Directory_and_Chronicle_1885 — Page 503

47+

JAPAN-NAGASAKI.

commercial intercourse of Japan is carried on mainly "h two countries, namely, Great Britain and the United States of America, the Former absorbing more than two-thirds of the whole.

By treaties made with a number of foreign Governments-with the United States in March, 1854; with Great Britain in Öctober, 1854; with Russia and the Netherlands in 1855; with France, in 1858; with Portugal, in 1800; with Prussia and the German Zollverein, in 1861; with Switzerland, in 1864, with Italy and Belgium, in 1866; with Denmark in 1867; with Sweder and Norway and Spain in 1888; with Austria in 1867 ; and with China in 1871- the Japanese ports of Kanagawa (Yokohama), Nagasaki, Hiogo, Hakediun, Niigata, and the cities of Tokio (formerly called Yedo) and Osaka were thrown open to foreign commerce. A revision of the treaties is desired by the Japanese Government, and negotiations to that end are proceeding.

The first of railway, from Yokohama to Tokio, 18 miles long, was opened for trac on the 17th of June, 1872; a line was also opened from Hago to Osaka, was extended in 1877 to the city of Kioto, and thence to Lake Biwa, and has lately hoen continued to Tsuruga, on the north-west coast of Japan. Several extensive acbemes for the connection of the principal cities of the Empire by rai have been projected, and so ne of them have been partially completed.

ין

The ports of Yokohama, Hiogo, Osaka, Nagasaki, and Hakodate are connected with each other, and with Europe, by lines of telegraph, and the telegraph stem has lately been extended to all the important towns of the Empire. Japan has juired the Universal Fostal Union, and for the past three years has conducted the, interna- tional as well as domestic postal service.

NAGASAKI.

Nagasaki is a city of great antiquity, and in the early days of European inter- course with the Far East was the most important seat of the foreign trade with Japan. It is admirably situated on the south-western coast of the island of Kinshiu. A melancholy interest attaches to the neighbourhood as the scene of the extinction of Christianity in the empire and the extermination of the professors of that religion in 1637. Near the harbour lies the celebrated island of Pappenberg, where thousands of Christian martyrs were thrown over the high cliff rather than go through the form of tram; ling on the cross. Not far from Nagasaki is also the village of Mogibay, where 37,000 Christians suffered death in defending themselves against the forces sent to subdue them. When the Christian religion was crushed and the foreigners expelled, to the Dutch alone was extended the privilege of trading with Japan, and they were confined to a small patch of ground at Nagasaki called Desima, the nonotony of their life being broken only by the yearly arrival and departure of the one or two ships in which the trade between Japan and the West was at that time carried on. By the treaty of 1858, Nagasaki was one of the ports opened to British trade on the 1st July in the following year. On entering the harbour of Nagasaki no stranger can fail to be struck with the admirable situation of the town and the beautiful panorama of hilly scenery opened to his view. The harbour is a landlocked inlet deeply indented with small bays, about three miles long with a width varying from half a mile to a mile. The native town is on the eastern side of the harbour, and is about two miles long by about three-quarters of a mile in extreme width. The foreign settlement adjoins the native town on the south side. The chief mercantile houses are situated on the bund facing the harbour, behind which are a few streets running paralel with it, and there are a number of private residences on the hill side. There Are English and Roman Catholic churches and a commodious club. The Nagasaki dock, purchased in 1884 by the Mitsu Bishi S. S. Co., is capable of docking the largest steamers. Its dimensions are:-Length (inside caisson at top), 438 feet; long.h on blocks, 375 feet; breadth of entrance at top 89, and at bottom, 77 feet depth of water on blocks at spring tides, 27 feet 6 inches, and at neap tides 22 feet. There is also a patent slip 220 feet in length, and extensive engine works covering about six and a-half acres. The climate of Nagasaki is mild and salubrious, but in

t;

Page 504 +