The Progress of Ethnology: An Account of Recent Archaeological, Philological and Geographical Researches in Various Parts of the Globe, Tending to Elucidate the Physical History of ManBartlett, John Russell
History
The Progress of Ethnology: An Account of Recent Archaeological, Philological and Geographical Researches in Various Parts of the Globe, Tending to Elucidate the Physical History of Man
Bartlett, John Russell
Anthropology -- History; Ethnology -- History
came across the siogoun's subjects in like distress, and exposed to a
cruel death, he was told, "leave them to their fate, or take them where
the Dutch can get them." The men rescued from starvation and death,
were, however, deeply sensible of the kindness which had been shown
them. After a stay of eight or ten days, Captain Cooper was towed out of
the port, and down the bay to the coast, and the last injunction was
only a repetition of the first order, not to come again. This
reception, though it presents no encouragement to hope for a relaxation
of the policy, deemed by the siogoun at once his safety and his profit,
is less likely to call for summary chastisement than the rude repulse
the American ship Morrison received in 1837, when she entered the bay of
Yedo on the same errand, and was driven away by cannon balls and armed
gunboats.
Captain Cooper represents the country in this portion of it as clothed
with verdure, and under a high state of cultivation. The proximity of
the mountains in Idzu, produces constant showers, which covers the
highest peaks with forests and shrubbery. Terrace cultivation is
extensively practiced, and constant labor is demanded to supply
subsistence to the dense population, who still at times suffer severely
for want of food. The capital could not well be seen from the ship, and
its enceinte was so filled with trees, that its dimensions could not
accurately be defined. No towers or pagodas were seen elevating
themselves above the dull monotony of the buildings. The harbor was
covered with vessels, at anchor and moving about; some of them unwieldy,
open-stern junks, designed for the coast trade, others light skiffs and
boats, used for communicating with vessels in the harbor and the shore.
The greatest part of the coasting trade centres at Yedo, owing to the
large amount of taxes paid the siogoun in kind, and the supplies the
princes receive from their possessions while they reside in the capital,
both of which causes operate to develope the maritime skill of the
people, and increase the amount of tonnage. The shortsighted policy
which confines the energies and capital of a seagoing people like the
Japanese, within their own shores is, however, less a matter of wonder
than the despotic power which could compel them to stay at home two
centuries ago, at a time when their merchants and agents were found from
Acapulco to Bangkok.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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