Year: 1859

Something About Japan.


The revolution that has taken place In for
eign relations with Japan, since English and
American ships began to trade at Nagasak
some three months ago, is truly wonderful In
fact may say without much exaggeration, that
the Anglo Saxons have made about as much
progress In Japan in three months as the Dutch
have done in as many centuries. Since the
trade was opened to other nations, the Dutch
flag is not even predominant. The English dis
charge and load quicker, sail faster, and In O
general way, work round the Hollanders, who
have not the same notion of the value Of time.
The late rush of foreigners to Nagasaki has
completely upset the equilibrium of the small,
quiet trade that has been done, as If by ma
chine, for two hundred years. AS might have
been expected, everything is overd0ne, and ev-
cry one who tries bis hand there now is sure to
be disappointed. This, however, is sure to find
Its level in time. When the japanese get used
10 low prices for imports. they will be able to
take off increased quantities, and when the de-
mand for their exports has Its Legitimate effect,
they will increase the production.


The Government of japan is a phenomenon.
II Is the most absolute despotism In the world,
and perfectly successful. The people are as
submissive as lambs. They never seem to
dream Of opposing the will Of their superiors.
The Government is carried on by swarms of Of
flcers, who seem to be ubiquitous, acting az
spies on the people and on each other. These
officials are each in bis turn the abject slaves
of their immediate superlors up to the Emperor
himself. They dare not accept the smallest
present without permission. A merchant dare
not buy or sell any goods without n general
permit, or else special sanction for each trans
action. In this way you will readily perceive
that besides the regular Government monopo-
lies, any article of merchandise is liable to be-
N nnpt Altra nj a
by O simple order. Aud yet with all this
what we call slavery-the people seem to feel
no hardship. Their bondage sits lightly on
their shoulders They seem happy cOmlorta-
BILE and well to do. No signs of meanness, pow
erty or shabbiness. The streets and houses are
clean to proverb. The people take great
pride In cleanliness. The floors of their houses
are carpeted with fine clean white mating of
native manufacture, so clean that they put of
their shoes before entering room. Foreign
visitors, by the by, are expected TO do the same;
but John Bull Is much too bumptious to humor
the natives in that way. As to their personal
cleanliness, that is placed beyond doubt by tho
institution Of public baths, wherein you may
see the whole population every afternoon wash
ing by turns


For the present the despotism is consistent
with great prosperity and contentment on the
part Of the people, but II seems TO me that II is
only exclusive policy that has kept 1t so. The
people have no knowledge of liberty, and con-
sequently they do not know that they are en-
shaved. If they have an influx of noisy, bust
ling Europeans among their population, they
may by and by fnd out their true position and
try and alter IT, The people are very polite to
strangers. They do not even stop ana stare at
you 10 the streetb as Chinese do, but salute
you civilly, and pass on. Their language is
sweet aud musical, and easily learned. The
japanese are lively, intelligent, liberal minded,
and anxious to improve on their knowledge.


In these respects they contrast strongly with
the stupid, arrogant, concelted Chinese. In
fact the four or five days sail from China to
Japan places you In an entirely different world.
In their dress they are neat, but not gaudy !;
they choose the chastest and quietest colors.
There are no rags of rottenness to be seen in
the streets. No filthy, diseased beggars infest
the thoroughfares. No foul stencil polsons
Gods sweet atmosphere. In all these respects,
oh, how different from China. Indeed it seems
impossible that the inhabitants of country on
which nature has bestowed her gifts so avishly
could mar its beauty by filth in their persons
or abodes. When said there was no appear
ance of poverty in Nagasaki, should have
mentioned at the same time that there are beg
gars. but they are clean and we'll dressed, and
evidently privileged class. Three Of them
parade a street at a time, with cane hats on,
which conceal their features.


One walks slowly down the middle Of the
street, tinkliug small bell, while his two COM
panions take each one side of the street aud re-
ceive their contributions from each house, in
the shape Of q handful of rice. This donation
Is given as matter of course. and thus the col
lection from one street, occupying an hour or
two of time. is sufficient for the daily wants of
the recipients, and leaves something for a rainy
day. OF Japanese morality am not yet com
petent TO speak intelligibly. cannot make up
my MUD whether they are very immoral peo-
pie or not There is no false delicaey about
either maids or matrons in Japan. may say
there is very little delicacy at all. The women
are oil carefully educated in this country, and
consequently occupy high position in social
life. This Is generally considered mark of
high civilization in other countries, and, take
il, the same Interpretation must be put upon 1t
here. In China, women are entirely ignored
in social life. No women above the lowest
class are to be seen there Wives and daugh-
ters of well-to-do people are kept from them.
japanese women, on the contrary, can all read
and write; they take an interest In their hus-
bands affairs. and manage his business in his
absence; while their accomplishments render
their society all that a man can wish in his
hours ofdleness-Lettr from Japan.