Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 237

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Notice of Japan in the Hai-kwoh Tú Chi.

APRIL,

Chin Lunkiung. Collection of Particulars of Foreign States." Corea (says this work) lies to the northeast of the world. To the south of it, separated from it by a single sea, is the island of Tui-ma, a possession of Japan, which with a fair wind may be reached from the former place in one night. To the southward of Tuima, from E. to E. N. E. of the compass, stretches a chain of seventy-two islands all in a state of vassalage to Japan. The only one which has commercial intercourse with China is Chángkí, and this produces millet and other grain, but in so small a quantity as barely suffices for the consump- tion of its own population. Such of them as trade are therefore members of a public establishment; a general estimate of their profits is made at the close of the year, and these are equally divided amongst the whole population according to the number of persons in a family.

The residence of the sovereign is nearly a month's journey by land north-east from Cháng-kí, the name of the place is Mí-yá-kuh (Miako), which being interpreted, means the Capital city.|| He wears the Chi- nese headdress and habiliments. The nation are in the habit of using the Chinese character, reading it with Japanese sounds. The power of appointing persons to office and removing them from it, and the administration of all public business is vested in a generalissimo; the monarch (regnant) interferes in nothing, and has only to spend his income and receive his tribute (or revenue) §

Although in passing between Púto and Chángkí, the course is due east and west, the currents are perverse, and the danger from winds

and waves so great as to have given rise to the popular saying:-

Jih-pun háu ho ¦ ★ Goodly are the wares of Japan,

五島 難過

táu

Wút áu nún kwo But the Wu tau are hard to pass.

"Hai-kwoh Wan-kien Luh. Record of Things seen and heard in Foreign States, by Chin Lunkiung. It appeared in 1730. The author, when young, accompanied his father, who appears to have been a naval officer on several ex- peditions, and at a later period himself held important coast commands.

The world, t'ien tí, heaven and earth, which may also mean the empire

of China.

The compass, arranged according to the eight diagrams of the Book of Changes.

! Chinese Repository, Vol. IX. p. 305. "The Mikado is the acknowledged emperor, absolute alike in spiritual and temporal affairs; the Siogoun is a military chief, professedly the vicegerent or lieutenant of the emperor.'

貢

§ Tribute or revenue. This word is used for the tribute tendered by de- pendent states, and also for the quota of their produce levied on particular districts, exclusive of any regular taxes. In an edict upon the death of the empress dowager (Jan. 23), the emperor Taukwáng desires that none be presented for the space of one year. Kwangtung sends gifts of oranges, li-chis, fans of the flag leaf, scents of several kinds, and grass-cloth,