g,
some square, and others round. The chief circulating coins are of
copper or iron. The workmen are very skilful: they manufacture cutlery
and sword-blades to perfection. They show great skill also in gold and
silver work. Their mirrors are of bronze, the reflecting surface being
of silver, and polished, the back and handle ornamented with various
devices. Everything, indeed, that a Japanese artisan produces, exhibits
a neatness and elegance which speaks well for the taste of the people.

We had a great deal of fine scenery in the excursions we made. There
are dense forests, and lofty mountains covered almost to their summits
with trees. No country has ever been subject to a more absolute
despotism than that which exists in Japan. There are two emperors--the
_Mikado_, who is the religious chief of the empire, the head of the
Sintoo religion; and the _Tykoon_, or _Siokoon_, who is the temporal
emperor, and the real source of all political power. His residence is
at Yedo. He has under him various great princes or chiefs, many of whom
are very powerful. Then there are noblemen of different ranks, who are
chiefly employed as officers under the crown, or governors of imperial
domains. Next to them are the Sintoo and Buddhist priests, the latter
of whom are under a vow of celibacy. The soldiers come after the
priests in rank. Their dress is very similar to that of civilians, but
they wear the embroidered badge of their respective chiefs. The fifth
class consist of medical men and literati, as also inferior government
officers. They are allowed, however, to wear swords and trousers.
Below them again are the merchants, who are despised by the superior
ranks, and are never allowed to wear swords. Mechanics rank the seventh
class, and the eighth and last is composed of farmers, serfs, and the
servants or feudal retainers.

I might mention many more things concerning Japan, but I should occupy
too much space, and I am anxious to give an account of the adventures we
ultimately encountered. We had enjoyed our visit so much to this
strange and beautiful country, that we were sorry when the time came for
quitting it, though we were about to visit still stranger and less known
regions. Bidding our kind friends farewell, we returned on board the
_Bussorah Merchant_. The next morning, having gone through the usual
formalities, we sailed down the magnificent harbour of Nagasaki and
steered a course for the Philippine