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THE fact that our admiral on the Chinese station has been successful in opening friendly intercourse with the Japanese authorities, and forming with them some sort of national agreement and understanding, is one of

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JAPAN.

[MARCH,

those remarkable occurrences, which, in more tranquil times of peace, when we were happily free from the painful excitement of the present hour, would have commanded much attention and curiosity.

When the Jesuit Missionaries reached Japan, towards the latter end of the sixteenth century, Japan was an open country, accessible to all. They met with full toleration, and propagated, without hindrance, their paganized Christianity, until their converts were computed at 200,000. But Rome does not inculcate submission to the powers that be; nay, she has often taken upon her to release subjects from the allegiance they owe their princes, and encouraged them to rebellion, when the interests of the church so required it. We cannot wonder, if, under such auspices, the so-called Christians of Japan were found, after a time, arrayed in rebellion against the legitimate authorities, and civil wars ensued, which ended in the utter extirpation of Christianity from the islands, and the shutting up of the Japanese empire from intercourse with foreigners of every cline, Asiatics or Europeans, the Chinese and Dutch excepted, who were permitted to hold each one factory at Nagasaki, a sea-port near the western extremity of the island of Kiu-Siu; and so things have remained since the year 1640.

Between the empires of Japan and Great Britain, in situation and kindred circumstances several curious features of resemblance exist. Each consists of several islands grouped together into one kingdom; and as in Great Britain, so in Japan, one is superior, the island of Niphon, about 860 miles long by 170 in its greatest breadth. Moreover, the situation of Japan off the eastern coast of Asia, is similar to that of Great Britain off the western coast of Europe, and would seem to intimate that this insular empire is fitted, if raised by the healthful influence of Christianity, to exercise as powerful an influence on the affairs of Asia as our own country has exercised on the affairs of Europe. The extent of the sea-coast, the numerous harbours, and the proximity of the sea to every part of the Japanese dominions, indicate the future attainment of maritime preponderance. The country may be called mountainous, and the climate, far more severe than that of European climates in the same parallels, is calculated to brace the human frame with hardihood and energy. Thus, by the application of human industry, a country, often rugged in its aspect, is made productive, and labour and skill, overcoming every obstacle, render even the sterile rock fruitful. The sides of the hills are terraced, and sown with rice and planted with vegetables; so much so, that scarcely a foot of ground to the tops of the mountains is left uncultivated. The staple product is rice, used by all classes, from the emperor to the peasant; and in the middle and southern provinces it is yielded so plentifully as to supply the northern portions of the empire, where the cold is too great for it to thrive. Besides, they grow barley, buck-wheat, maize, and other grain, also peas and beans, which are much used. But, next to rice, the tea-plant has most care bestowed on it, and to such an extent is it prized throughout the islands, that, besides larger plantations, every hedge on every farm consists of the tea-plant. Domestic animals are few, and kept only for agricultural purposes; and fish, fowl, and venison, with submarine vegetables of various kinds, complete the culinary statistics of the Japanese.

1855.]

JAPAN.

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If we look to their artistic and manufacturing attainments, our ideas of their energy and industry will not diminish; nay, they will be found in advance of the Chinese, whom we have been accustomed to consider as the most civilized of modern heathen nations. Their lacquer-work is unrivalled, and the estimation in which it is held in Europe is evidenced by the prices paid for, and the places assigned to, the very ordinary articles which reach these western countries: the few specimens of superior art which have escaped the vigilance of Japanese excise are deposited in the Royal Museum at the Hague. The varnish, the resinous produce of a shrub-oerosino-ki, or varnish plant-is tedious to prepare, and tedious in its application. Five different coats have to be applied, suffered to dry, and then ground down with a fine stone or reed. Although skilled in the use of mother-of-pearl figures, they do not understand the cutting of precious stones; but the want of jewellery is supplied by a beautiful metallic composition called syakfdo, resembling fine enamel, and used for girdle-clasps, sword-hilts, &c. In the tempering of steel they also excel, and their sword-blades are said to be so excellent, as to be capable of cutting through a nail or a European sword without turning or notching the edge. One hundred pounds value is not thought too much to give for a very fine sword-blade, while an old one of tried temper is considered to be beyond price. Their silk-manufacture is said to bear away the palm from that of China, and their porcelain is also pronounced to be superior.

If we look to the educational department, we find that Japan has long possessed the art of printing, and reading is the favourite recreation of both sexes. Their literature comprises works on science, history, biography, geography, travels, natural history, moral philosophy, poetry, &c. In astronomy especially they seem to have made extraordinary progress. They have learned the use of most European instruments, and, in imitation of them, Japanese artists are said to have succeeded in making good telescopes, barometers, and thermometers.

The Japanese are of the Mongol stock, but more comely than the generality of that race. They are said to be muscular and intellectual, well-made, alert, and fresh-coloured. Their ordinary dress is a national costume used by all ranks and classes, and differing only in colour and materials. It consists of a loose wide gown worn over other garments, with sleeves enormously wide and long, and fastened round the waist by a girdle. Those of the lower orders are made of linen or calico; of the higher orders, of silk, with the family arms woven or worked into the back and breast. In the bosom and girdles are placed such articles of value or convenience as they carry about their person, while the portion of the huge sleeves which hangs below the elbow, being closed, helps out the completeness of the pocket department. Amongst other articles dropped into this convenient sleeve, are clean, neat squares of white paper, being the Japanese substitutes for pocket handkerchiefs. The ladies' robes are after the same fashion, but of brighter colours, and bordered with embroidery or gold. Upon state occasions is superadded a cloak, and a singular pair of puckered trowsers. They are so made as to be distinctive of the wearer's rank. The higher orders also mark their superiority by wearing two swords on the same side, one above the other: others of less dignity wear one; while to the lower orders this appendage of nobility

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KASHMÍR AND ITS INHABITANTS.

