Year: 1859

the place being kiato. You are aware
that with the japanese, seclusion anC
rank are equivalents. Before | arrived


here | had determined on the course
would follow while here.


Before | left Sidmo they wished me &c
engage that | would not visit their shops,
or the business part of Yeddo, or as they
expressed it, mot to go where common
people lived.S


| declined making any such engage
ment, and told them l must be entirely
free to go out from my residence when
pleased and visit where | please, and it
was with this clear understanding that
began my journey.


AT the same time l had no intention
of exercising that right, and except on
the occasion of my audience and three in
terviews with the Foreign Minister, have
only been out twice, and that was mere
ly for horseback ride in a Ca-Ca or
'Champ-de Mars in the vicinity of my
residence. All the interviews (except
those above noted) and the negotiations
took place at my quarters. From all
this you will at once infer that l cannot
give you more than a very imperfect ac-
count of this truly large city. The castle
is the chief feature, and consists of four
irregular circles, all surrounded with moats
or bitches, the three inner circles have
stone walls, being bank of earth faced
with stone, and varying in height from
II to 80 feet according to the nature of
the ground on which they are built. The
gatoways through the walls open into
quadrangle Of some so TO 60 feet, the
gate Of egress being placed at right an
giles with this entrance gate. AS means
Of defence il is unworthy tho name ex-
clusively by the Ty coon and his sons;
and the second by the Council of State
and Princes; the third and fourth are oc-
cupied by the Dimios, ritular Princes; and
high officers of the government. IcoyL1
or extent of either castle or city. They
pretended the most profound ignorance
on all these points, and unblushinglyale-
clared that census was never taken in
Japan.


They gave me the plan Of Yeddo, but
as it is drawn without reference to scale,
it is impossible to form any satisfactory
opinions from it. If can place any re-
lance Oh their statements, the city is about
so miles in circumference; the outer cir
Gle of the castle varies from to 5 miles
in diameter all English measure. From
the best information can get, place the
population at two millions, and l think
this to be rather within the actual amount.
The houses are all built of wood and COW
cred with tiles; none are moro than two
stories. The streets through which pass
ed were from so to 80 feet wide, but |
am told they arc much narrower in the
parts outside the castle. l have not seen
a single company of soldiers all the time
l have been here; they appear to have
been here; they appear to have studious-
ly concealed them from me. The Police
arc numerous and sufficient. Yeddo, like
the other cities of Japan, is divided into
"streets," l. c. q distance of $50 feet,
where strong barrier is erected across
.


the street, with gates which are closed at
an early hour in the evening. Each Of
these divisions has an "Ottono," or cap.
tain, and is responsible for its own tran
guilty. In many places the banicades
arc double, being placed some 30 feet
apart, and form little impregnable stock
adc against any force without artillery
am told that Yeddo contains between
5000 and 5000 of these streets. From
this an approximation TO the population
might apparently be formed; but owing
to the great difference Of the interior size
of the squares, the estimate would at least
be very imperfect. l will now close this
letter, which has become so unrcasonably
long, l fear it will weary you to read it,
l remain your dear Commodore. Yours
very sincerely, TOWNSEND HARRIS.