REVIEW.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XX, 11 September 1861, Page 8

REVIEW.

TEN WEEKS IN JAPAN* [From the Clerical Journal.'}

Ten weeks are not a long experience on which to found an elaborate work upon a country, its laws, and the manners and customs of its inhabitants ; but for all that, Bishop Smith must not be hastily classed among those vain and flippant travellers who skim over the surface of the world, and fondly imagine that, because they have seen a country and visited a place, therefore they know all about it. On the contrary, every page of this volume furnishes conclusive proof that its author bore with him, to this re-opened, and now most interesting country, a mind fully prepared with knowledge of it ; a liberal, kindly disposition to exclude all prejudices, and make due allowance for the force of immemorial customs ; a catholic understanding of men and manners ; aud a firm determination to guard his judgment from those influences of surprise and love of novelty, which generally lead the unthinking to praise what is new to them, simply because it happens to be new.

In explaining the constitution of the empire, he dwells much upon the power of the great Daimios, or territorial grandees of the empire. Most of these princes, who resemble in position the feudal nobles of the Middle Ages, are Conservative to the backbone. Their power is immense, the extent of land which they own enormous, their followers and dependents innumerable,and theirwealthsurprising to aEuropean. The whole territory of Japan is, indeed, parcelled out among these chieftains, of whom (according to Bishop Smith) there are two hundred and sixty-four. Of these there are filty-one, none of whom has an income of less than 100,000 kokus. The koku is a measure of rice, and serves for the standard of value. The Bishop estimates il at fifteen shillings ; so that the smallest yearly income among these fifty-one lords is equal in amount to 000 of our money : in actual value it is very much more. One of them, however, the Prince of Kanga, is reputed to be worth 1,027,700 kokus, or £770,775. What is the reputed wealth of a Marquis of Westminster, or even of a Rothschild, to this? Another, the Prince of Satsuma, is worth nearly a£600,000 per annum ; the Princes of Sendai, Hosokawa, and Kuroda, have from to half-a-million a-year ; and to eight other princes are attributed incomes, varying from to 56300,000. The three titular brothers of the Emperor divide per annum. In forming an idea of the real value of these sums, the Bishop tells us that, bearing in mind the relative expense of living in Europe and Japan, we must multiply them by three; so that the yearly income of the Prince of Kanga, for instance, could only be represented in England by a sum of £2,300,000 sterling.

These facts are very astonishing, and are certainly quite new to us ; but the Bishop states them with great minuteness, and vouches for them as genuine. These great lords are necessarily compelled to maintain large armies of dependents. There is, in fact, no middle class in Japan worth speaking of. Out of the population of Yeddo, which is estimated at two millions and a- half of souls, only a quarter of a million can be attributed to the trading community and another quarter of a million to the priesthood ; the remaining two millions are the retainers and dependents of the Tycoon, or temporal Emperor, and the great lords whom we have mentioned. Such a state of things is difficult for us to understand ; but it must neither be dismissed with groundless incredulity nor denied its due weight in considering how to regulate our dealings with Japan. To be surprised that these great nobles should be exceedingly conservative, and unwilling to interfere with the established order of things, is to betray a very slender knowledge of human nature. As the Bishop puts it, " the majority of them see no adequate inducements to undergo the risk of obvious and grave dangers to their continued rule, for the sake of inconsiderable and uncertain benefit to their material wealth ;" and we quite agree with him when he points out these facts as a warning to Europeans not to interfere hastily with these deeply-rooted institutions. Let us not imagine that, because our superior artillery would enable us to batter down their seaports, the conquest of Japan would be an easy task. When there has been need the Japanese have shown themselves a brave and martial people, and the Bishop's words are weighty when he pronounces it "not beyond the bounds of possibility that a war against foreigners and a repulsion of European encroachments might revive the dormant military ardour of the nation and unite the whole Japanese race in a war of patriotism against the intruders. In such an event, the mountain fastnesses of the interior would afford an impregnable stronghold to their armies ; and the history of our English Edwards, ineffectually pursuing the Scottish Highland rebels to their mountainous retreats, may find its counterpart in the inglorious, impolitic struggle with the government and people of Japan." Such, indeed, we believe would be the case. What can we offer to these great Daimios to induce them to risk their eminent position and extraordinary power? Are these men to be bribed with visions of free trade and the potentiality of getting Manchester cotton a penny a yard cheaper ? They may possibly like to buy our steam-engines and our wares, and to pay a good price for them ; but they are hardly the sort of " savages" to be much impressed with our civilization, or the personal prestige of the grandees whom we send over to them. Taking our own formula for estimating men, namely, by their money value, we are afraid that Mr. Alcock, and even Lord Elgin himself, are neither of them likely to beget any reverent regard in the mind of such a person as the Prince of Kanga, " the head of the Conservative party of Daimios, and principal supporter of a reactionary policy in regard to foreign nations." This great lord, as we have already seen, has an income of nearly two millions and a-half sterling. He has " 40,000 men of arms in the capitol, dispersed over his various palaces in the city and suburbs of Yeddo;" and he is "able at any time to fall back on the faithful service of armed myriads of brave re-

