Japan and the Japanese

EXTENT OF THE EMPIRE. 10 1
to the accession of Faxiba. It is said, indeed, on Japanese author-
ity, that Jeso was first invaded in 1443, by the Japanese family of
Matsrnai ; but it is apparent from missionary letters, that, in 1020,
it was a recent settlement. The Japanese annals date the conquest
of the Lew Chew Islands from the year 1G10 ; and, according tc
Golownin, the Japanese settlements on Sagaleen have been subse-
quent to the voyage of La Perouse in 1787.
Of Nipon, at least equal in extent to Great Britain, and with
a population nearer, it would seem, to that of Great Britain now
than to what that island could boast in the reign of Elizabeth, the
missionaries were as yet acquainted only with the south-western
part
their establishments being confined to the kingdom of Nau-
gato, at its western extremity, where it is separated from Ximo by
a narrow strait, and to the great cities of Miako, Osaka and
Sakai, situated towards the middle of the southern coast. Many
princes, nobles and large landed proprietors, had fallen under the
influence of the Jesuits, and had professed the new faith ; but it
does not appear that either in Nipon or in the adjoining island of
Sikokf (about equal in extent to Sicily), any considerable progress
had been made in converting the rural population. It was in the
island of Xirno, the westernmost in situation and the second in size
(two thirds as large as Ireland), that the new religion had taken
the firmest root. The kingdom of Bungo, indeed almost the whole
of the eastern portion of that island, was thoroughly indoctrinated
with the new faith ; and such was still more the case with the
kingdom of Arima and the principality of Omura, embracing that
great south-western peninsula itself, divided into three smaller peninsulas
by two deep bays, one opening to the south, and the other
to the west, at the head of the latter of which is situated the city
of Nagasaki.
Founded in 1579 by converts to the new faith, and made the
centre of the Portuguese trade to Japan, as well as of the Jesuit
missions, Nagasaki had grown up with great rapidity ; nor was
any other worship practised in it except that of the new religion.
It had become the largest and most important town in Ximo ; and,
since the recent subjection of that island to the imperial authority,
according to the new policy of weakening the local princes, the
emperor had assumed the appointment of its governor.
9*
Nagasaki