Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 297

1841

Notices of Japan, No. 1X.

283

A post for letters is established thoughout the empire, which though pedestrian, is said to be wonderfully expeditious.* Every carrier is accompanied by a part ner, to guard against the possibility of delay from any accident that may chance to befal him. The men run at their utmost speed, and upon nearing the end of their stage, find the relay carriers awaiting them, to whom the packet is tossed the moment they are within reach of each other. The relay postmen have started before the arriving postmen have stopped. The greatest prince of the empire, if he meets the postmen on the road, must give way, with his whole train, and take care that their course be not obstructed by him or his.

I

By land, goods are conveyed on pack-horses and pack-oxen, that ascend and descend the already-mentioned staircase roads over the mountains. But the principal carriage of merchandize is by water; and for the navigation of their rivers and lakes, for fishing on the coasts, and even crossing the sea from island to island, the Japanese vessels are very sufficient. That they are utterly inade- quate to long voyages arises from the governmental system of seclusion. A sort of Japanese navigation act prescribes the form in which ships must be built, re- quiring them to be so weak about the stern,† and the rudder to be so hung, that a rough sea must be almost certain to carry away the latter, if not to break a leak in the stern: a device pretty effectual to prevent the voluntary undertaking of long voyages, but that must cause the loss of many fishing-boats and coasting- vessels.

Almost all the Japanese craft are equally calculated for sailing and rowing. The largest are of sixty tons burden, and have one heavy mast, bearing an im- mense square sail, with a small mast and sail at the prow. The oars are very long, and not taken out.of the water in rowing. The rowers stand to their work, and are said to impel the vessel with extraordinary swiftness. Japanese sailors are generally bold and skillful. The fisheries are very productive, and the fisher- men in constant activity, fish being the principal food of the people.t

in 7 vols., octavo, published at Yedo in the 6th year of the reign of Bunchei, (A. D. 1822), which gives an account of ancient and modern coins. There are 550 kinds described, most of which are figured; the figures are colored by means of painted stamps, a branch of the typographical art which we have never seen attempted in any Chinese book. Gold, silver, and copper coins of different values are common in Japan; they are cast (if we are rightly informed) and not coined, but the finish of the workmanship and distinctness of the die would do credit to any artist, and far surpass that of the Chinese coins. We suspect there must be some uninten- tional mistake in this place, since Japanese coins have long been known and prized by amateur numismatologists. Thunberg's collection sold for a large sum, and Titsingh also brought many specimens from Japan. The paper money in the principality of Figo is issued by the sovereign, and cannot be carried out of his dominions. Various devices are resorted to for the purpose of rendering the bills difficult of imitation. The law punishes forgery with death.]

* Siebold. [It appears that this post, like that in China, is almost wholly for the convenience of the government, and its officers. Some of the princes too have their own postmen; private letters and parcels are carried much on the same plan as among the Chinese. Sée Chi. Rep., vol. IX. page 636.]

+ Fischer.

[The Japanese coast is filled with vessels, engaged in carrying cargoes, and in fishing. La Peyrouse met several of them, one of which he thus describes.

"This vessel, which would carry about a hundred tons, had but one mast, very tall, placed in the centre, and apparently composed of several spars, bound together by copper hoops and wooldings. The sail was made of linen; and the