The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-06-13


About the japanese.
The Japanese visitors attract large de-
gree of attention from Americans, and as
they are now to some extent the theme of
conversation and thought throughout the
country, we have taken some pains to COL
lcct for the benefit of our readers, few
items concerning these strange specimens of
the genus homo.
Their Empire is six thousand miles dis
tant, and until recently but little has been
definitely known of the formation and gen.
cral character of their country or the hab-
its and customs of the people.
That the Japanese are possessed of those
traits of character which, with the advan-
tages of liberal education, and extensive
commercial intercourse will eventually rem
der them power respected among nations
is now evident.
They are governed by two Emperors, one
is called Mikado and is the Spiritual Empe-
ror, and they believe that he is descend
ant of the Goddess of the Sun. lie is
not allowed to leave his palace during his
term of office. He may resign, however,
when he chooses. The political Emperor is
styled The Tycoon, and visits the Spiritual
Emperor once in seven years.
A Council of Thirteca has charge Of the
entire government and controls both Empc-
rors. Their form of government is some
what peculiar one, and to the people of a
free country like ours, seems ridiculous
enough, but there is vein Of Democracy
in it fatal to the power Of autocrats and pro-
tective to the people.
In 1857 law was passed forbidding any
Japanese from leaving their own country,
and it is said to be in force now and most
rigidly observed by the people. Their ships
are all of an inferior character, none of them
more than $50 tons burthcn. The great
bulk of the people are in large cities, hav-
ing no inclination to settle in small towns
or thinly populated districts. Jeddo, their
largest city, lost a thousand inhabitants by
single shock of an earthquake, but this
small handful was hardly missed from the
mass of humanity dwelling in that crowd
cd metropolis. They live in small huts;
| are fond of choice articles of food, and are
very clearly in their habits. They are of
bronze complexion, short in stature, and
| about as broad as they arc long.
japanese ladies are said to be fair speci-
mems of the female sex, as class, in point
of beauty, and some Of them are very hand
some and attractive. They use rouge-de-
cidedly civilized and to increase their
charms, they paint their teeth black, and
their lips purple! They use no snuff, have
no sewing societies, never run off with each
others husbands-what barbarians keep
no servants, have no pianos and wear no
hoops
The Japanese language, which is very
difficult to learn, consists Of forty-four
characters. Ladies and gentlemen have
each different style of characters for writ
ing, and neither sex ever use that of the
other. They have books printed with wood
en- types, are masters of civil engineering
and mathematics, understand medicine, but
know but little of anatomy. They use pa
per made out of the mulberry tree, sketch
finely, are tolerable engravers, and their por
celains and China ware is the best in the
world. Singular as it may appear, they
printed upon wooden types long before the
discovery of printing in Europe. Their
country has valuable minerals, and gold and
silver and precious S ones are plenty. Tea
is cultivated in large quantities, and China
has an important rival in Japan i'll the tea
trade.
The Japanese army is large, the soldiers
skilled and provided with the best of arms.
Commodore Perry carried Sharp's rifles
there and they have decidedly improved
them. They have a population of 5O,Ooo,-
600! Their police system is admirable ca
and the whole mass well governed. The
entire country is divided in small divisions
of only five families each, and the four are
required to watch the fifth!
The habits, customs and manners of this
strange people have been as little under
stood by Americans as have ours by them
We call them a barbarous people; we pity
their ignorance, despise their Moorish Gus
toms and send missionaries to save their
souls, yet they have the elefhents of untold
wealth, national power and greatness within
their grasp, and only lack the energy and
forethought which characterizes free peo-
pie, to place them in the front rank on the
Orient.
The dawn of brighter day is upon them.
The doors of commerce are unlocked, and
they must, sooner or later, become inocu.
lated with that spirit of Yankee enterprise
which will take them from the shades Of
Asatic darkness and make them nation
at once powerful, enlightened and respected
ssRiots..
On Monday W. Drummond, D. Drum
mond, II. E. Newell, Z. Odell, Esq. Hurlbut
and one or two whose names we have for
gotten, were arrested and carried befor,
Esq. Watkins of Farmersburgh, for "Riot.