The weekly Placer herald., 1853-12-10
The History of Japan.
dit0r of the Placer Herald:

cree, under the provisions of which
the Japanese conduct their internal trade
and direct their foreign commerce, it is
necessary to notice in the next place the
singular but stringent measures adopted
by the authorities throughout the Empire
to enforce their regular observance.
The internal trade of Japan is extern
sive aud lucrative; but foreign commerce
is vigorously opposed by the government
on account of the conduct of the Jesuits
already explained, when attempting to
christianize the natives according 10 the
tenets of their creed. Whatever foreign
commerce they have is generally known
to he maintained exclusively with the
unoffending Dutch; and though the latter
for the long period of two centuries, have
conducted their commercial relations with
good faith and scrupulous integrity, still
the suspicion and caution of the japanese
are as active as at first, neither relaxing
in single decree, on solitary occasion,
the tedious and vexatious supervision un-
der which such intercourse can alone be
continued.
The following is an abridged summary
Of this supervision: Whenever a Dutch
vessel arrives at Japan from Europe or
Indla-and the number to arrive from
either quarter in the course of the current
year, IS regulated by law, rs well as the
character and quantity of merchandise
they are to bring-the vessel undergoes
the severest examination to see that these
requirements have been attended to fanh-
fully; the crew are then put in absolute
secIusion to avoid communication with
the natives; and all the remaining bust
ness transactions, such as unloading and
reloading, victua ling, watering and re-
pairing, are performed by the natives free
Of all charge or impOst. The industry
and expertness the natives exhibit in these
matters is said to be astonishing though
the meritorious quality of industry in all
inc ItidIIbIlS VI HE, pupl"' VI pfN"tE,
appears indigenous to the japanese. In
this respect but few people of any cline
can claim to he their superior.
Another Dutch authority describing the
caution practced hy the Jnpane-e when
tranSacting their business with the Dutch
merchants speaks thus: "Ahout the time
when the Dutch ships are expected, sew
aral outposts are stationed upon the high
est hills provided with telescopes, and
when they sight vessel they forward a
dispatch to the Governor of Nagasaki.
AS soon as she arrives at anchor, officers
90 on board with interpreters, to whom is
delivered chest in which all the sailors
books, the muster-rol of the whole crew,
six small barrels of powder, six barrels of
balls, six muskets, six bayonets, six pis-
tolls, and six swords are deposited. This
is supposed to be the whole of the re-
manning ammunition carried by the regu-
lar Dutch traders after the imperial gar
rson has been duly saluted. All these
articles are forthwith taken on shore un-
der the charge Of the Government, but
returned before the ship leaves the har-
bor" have often thought an enforce
ment Of this precautionary regulation
upon the American squadron will cause
the Japanese authorities some trouble.
So far as is known, these people are
said to be expert as seamen, and in nauti
cal matters generally. They skull their
boats, built broad but very sharp in the
bows, with great rapidity. Although their
laws still hold it a capital offence to visit
foreign countries, we have instances re-
corded of their traversing the whole of
the Pacific. They have been known once
or twice to visit the Society, as well as
the Sandwich Islands, and upon one oc-
casion, to put into one of the islands lying
at the extreme southeastern end of New
Holland. They have also been picked up
at sea in distress by English whalers as
far north as Vancouyers, and as far south
as Van Dienan's Land. A hapless fate,
however, would be their lot if they lived
to return to their native country; for
their law recognises no difference in
Japanese subject holding intercourse with