city OF Mango scke is the japanese naval
depot; but as they have not yet found any use
for navy, their vessels are only in the rough
material, and stored away for emergencies.
The kokansa or prison is here. The name
means, in the Japanese, hell; it has one hundred
dungeons and cages. The history OF these few
cities gives fair outline Of the whole empire
Their private dwellings arc small bHt neat, and
ornamonted with small gardens; in this they ex-
eel, as they are the very best of horticultural
ISIS. A few feet of ground are turned to the
best advantage, as the Japanese understand per-
fecty the art of dwarhng plants, trees fruits and
flowers. They use neither tables, bed7teads,
nor chairs; but sit, eat, and sleep, like most
Eastern nations, on mats.
Among the first Accomplishment learned by
them is the art aud grace Of suicide; the child in
the nursery stabS itself with It's finger or stick,
and fall, back in imjtative death; the lover cuts
out his inteetines before his obdurate mistress,
and the latte. pours out her hearts blood in the
face OF her tdih,GSs lover the criminal executes
himself; and in fact, the whole nation, from ear
" youth, revels in the luXury of suicide.
Their trade is, at present, under great restric-
tons, as they only trade with the Chinese and
Dutch The latter have always fostered, cher
ished, and increased the prejudices Of the Japan
csc against all other nations, particularly the
French, Enslish, and Portuguese.
The mechanics and manufacturers in Japan
excel in their different branches, md are even
far superior to the Chinese. Their silk, and cot
tons are excellent, and their Japan ware and por-
celain unequalIed. Their exports are raw and
manufactured silks iron, steel, artificial metals,
furs, teas, finer than the Chinese, gold, silver,
copper, gums, medicinal herbs, roots, diamonds,
pearls, coral, shells, ambergrjs, &c. Whatever
goods the japanese want, they pay for in gold
and silver.
The Japanese worship the principal two gods,
Naca and Amjda. AT Macao there is stately
temple built to one Of these goods il is of free
stone, as large as ST. PanI's, with an a-ched
roof, supported BY heavy pillars in which stands
an idol OF copper, which reaches as high as the
roof and according to 4 description given by
Sir Thomas Herbert, his chair IS seventy feet
high and 50 feet long; the head is big enough
10 hold ! ) men, and the thumb 40 inches in cir
conference. There is another statue called al
ter the god Dabjo, made of copper, twenty-five
feet high, in sitting posture. This shows that
the japanese understand the ar, of working in
bronze, and they far ahead OF Christian na-
tons in this particular. They allow polygamy
and they often strange their female children, but
never tie males. The nobility extract the two
front teeth, and supply them with two Of gold.
The principal rivers are the Uilngava and As
kagava-the former so rapid and vide tina! a
bridge cannot be built over il; the latter remar-
kabIe for its depth and perpetual iuctuatjon.-
The chief lake, called CItZ, Is loo miles long and
y wide. a large valley exists in the interior,
filed with carbonic gas, and called the Valley Of
the Upas It is covered with the skeletons OF
numerous Wild and tame animals and Bird s.
The Emperor, il is said, often sent criminals to
the valley to bring away precious gem Of in
estimlble value. and the bones Of men also viii
ten lis deadly sides. Actdala'si .akes and Their
nal springs are common throughout several of
the islands.
Their great source of opuience are their mines
Of gold and silver. but they have no anthony,
calamine. sal ammoniac, horax, or cinDebar,
(quicksiIyer.) These articles are in demand,
and bring high price. Birds and every kind Of
duck and poultry are plenty, camphor trees are
abundant, and the cedars are the finest in the
,ror'l Tau, countries omen So fair 2 field as