* Ten WeeJca in Japan. By Geobgb Smith, D.D., Bishop of Victoria (Hong Kong). Longman and

tamers." When, therefore, this man sets his face against intercourse with foreign nations, and when, as it is reported he did, he places his hand upon his sword-hilt, and, in a passionate burst of patriotic enthusiasm, declares that it would be better for the Japanese nobles to die fighting for their country's honour than to sign their consent to the revolutionary provisions of the late treaties, it is a matter not to be regarded lightly. It is true that there is in Japan a revolutionary party of men, who profess what are called liberal opinions and who advocate free intercourse. These men are pretty much as the Brights and the Roebucks of Europe, for they deride the Conservatives and call them by such opprobious names as "Fiogs in a Well.*' But they are all small men in comparison with the great Daimios to whom they are opposed ; and the Princes of Kanga and Satsuma could, to use an English vulgarism, "buy up the whole lot."

The information which the Bishop gives us respecting the constitution of Japan is equally minute and curious. The Tycoon or Siogoon, or Temporal Emperor, is one of the great territorial lords ; his income is enormous, and he has 80,000 armed retainers. The nature of the mysterious power of the Mikado, or Spiritual Emperor,, seems to us more clearly explained by the Bishop than ever it was before. Apparently he is the incarnation of a supreme or guiding power, residing in the inner recesses of the constitution, and never invoked but to control the power of the Siogoon and the oligarchs. The practical business of the nation is carried on by the Temporal Emperor, who has the rod of power, and who holds the life of every Japanese (the great nobles included) in hie hand. But, in the remote distance, shrouded behind a veil of obscurity, which is only to be removed upon grest and solemn occasions, is the Spiritual Emperor, to whom, by the theory of the constitution, even the Siogoon is accountable. To understand this it is only necessary to bear in mind those theoretical parts of our European constitutions which are so valuable, although they are never brought into play. As the Bishop hints, there can be no doubt that the Siogoon, who theoretically holds the lives of the great nobles in his hand, would not exercise his power without a thorough conviction that the person upon whom he did so had no means of resistance ; nor would the Mikado be likely to send a message to perform Harakiri (or " happy despatch") to any Siogoon whose downfall was not absolutely certain. In our own country the royal power of veto presents something analogous to this. No one denies that the Queen has the power to veto any measure, even if it be required by the nation and supported by the unanimous voice of both Houses of Parliament ; only no one believes in the possibility of her ever doing so. The institution of Harakiri is very fully described by the Bishop. It is one of the most solemn and sacred articles in the Japanese creed, that when a man has disgraced himself, or has brought down upon his head the displeasure of his sovereign, he is bound, at the command of that sovereign, to take away his own life. This is done according to a form settled by ancient custom, and every Japanese boy of gentle blood is taught how to perform it in a graceful and dignified manner. Such a practice is of course abhorrent to the Christian faith, and, when we hear of it, affords au additional reason for hoping that the day may come when this intelligent and, for the most part, humane people shall be gathered into the fold. As matters at present stand, however, the act of Harakiri is entirely consistent with the Japanese standard of religion and morality, and the Bishop gives an interesting description of a Japanese drama, one of the principal scenes in which was the performance of this act. Seated in the centre of a hall and robed in the resplendent white silken vostment specially