49
may certainly be included in this category, and the experience of every one who has resided here even for a short time must have convinced him that all these species of domestic animals abound. Another statement is that the country is deficient in timber, which may perhaps be correct of the neighbourhood of Nagasaki, but certainly does not apply to the rest of Japan. The facts that all the houses are constructed of wood, and that the maritime inhabitants possess countless junks and fishing-boats are a sufficient contradiction.
It is also incorrect to state that “the imports, mainly Cotton and Woollen goods, are paid for largely in Copper, in bars.”
Hakodaté is spelt Ho-Kodadi. Japan is far enough from London to excuse the author for being ignorant of the fact that the Tycoon is no lounger Emperor of Japan, but even supposing the news of the Mikado’s restoration to have taken two years to reach England, that is no reason for calling the Tycoon a Kouba, and stating that he was assisted by a council of the great feudal princes.
The word Kubô, which the common people applied to the Tycoon, was no official title. The opinion of one or two of the great daimiôs may now and then have been asked for or offered, but no such institution as a council composed of the eighteen Kokushi daimiôs existed at any time.
The great earthquake at Yedo, which is said by Dr. Cornwell to have occurred in 1860, took place five years earlier, and the number of persons who lost their lives on that occasion, which is stated by him at 200,000, is certainly immensely exaggerated. Even the Japanese, who have a passion for large figures, allow that not more than 104,000 were killed.
In order to give his readers a general idea of the manners and customs of the people, the author states: “One of their amusements, which they share with the Chinese, is strange to us—that of flying immense kites; not by the boys, who only look on and admire, but by the men.” Certainly, if the men do now and then indulge in this pastime, the little boys cannot be said to abstain from it.
