Examination of a Prisoner by Torture 354 Festival with Mikoshi 358 Musical Instruments: Two Styles of Drums; A Flute-player 362 Transportation Methods: A Buddhist Priest in a Norimono; Ancient Imperial Carriages; Lady in a Kago 366 A Bridge spanning the River Ōigawa; View of Fujikawa 378 The River Ōi 384 Japanese Craft: Sailboats; Rowboats; Junks 386 A Merchant Ship 390 A Dry-goods Shop 396 MAPS Sketch Map of Old Japan 1 Map of Feudal Japan 272 ADVERTISEMENT TO ORIGINAL EDITION In collecting materials for a biography of the first explorers and planters of New England and Virginia, I was carried to Japan, where I happened to arrive (in the spirit) almost simultaneously with Commodore Perry’s expedition. My interest thus roused in this secluded country has produced this book, into which I have put the cream skimmed, or, as I might say, in some cases, the juices laboriously expressed, from a good many volumes, the greater part not very accessible nor very inviting to the general reader, but still containing much that is curious and entertaining, and, to most readers, new; which curiosities, novelties, and palatable extracts, those who choose will thus be enabled to enjoy without the labor that I have undergone in their collection and arrangement—the former, indeed, a labor of love for my own satisfaction; the latter, one of duty—not to say of necessity—for the pleasure of the reading and book-buying public. Instead of attempting, as others have done, to cast into a systematic shape observations of very different dates, I have preferred to follow the historic method, and to let the reader see Japan with the successive eyes of all those who have visited it, and who have committed their observations and reflections to paper and print. The number of these observers, it will be found, is very considerable; while their characters, objects, and points of view, have been widely different; and perhaps the reader may reach the same conclusion that I have: that, with all that is said of the seclusion of Japan, there are few countries of the East which we have the means of knowing better, or so well.