[MARCH,

is altogether precluded. Their shoes, if such they can be called, are most singularly inconvenient. They are soles of straw, matting, or wood, held on by an upright pin or button passing between the two principal toes. It must be very consolatory to the Japanese, that, when they enter a house, they divest themselves of these awkward appendages. The head-dress is that part of the costume which most strongly marks the distinction between the sexes. The men shave the entire front and crown of the head, and, gathering carefully together what remains on the back of the head and temples, form therewith a sort of tuft on the bald skull. The black hair of the ladies is left in its natural profusion, arranged in the form of a turban, and stuck full of pieces of fine tortoiseshell, about fifteen inches long, and the thickness of a man's finger, highly polished. Their faces are painted red and white, their lips purple, with a golden glow, their teeth are blackened, and their eyebrows extirpated. Every one, high and low, male and female, carries a fan. It may be seen in the hand or the girdle. It serves a variety of purposes. Visitors receive on their fan the dainties presented to them; the beggar the alms which are bestowed; and as the criminal of high birth stretches forth to receive a fan presented to him on a salver of a peculiar form, his head is severed from his body.

Are they civilized, this people? Let us pause before we reply. Their civilization is like their lacquer-work, glossy, but superficial.

KASHMIR AND ITS INHABITANTS.

The

IN our last Number we mentioned that one of our Punjab Missionaries-the Rev. R. Clark-had recently returned from an interesting visit to Kashmír and other countries north of the Punjab. object of this tour was to preach the gospel as there was opportunity, and to ascertain what hopes existed of carrying forward permanent Missionary operations in that direction. He was accompanied by an experienced Christian friend and three members of the native-Christian flock at Amritsar-Suleiman, Shamaun, and Yakub, of some of whom accounts have been given in former Numbers of the "Gleaner." We think our readers will peruse with interest some extracts from the communications we have received from him.

Sirinagar, the capital of Kashmír, was reached on May the 20th, exactly a month after their departure from Amritsar. Mr. Clark thus relates their proceedings there

On our arrival we were recommended to carry on our work for the first few days as quietly as we could, at any rate until we had had the interview which we desired with the maharajah, Goolab Singh. It was thought, that as Missionary work was almost, if not altogether, unknown in the country, our object would be thus in the best manner attained. In a day or two the interview took place, and we had an opportunity of introducing the subject of religion, and of mentioning generally the work in which we are engaged. We were enabled also, through the kindness of one of our friends in England, to lay before the maharajah a present, which was most kindly received. We had, up to this time, refrained from doing

1855.]

KASHMÍR AND ITS INHABITANTS.

29

more than holding conversations with as many people as we could get together, and distributing books in different parts of the city, but we now began to preach at once; and as the maharajah must be acquainted with our proceedings, we have, I believe, obtained the tacit permission to preach the word of God in the whole of his dominions, which extend from Ladak and Iskardo on the north, to Chumba and Jummu on the south. We have since had another interview with the maharajah, in which his favour was still more marked. Our three Christians have had also an opportunity to see him, and were called upon by him, before his whole durbar, to give an account of their faith, and the reasons why they were led to embrace Christianity. They seem to have well made use of the opportunity, and each, in turn, to have given a straight-forward, simple, and beautiful testimony to the truth. The maharajah was particular in his inquiries as to whether they had become Christians from conscientious motives; and when they assured him that it was so, his reply was, before all his people, that they had acted rightly.

For more than the last three weeks of our residence at Sirinagar-we remained there precisely a month-every morning and evening we preached in the city. We have also done the same since our return from İslamabad. We were numerous enough to divide ourselves into two parties, and thus to preach in two places both morning and evening, so that four parts of the city were visited each day, and at each of these four places, two of us addressed a greater or a less number of persons. In this manner almost every part of the city was visited. Two places, however, in two of the most populous parts, were especially selected, and at these we endeavoured to make more particular impression. At both of these places we hired a room opening into the streets, which, although too small to be used as chapels, were yet very convenient to hold conversations in, and also to distribute books. They thus became our headquarters.

The number of inhabitants of the city is estimated by Vigne at about 80,000 people. The same number was mentioned to me by Dr. Honingberger, the maharajah's European physician; and from the very large size of the town, and from the dense population in particular parts, the estimate appears a probable one. By far the greater number are Mahommedans, and, interspersed amongst thein, are many Kashmírí Brahmins and other Hindus. The Mahommedans here, as everywhere else, are exceedingly bigoted, and cannot endure the gospel. The divinity of our Saviour, and the ascribing of salvation to Him alone, is a stumbling-block which greatly irritates them. The result, therefore, of our preaching was, that in a few days we could not, in particular parts of the town, stand up to preach, without being at once opposed by a noisy crowd, who did every thing to hinder our work, and who not unfrequently would raise noise almost amounting to a disturbance. The people, however, are naturally exceedingly excitable and irritable, and are also, from centuries of oppression, proverbially timid. At other parts of the city, where the Hindus were more numerous, we were almost invariably heard with respect, and generally also with attention.

Before we proceed further with these extracts we shall briefly sketch the personal appearance of the Kashmírians.

The Kashmirians are either Mussulmans or Hindus. The lat

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