Butte record., 1853-11-12

but his feet, and that only once a year 4;
every vessel which he uses must be bro
ken immediately for if another should
even by accident eat or drink out of it,
he must be put to death. Every gar
ment which be wears must be manufac-
tured by virgin hands, from the earliest
process in the preparation of silk.
The adherents of the original Japan
ese religion, Of which the Kinrey is head,
adore numerous diyinities called Kami,
or immortal spirits, to whom they offer
prayers, flowers, and sometimes, more
substantial gifts They also worship Ka-
dotski, or saints-mortals canonised by
the Kin-rey-and build temples in their
honor, The laws concerning personal
and ceremonial purity, which form the
principal features of this religion, are ex-
ceedingly strict, and not unlike those i'm
posed upon the ancient Jews. There
are several orders of priests, monks, and
nuns, whose austerity, like that of Eu-
rope, is maintained in theory more than
III practice.
Three other creeds, the Brahminical,
the Confucian, and that which deifes the
heavenly bodies, have many adherents
but their priests all acknowledge GER
tam religious supremacy to exist in the
Kinney There is universal liberation
IN these matters: every citizen may pro-
fess what faith he chooses, and change it
as often as he chooses, without any one
enquiring into his reasons only it must
be spontaneous choice, for proselyting
is forbidden by law. Christianity alone
is prescribed, and that on account of the
political mischief said to have been effec-
ted through its adherents in the seven
teenth century. There is law by which
no one may hire servant without recei-
wing a certificate Of his not being Chris
tian and on new-year's day, which is
great national festival, all the inhabi-
tants of Nangasaki are obliged to ascend
staircase and trample on the crncifx,
and other insignia of the Romish faith,
which are laid on the steps as test. 1t
is said that many perform the act in vio-
lation of their feelings. So much of the
religious state of the Empire, Golownin
elected in conversation with Teske and
others, but every thing on this subject was
communicated with evident reluctance :;
and though n the course of the walks
they were permitted to take in harness,
the Russian captives sometimes saw the
interior of the temples, they were never
permitted to enter while anF religious
rites were celebrated.
With respect to the civil administra-
tion of Japan, our author seems to have
gathered little that was absolutely new to
US. The Empire comprises above two
hundred States, which are governed as
Independent sovereignties by princes,
called Daymos, who frame and enforce
their own laws. Though most of these
principalities are very small some of them
are very powerful: the Daymo of Sindai,
for instance, visits the Imperial Court
with retinue of $4,000 Their depen-
dence on the Emperor appears chiefly in
their being obliged to maintain a certain
number of troops, which are at his dis
posal. These provinces, which belong
directly to the Emperor, are placed un-
der Governors, called Bunyos, whose
families reside at the capital as hostages.
Every province has two Bunyos, each of
whom spends six months in the Govern
ment and six months at Yedo.
The Supreme Council of the Emperor
consists Of five sovereign princes, who de-
eide on all ordinary measures without
referring to him. An inferior Council
of fifteen princes over important civil and
criminal cases The general laws are
few and well known. They are very Sc
we're, but the Judges generally find means
of evading them where their enforce
ment would involve violation of those
of humanity. In some cases, as in con-
jugal infdelity, or filial impiety, individ-
uals are permitted to avenge their own
wrong, even to the taking of life. Civil
cases are generally decided by arbitra-
tors, and only when they fail to settle a
matter, is there recourse to the public
courts Of justice. Taxes are generally
paid to the reigning prince or Emperor,
in tithes Of the agricultural, manufac-
tured, or other productions of the coun-
try.
Such were some of the particulars as
certained by Golownin concerning the
social and civil condition of this singular
people. He says they always appeared
very happy. and their demeanor was