Daily national Democrat., 1859-02-26
9aiIg 3(ational Democrat.
The Unveiled Atlantis,

The description given of Japan by some
members of Lord Elgins suite, rivals that Of
the enchanted island in the Arabian Nights
Nothing can exceed the picturesque beauty
Of the bay Of Nygaski and the situation Of
the city at its extremity. Swelling hills COW
cred with verdure rise from the waters
edSe. The thatched roofs of snug cottages
peep out from the dense foliage amid which
tney nestle. Preeipitous walls of rocks are
tnlrrored III the azure blue of the waters at
lhetr Oase Ihe japanese are courteous. af-
laaoie, gehtlmanllke, and good-natured, quite
different from the description our disinterest.
ed friends, the Dutch, gave of them Jeddo,
the capital, is larger than London, md con-
tains 100000 of people The leading street
Is ten miles loug, and is closely packed with
succeed houses. Here are the palaces of
$50 of the hereditary princes each sov.
erelen in his own dominion, but compelled
to reside in the capital for six months in tha
year. Some Of the mansions are made to hold
/ 10000 retainers! The palace of the secular
KING IS surrounded by triple wall, and gives
lodgings to 10000 people. The streets are
/ spacious, clean and airy, and no dirt, and no
smells, no street distractions In the coun-
try, every cottage, temple and tea house is
surrounded by gardens laid out in exquisite
taste. Tea houses are found in every shady
nook or by pleasant rivers. The tea is served
! by the ministration of fair damsels, who
glide rapidly and noiselessly about, suspect.
ing no indecorum and meaning none.
Strange that we should have known so lit
tie of this modern Atlantis, this beauteous
isle set in silver sea Stranger still that
they should have worked out so perfect and
yet so grotesque a species of civilization, like
the devices OF their own ware, odd and start
ling, but minutely finished off Here we
have two kings; one spiritual, who can trace
up his lineage for $500 years; the other Sec
ular who commands the forces, both dwell
ing in the same unity like brothers. The
japanese seem to be the most impressible ma
ton on earth; whatever they see they initiate.
telescopes, ancroids, steam engines spy glass.
es, etc, and yet hitherto they have locked
themselves up within an impenetrable bar
rer
They have however, one very curious in
stitution, which prevails to slight degree
among themselves. 1t is what they call
'Nayboen,' or make believe" 1t is as if a
man disbcieves the evidence of his senses
and acts accordingly. fla man dies in debt
he is supposed to be alive and his family
draws his income regularly to pay his credi-
tors. If man commit suicide on being in
suited he is not considered to be dead until
some time has elapsed. when he is said to-
have departed from disease So, when Lord
Elgin boldly dashed into the prohibited pre-
cincts of the harbor of Jeddo, after q little
puzzled amazement, the japanese authorities
determined to practice "Nayboen," and be-
lleye he was somewhere else.
Among other branches of useful education
taught at the schools, the young patrcians
are instructed in the forms and ceremonies
of hari-hiri, I. C., of ripping oneself up. fla
noble is out Of favor at Court, if a superior in
suit him, if he has committed an error in di-
plomacy, he invites all his friends to a grand
banquet, and when all are we'll fed and COM
Portable, he performs the hari-kiri graceful
ly before them Ever since the Americans
obtained footing in Japan this curious cere-
mony has been performed. We hope Lord
Elgin's treaty with this imperturbable nation
will not be celebrated by such extraordinary
performances liverpool Courier.