The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-07
THE JAPANESE EMPIRE.
THE LCO-CHoo ISLANDS-DEPENDENC
OF JAPAN.

The 11oo-ChoS Archipelago Va situated on the racine
Ocean between % and 2s degrees north latitude and
1850 and l2s 20 longitude, nearly midway be-
tween japan and Formosa. 1t is composed OF thirty
ak islands Great Loo-Choo the largest lying IN the
centre of the group, Is about seventy miles in length "
fifteen in breadth and is divided into three provinces
Mount oomdake rising 900 feet is the hignest PeaA
OF the range Of hills which runs through 'nc isau
Iengthwise Mount Sumai, called Shooe, on winch tue
rapitol or vouching (royal city IS pu Is ABOUT oso
feet hinh and about three miles from NapaKang Is the
residence Of the Prince Regent of the island, who re-
o hia inve.titure from the Prince Of Satzuma, the
suzersp Of this Archipelago The entire population Of
yba Is estimated at about 80 00o The climate ia
xaa to be mild and delightful and the soil exceedingly
fertile producing the fruits and vegetables Of the tenn
perate regions The inhabitants appear to be of the
same the Japanese and have not only adopted
the costume but speak dialect of the language of that
people They may be divided into three distinct clssses
First-the rulers who understand the Chinese Ian
puage. Second-the natives, who educated,
and write the Japanese and Chinese characters.
Third class who superior to coolies. Their
religion is species of Buddhism. The soobhooans, like
the Kuncans permitted to have any kind of
ammunition
They governed by officers sent from Shooe and
moved every Ave years. Crimes OF magnitude sent
for trial to the capital except adultery which held in
such adherence that summary vengeance is inflicted
The houses built according to established law.
There generally ten twelve enclosed by wall and
again sub-dvided into separate dwellings, firm and COM
lactly built.
Great Loo Choo is productive and we'll cultivated Their
Jnode OF tlage resembles the Chinese particularly in
anurinr and rrigating the ground They cultivate tea
Dice sugar cane tobacco col ton, wheat, barley Indian
lorD, peas mlet sweet potatoes, taro, capsicum,
numbers cocoa nuts plantains carrots lettuce onions
pomeganates, oranges and variety Of fruits ani raise
horses, horned cattle SWINE goats fowls aud ths
wild animals are bears, jaelals and wolves Among the
productions of tbs islands sulphur salt brass zinc
marine shells of various kinds pepper cardamans sapas
wood, cabinet woods, and variety of dye-woois silk,
cotton, species of hemp and banana tree, from the
bres which they manufacture their ordinary garments
They also manufacture silk grass cloth Of tex.
ture great quantity Of cotton CLOTH and thick paper
similar TO that of China from silk cocoons, BAN
boos and the bark of the mulberry which they prepare in
variety of colors and make into garments They fabri
pipes, hairpins and wicker baskets two sorts or spirits
distilled from grain; arms brass instruments gold and
silver ornaments brass, pewter, saddles, brides and
sheaths, which they manufacture with considerable
taste and neatnes and which form part of their tribute
10 China and Japan
They collect large shells pearl shells and tortoise
shell OF which they send entire to Japan, and
manufacture salt in large quantities from sea water
north longitude 27 degrees 80 minutes 81 seconds
on the southwest part of Great Loo Choo il the port
most frequented by foreign vessels 1t about miles
east of Fuchan and $40 south southwest Nangasa-
XII Abbys Point forms tho southwest boundary of the
port and is high coral reef extending about uarter
of mile into the From this long coral and sandy
beach proceeds in gentle towards the of
the estuary that passes through the town The road af
lords good anchorage. There two Notifications
situated at the entrance Of the port built of coral
PoRT MmvnIE-called by the natives outrng or vouch
ing-is situated bay of the name Ia the
province with Napakiang the western coast of the
island and north from the capital and is larger safer
and more commodious than the other port. AT its
trance is island from which rises high conical
tain, called by the natives Eegouchkound the
Castle which is visible twenty-five miles at and is
q prominent landmark for navgators II is covered
from the base TO one-third Of its height with
The entrance narrow win admit the largest ships
The bay is two miles in extent; has good safe anchor
age in nineteen to twenty fathoms water, protected
from all winds 1t would be excellent place of resort
for American whalers in want of REFRESHMENTS and it
offers peculiar advantages and facilities for eareenng
3ud repairing vessels much wanted in those and
IS coaling depot for American transPacifc
Its shores studded with popuous villages, and the
tountry around is fertile and well cultivated Until the
opening Of the japanese ports foreign commerce.