worn on such an occasion, the heroic prince had assembled around him a group of his faithful retainers and the members of his household. With his magnificent lady and her female attendants occupying their position on his side, he received the affectionate condolences of his family, and the tearful sympathy of his servants, waiting in calm magnanimity the expected formal sentence which was to seal his fate. The imperial missive soon arrived and was presented in due pomp. The fatal seal was opened, the letter disclosed its startling contents, and the severe sentence of selfinflicted death was read aloud in a voice of calm enduring fortitude. The women oook an opportunity of retiring from the scene ; and then followed, in all its harrowing details, the spectacle of the Harakiri, the " Self-diseinboweltnent," — the "Happy Dispatch" or national mode of legalized suicide in Japan. The rival-plotting prince sat in a chair with another witness, expressly appointed to make their official report of the final scene. The rest of the assemblage, and the heroic Prince of Ako himself, continued in their kneeling posture on the floor. The moralising minstrel of the chorus struck his plaintive notes in unison with the sad scene. Surrounded by his faithful adherents and attendants, the hero of the tragedy delivered his harangue of quiet loyal submission to the Imperial will, and of parting farewell to his household and friends. Long and solemn were the words of his address, and still and deep were the heaving sighs and weepings of the sur« rounding group, all on their knees, silent, and apparently engaged in prayer. The fatal sword was drawn from its sheath, and held aloft as he concluded his address. With firmly compressed lip and determined grasp of hand, he inflicted the deep mortal wound, aud deliberately drew the inserted blade across his abdomen. By a little adriot- management of his robe, and by secretly and gradually uncovering a portion of the red cloth of hi 3 inner dress, the actor contrived the appearance of having his white official costume deeply stained with the fast-flowing crimson blood. Extricating the sword, he retained it in fris hand ; and, as the life-blood escaped from his body, he continued his impassioned harangue and bequeathed his last legacy of affectionate counsel to his family and friends. Gradually he became weaker, his voice was fainter, and nature was fast sinking. The spectators among the audience were carried away by the melancholy details of princely Buffering, and intense sympathy was excited in the silent crowds on behalf of the fallen fortunes of the hero. The aged musician of the chorus first gave forth his commentary in a slow dirgelike air, and then sank down to a single slowly-re-I peated note on his guitar, the recurring solitary twang of which resembled the minute-gun of death, or imitated drop by drop tlio oozing out of life. There were the symptoms of approaching death, the gradual fainting and loss of strength, the spasmodic breathing and contortions of the neck. Speech at first became wellnigh inarticulate, and at length entirely failed. After a few pantings for breath, nature oould no longer prolong the- struggle, and he fell prostrato on his forehead in all the established orthodox posture of heroic suicide, with the sword still firmly clenched in his hand, and with the marks of ignominious nervousness and fear excluded from the falling scene. A favourite attendant or best friend, after a few moments' pause, reverently approached the spot, and drew the closely-pressed weapon from the dead man's graep. Life bad fled} death wwired its victim}!

Japanese law had asserted its inviolable, supremacy ; and the sanctity of the Imperial palace had beeu vindicated. The individual offender had offered up himself to appease the Imperial anger; and, by this legally-constituted form of suicide, his family and descendants were preserved in the possession of their principality and lands, and in untarnished rank and honour.

