downwards, who accept bribes a fine shall be imposed of double the amount, and they shall eventually be punished criminally according to the greater or less heinousness of the case. Nine men are allowed as attendants on a Chief Governor, seven on an assistant, and five on a secretary. If this limit is exceeded, and they are accompanied by a greater number, both chief and followers shall be punished criminally.
If there be any persons who lay claim to a title,[1] but who, not being Kuni no Miyakko, Tomo no Miyakko, or Inaki of districts by descent, unscrupulously draw up lying memorials, saying:—'From the time of our forefathers we have had charge of this Miyake or have ruled this district'—in such cases, ye, the Governors, must not readily make application to the Court in acquiescence in such fictions, but must ascertain particularly the true facts before making your report.
Moreover on waste pieces of ground let arsenals be erected, and let the swords and armour, with the bows and arrows of the provinces and districts, be deposited together in them. In the case of the frontier provinces which border close on the Yemishi, let all the weapons be mustered together, and let them remain in the hands of their original owners. In regard to the six districts of the province of Yamato, let the officials who are sent there prepare registers of the population, and also take an account of the acreage of cultivated land.
This means to examine the acreage of the cultivated ground, and the numbers, houses, and ages of the people.
Ye Governors of provinces, take careful note of this and withdraw."[2] Accordingly presents were made them of silk and cloth, which varied in the case of each person.
(XXV. 9.) This day a bell and box were provided in the Court.[3] The
- ↑ Lit. name.
- ↑ It would seem that at this time there was a reorganization of the local governments, giving a more centralized character to the administration, temporary Governors superseding in some measure the hereditary titular officials. No clear account is given of this change, but it seems plainly to be inferred from the above passage. Kokushi, 國司, are not now mentioned for the first time, and it is clear that the change was not made all at once. The similar change from the Daimio system to that of local prefectures in 1868 will occur to the reader.
- ↑ The box was for the purpose of receiving petitions and complaints, like the Me-yasu-bako of later times. This custom was derived from China. See Florenz's note.