host egbly situated as entrepot for indirect
American trade with that empire.
Commerce between Japan aud Loo Choo is
Gncted entirely in japanese vessels and is
strcted 70 the ports Of Kagosma in the principality
of satzuna and Napakiang They bring iron cop
per, pewter, hemp, culinary utensils laluered far
niure, excellent homes, and occasionally rice, which il
sometimes brought from the island of 0oSima, the
coast Of Nippon. The exports of Loo Choo salt,
grain sugar, tobacco, samchu spirits rice, silk
and grass hemp, hemp, cotton and paper cloth,
paper, sort of perfume drugs, ambergris sulphur,
zinc, tim brass cowres and large and fiat shells that
ports Of sugar from Loo Choo Satzuma by
DR. Parker TO amount to 1000 peculs annually In
turn or these they bring from china different kinds oil
porcelain, variety of European goods and American
cotton cloths, glass furniture, medicines gold, silver
iron nails TOOLS silks and tea, that grown in the
sland is of an inferior quality This trade ia conducted
in iunks belonging to the Loo Chooans built after Chi
nese models and source Of considerable profit to
them
Loc-Choo since A. D. 1872 has paid tribute to China
1t is cent BY envoy yearly to Pekn Among the articles
of which generally consists swords brass pewter
saddles, brides and sheaths, which they manufacture
with considerable taste and neatness. BY means Of
this intercourse with China carried on exclusively
through Napakiang and Fachau in two privileged
junks, the japanese merchants Of Kagosima ndi-
rectly supplied with considerable amount of the pro-
ducts and manufactures of China India and the Western
nations The junks conducting the tribute have free
cess to Fuchan and all the goods they export and i'm
trade in the islands, and the only act Of sovereignty the
Emperor exercises is to send delegate to sanction
incumbent to the government Of the islands.
The principal object of the privileged unks to
bring the tribute but in addition they allowed
to be filled with merchandise for sale Of which list
almost always containing the particulars handed
in to the Chinese mandarns The tribute junks for 1850
arrived in November and the tribute bearer after hav
ing paid certain visits Of ceremony and been entertained
by the Mandarns started for Pekn with the presents for
the Emperor, OF which list is appended The list is
the elevation OF new Emperor to the throne During
this journey to and from the capital which occupies
from dve to six months tho import is Sold and
export shipped on board the junks.
The business Is carried on by Hong monopoly, con
sisng ten persons who have their authority from the
Emperor the Office generally descending from father to
SON. These parties are responsible for the junks and
everything connected with them and their crgoes AS in
former times the Canton Hong merchants for the
East India Companys vessels and cargocs On receiving
the invoice of the goods board and the ndent for
cargo the Hong brokers decide what prices they
win give the import and what charge for the export
cargo This matter being settled Fuchan not being
place Of much trade they compelled to dispose Of the
Imports. and purchase the exports along the whole
coast Of China from Canton 10 Shanghae As the value
of their inward Is much less than their outward cargo
(the tribute put aside the LooChooan have to bring
over the blaancc in hard cash.
They make Of gold and silver coin OF their and
Sometimes the copper coin OF China and Japan; in
addition TO which, the specie they bring to purchase the
balance Of the cargo not met by the sale OF their
produce, is in the form Of small square japanese gold
coins containing large amount Of alloy to give it
a coppery appearance. This coin not circulating in
China Ia melted down by the parties who buy II at the
different porte where the brokers make their
purchases.
E1he embassy OF had double duty TO perform viz
II he ibutp