Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-11-18
NANaAsAKI-HARBoR-puTcH.


SANGAsAEI-HARBOR-DU
"We arrived at Nangasaki upon the Sd inst.
1t is one of the most beautiful places l have
ever seen, the land high and ecipitous, some
of the hills rising to $500 feet, covered with
fine trees and vegetation of all kinds, the most
common being not unlike magnificent Scotch
FIR. The outer harbor is formed partly by is
lands, partly in the main land, the islands rising
perpendicularly out of the sea. From the out
er there is no appearance of the inner harbor,
till you are almost at the head of the former,
when the inner one suddenly opens to the view
around some wooded islets, in a valley formed
by two hills, up the sides of which few tenn
Piles and houses have crept Nangasaki is the
port at which the Dutch have been settled for
200 years, on a small island connected with the
town by small bridge; the island is only about
400 yards long by 800 broad, and, till within
the last few years, the Dutch were kept rigor-
olsly to it, never being allowed in the town or
country. They, as well as all foreigners are
allowed to walk about the town and into the
country. Everywhere foreigners are received
with the greatest civility by the people.
CONTRAST WITH cHINEsE-cLEANLINEss
"Nagasaki, and everything japanese, bears a
striking contrast to everything Chinese. You
cannot be five minutes in Japan without seeing
it is a progressive nation-the country towns,
houses and people all show this. The streets
are wide and paved in the center, houses open
throughout on the ground floor, with mating,
formed in frames, fitting neatly all over the
rooms. On this they Sit sleep and eat, and
everything is kept scrupulOusly clean. Behind
each house is small garden, with few green
shrubs, and occasionally fine tree. Cleanli-
ness seems one great characteristic of the ia
panese-they are constantly washing in the
most open manner. To our great surprise, as
we wandered the first day through the streets,
we saw two or three ladies quietly sitting in
tubs in front of their doors washing them
selves with the utmost unconcern, traffic and
the business through the street going on past
them as usual. We understood afterward it
was general custom.
JAPANESE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
The japanese are eager for knowledge New
er was there people more ready to adapt
themselves to the changes and progress of
the world than they are. 1t is curious that
while some of their customs are what we would
deem rather barbarous, and while they are ig-
norant of many common things-while they
rip themselves up, and shoe their horses with
straw because ignorant of any orher method
they have jumped to a knowledge of certain
branches of science which it has taken nations
in Europe hundreds of years to attain. At
Nagasah they can turn out of their yard an en-
gine for railway or a steamer. Japanese
captains and engineers command their men Of
war, of which three are steamers; they under
stand the electric telegraph; they make ther-
and barometers, theodolites, and,
believe, aneroids. Their spy-glasses and mi
are good, and very cheap. They have
a large glass mandatory which turns out glass
little inferior to our own. They have short
line of railway somewhere in the interior, given
by the Americans. Many of them speak Dutch, |
some English, all anxious to learn, everything !
is done by themselves, and when it is consider |
ed that it is not much more than ten years ago |
since they made this start, the advance they |
have made IN that short time is perfectly won
derfnl.
TWO -PRINcEs--NILITARY.
There are two Emperors of Japan, one the
spiritual, and the other the working one. The
former lives at Miaeo, and is the descendant of
The old race, who were turned off the throne by
the ancestors of the reigning Emperor The
spiritual Emperor has nothing to do with gov
erning the country, and is partly looked up to
as heavenly being, one condition of which is,
hat everything he wears or uses is destroyed
Zach night, and new clothes supplied the next
ianctifed garments. The reigning Emperor
ives here, and is elected, but in what manner
I'M not sure, but believe by the Princes. 1t
ppears mere nominal election, for the son
egularly succeeds the father, and has done so
ince his ancestor usurped the throne. be-
ieve the descent of the spiritual Emperor,
an be traced, names and dates, with many of
he branches Of his family, for $500 years.
The country is owned by Princes, who owe
eudal duty to the reigning Emperor, who
bliges them to reside for six months of the
ear in Jeddo, with their families during the 2
ther six months he allows them to visit their
states, but keeps their families hostages in
eddo. This restrains them, and the practice
intended to prevent the Princes from obtain
lg too much influence over the people. 1t is
ifficut to discover what the military system of
lie Empire is, but that it must have the power
bringing an immense number of men into the
ED is beyond doubt-they have numerous and
ell-appointed batteries"