The history of Christianity in Japan is no- ( torious to the world. It was introduced by the Jesuits, and took deep root among the people, until the arrogant insolence of the Roman Catholic priesthood, and their violation of the laws of the empire, awoke a feeling of hostility so deadly, that the whole faith was suddenly extirpated after the most fearful and violent fashion. Making the not altogether unnatural mistake of believing that Christianity meant arrogance, greediness, luxury, and lavr- • lessness, the Japanese nobles determined to keep its professors for ever from their shores, and thus, not for the first or (alas that it should be so !) the last time, was the religion of the Prince of Peace turned into a cause of bloodshed by the ministers of the Roman Catholic Church. From what the Bishop saw, he believes that Christianity may almost be said ,to be extinct in Japan. By the laws it is criminal to profess it, and annually there is performed a fearful ceremony, when the Japanese trample on the holy symbol of our faith, in testimony of their abhorrence of it. Let us pass this painful subject in sadness, remembering the touching appeal of Him whom they insult when others offered Him personal , violence and indignity — "Father, forgive them : they know not what they do." Boat-building by Steam Machinery. — A company is about to be introduced for the application of the patents of Mr. Nathan Thompson, an American engineer, for boatbuilding by steam machinery. This machinery is suitable for the construction bf boats of every size and mould, and durability and safety are attained from the uniformity and perfection of the various fittings, while the saving in time and labour i 3 extraordinary. The inventor has published testimonials from a large number of the principal persons in the United Kingdom connected with navigation and the working of elaborate constructive establishments, and these are all of the most unequivocal character as regards the value of the system both in a national and commercial sense. "A cutter thirty feet in length can," it is said, " be constructed and delivered perfect in every respect within a few hours after the order is received for it," and the master "shipwright of Woolwich Dockyard, who was appointed by the Admiralty to examine and report on the method, has fully corroborated the opinions expressed by other authorities. The revolution which it is likely to create will, it is believed, be analogous to that effected in other departments of labour by the sewing machine, and the contrivances which have of late years multiplied the production of clocks and watches. In our colonies and distant territories, where so much of the progress of each settlement depends upon the facilities for r.Wer and coast navigation, it advantages are likely also to be of especial importance. — Home News, June 26. The Austrian Police in Venice. — A. correspondent of the Times writes: —My family, consisting of my wife, children, governess, and servants, have been travelling from Rome to the Tyrol. The first inconvenience experienced in virtue of Austrian proceedings was a considerable detour. The Austrian government permits but two ingressts into its dominions along the Italian frontier, as a proper method of shutting out the influx of revolutionary pestilence from the other side. Consequently, the inhabitants of Lombardy, no matter how near they may be to the Austrian lines, if called by business within them, are obliged to make endless miles of extra journey. My family, having accordingly made its way at last with much additional labour to the tolerated little gap in the otherwise impassable fence around Austrian territory, found themselves on the bauks of the Po, without any proper means of conveyance across. The imperial government tells travellers that it has no objection to their getting across the river at the point of Lagoscuro, and therefore, I suppose, has removed the pontoons. After much delay a boat was found, and so, finally, the carriage and party were rowed to the other bank. Here they were received by a host of officials, who vied with each other in scowls and the gruff intonation of their impertinences. Of course, the first thing was an immediate challenge for the passport, which naturally was English. The official having looked at it began a torrent of impudent questions in bad Italian, mixed with a commentary of muttered insults in German. My wife then ventured timidly to reply to one of his queries in the latter language, whereupon the official ordered her to drop that tongue and address him only in Italian.' Then, with the movement of a man conscious of high command, he shouted out the order to search well all the luggage. No contraband was to be found, but one lynxeyed functiouary caught sight of an album containing photographs, and, on looking through it page by page, discovered a portrait of Garibaldi. The iniquitous portrait was extracted with due reprobation, and then condemned to the flames. It is not a pleasant prospect to be at the mercy of a low bully at every station of one's journey, and to be summoned, as a rule, three times a night for one's passport, which occurred to my family at Rovigo between the evening of one day aud the morning of the following, after having undergone the sufficiently rigorous inspection of the official gentlemen who rule the roast at Lagoscuro. Aluminium. — This new metal is taken more and more into use. A firm at Newcastle-on-Tyne have begun the manufacture of it on a large scale, in the pure state and as bronze. Unexpected results have been obtained in experimenting with it as an alloy ; twenty parts of aluminium with eighty of copper produce a metal which, to the eye, has all the appearance of gold ; alter the proportions, and mix ten of aluminium with ninety of copper, and the result is a metal singularly hard, and of excellent application for pivots and bearings in machinery. We hear, too, of other ways in which aluminium is likely to be available in commerce and domestic life. In one Tespect, seeing that it does not tarnish, or become discoloured by exposure, it is superior to I silver.— -Melbourne Mining Journal.