asaki, and the straits of Arima appear to be the
passage between the north side of Amacusa and Kiusiu.--E.]

Sec.6. _Arrival at Firando, and some Account of the Habits, Manners, and
Customs of the Japanese_.

We came to anchor about half a league short of Firando, about three
p.m. of the 11th June, 1613, the tide being then so much spent that we
could not get nearer. I was soon afterwards visited by _Foyne Sama_, the
old king of Firando, accompanied by his nephew, _Tone Sama_, who
governed the island under the old king.[10] They were attended by forty
boats or gallies, some having ten, and others fifteen oars of a side. On
coming near our ship, the king ordered all the boats to fall astern,
except the two which carried him and his nephew, who only came on deck,
both dressed in silk gowns, under which were linen shirts and breeches.
Each of them wore two _cattans_, or Japanese swords, one of which was
half a yard long in the blade, and the other only a quarter of a yard.
They wore neither turbans nor hats, the fore part of their heads being
shaven to the crowns, and the rest of their hair very long, and gathered
into a knot behind. The king seemed about seventy-two years of age, and
his nephew, or grandchild, twenty-two, who governed under him, and each
was attended by an officer, who commanded over their slaves as they
directed.

[Footnote 10: As the Portuguese, who first visited Japan, chose to
designate the sovereign of that country by the title of emperor, they
denominated all its provinces kingdoms, and their governors kings.--E.]

Their manner of salutation was thus: On coming into the presence of him
they mean to salute, they put off their shoes, so that they are
barefooted, for they wear no stockings. Then putting their right hand
within the left, they hold them down to their knees, bending their
bodies, then wag or swing their joined hands a little to and fro, making
some small steps to one side from the person they salute, and say _augh!
augh!_ I immediately led them into my cabin, where I had prepared a
banquet for them, and entertained them with a good concert of music, to
their great delight. I then delivered the letters from our king to the
king of Firando, which he received very joyfully, saying he would not
open it till _Ange_ came, who would interpret it. _Ange_, in their
language, signifies a pilot, and by this name was meant one _William
Adams_, an Englishman. He had come this way in a Dutch ship fr