183 CHAPTER XVII. THE MOON'S ACCOUNT OF MATTERS CONNECTED WITH THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN. THE MOON was in the increase, the waxing Moon; I had seen her crescent larger on each of the several late days; she had become a half-moon. I listened and she spoke. "I sail over every part of your globe," she said, " and it happened rather more than thirty years ago, that in the course of my journey through the heavens, I was shining on the little island of Dezima, in the empire of Japan, and noting what was done there. When I look upon the various parts of that empire, I see strange things-things that to you, who are accustomed to the manners and habits of northern Europe, would appear even more strange than they do to me, who see so great variety in the conduct and customs of the people of your earth. "I will, this evening, tell you something about that far East; for this you may thank me, as, since few Europeans can visit the empire of Japan-it is only a small number of Dutch who are allowed to enter 'the sacred kingdom,'-information concerning it, is not so abundantly to be procured from men and books, as it may be concerning the countries which lie nearer to yourself. "In the first place, I should like to describe to you the island town of Dezima, and to tell you why it exists. The island is artificially built in the Bay of Nagasaki. If you will look at your map, you will find the Bay of Nagasaki on the eastern side of Niphon, which is the principal island of the empire. Just at the head of the bay in a beautiful spot, and with a most advantageous situation, stands the town of Nagasaki; it stretches up the side of a hill, and commands a good view of the sea before it. "Nagasaki is a neat town; it is made neat by law; the law requires that the houses in the different streets shall be built of one determined height, with uniform frontage and regulated number of windows; their windows are formed, not of glass, but of a peculiar kind of paper, at once fine and strong in texture, and which admits the passage of some portion of the rays of light; the streets, with their rows of houses, rise on the hill side in tiers one above another. "In the mouth of the bay, just before the town, and quite near to the shore, is the island-not one of nature's islands, but an artificial work of the clever and jealous Japanese, who have built it up from the bottom of the sea, which is shallow there, expressly for those very few Dutch merchants whom they permit to trade with them; it is six hundred feet long, and two hundred and forty feet wide, and is large enough to contain the buildings requisite for their accomodation. A wall surrounds it, and the opening, which admits by a bridge, to communication with Nagasaki, is defended by a guard house and police. "In this island town, the Dutch merchants pass often the best years of life, well watched by the city on the mainland, and by the guards and police kept on Dezima for that purpose. Only now and then by express permission, and much attended by police, are they permitted to visit the mainland, the capitals, or the interior of the empire. "It was with a view to keeping easy and effectual watch over these unfortunate merchants, that the government of Japan undertook the labour and expense of the construction of the artificial island. "There are never more than eleven Dutchmen there at once; they go usually from the Dutch settlement of Batavia; their Japanese guards, servants, and interpreters, dwell with them. In melancholy seclusion they live, perhaps from year to year, thinking with sad affection of a dear wife and family far away, whom they are not allowed to have at their side and under their guardianship. "On this island, and on the sea and coast around, I was looking down some thirty years ago; the day was clear and bright, and the waters of the bay were smooth; a ship with sails full spread, was steering her course for Nagasaki. The guards along the coast saw her; there was some agitation among them. Then I perceived that a boat was sent off. It neared the ship; there was more excitement on board the ship than there had been among the guards on the shore, for the guards had only to discharge the duties of their office; but there were on board that ship, persons whose hopes and happiness depended on what was soon to pass. "I perceived that a lady was upon the deck ; in her arms she held an infant child; at her side was her husband, and behind her stood a nurse. Her eyes were directed with earnest gaze towards the new, strange country, which she was approaching; she and her husband admired together the abrupt, bold coast; and the mountainous mainland; all was novel to the lady; she was greatly interested; but as she saw the boat put off from the shore, I observed her cheek grow pale. 'Now,' she said to her husband, my fate will soon be decided.' 66 6 Take courage, Mevrouw,' he replied 'I think they will admit you.' |