Japan and the Japanese

154 JAPAN. A. D. 16071618
July 17, with an interpreter and a Japanese gentleman as a guide
or conductor.*
The Oth of August they reached Osaka, defended by a fine castle,
in which dwelt Fide Jori, now eighteen years of age. He had
always been kept secluded, but enjoyed a large revenue, and had
many adherents, by whom, as the Dutch learnt, the hope of placing
him on the throne was zealously entertained.
Arriving at Miako, they learnt that a Portuguese embassy had
passed through it four days preceding. They were deputies from
Macao, who had landed at Kangoxima in a small vessel, and had
gone with rich presents to the emperor to solicit a renewal of trade
and indemnification for the vessels destroyed at Nagasaki two years
before. Accompanied by a large number of trumpeters and other
musicians, they marched, with great pomp, to the sound of tho
instruments, the whole of them, even their black slaves, clothed in
velvet of a uniform color. The governor of Miako, to whom they
had made rich presents, had furnished them with eighty-eight horses,
which they had equipped at their own expense.
Nor was this governor (the same apparently who had entertained
Don Rodrigo) less bountiful to the Dutch. He furnished them
with horses, a passport and letters to the chief of. the emperor's
council, but refused their presents, not being accustomed, he said,
to take anything from strangers. When they pressed him, he still
refused to accept anything now, but promised, if they had anything
left at their return, to allow them to remember him a piece of
disinterestedness by which the economical Dutch were greatly
charmed.
Just before reaching Seruga. they encountered Adams, the English
pilot, to whom they had written, and who, upon arriving at
Seruga, hastened to Konsequidono, the same secretary of the emperor
seen by Don Rodrigo, but whom the Dutch call president of
the council, to solicit for them a speedy audience. "While waiting
ambassadors had not been
for it, they learnt that the Portuguese
* There is a narrative of this journey, rather a perplexed one, apparently
written by Spex himself, added to the Relation of Verhoeven's voyage in
Recueil des Voyayes qui out servi a I'establisement dela Compugnie >lcs I/ides
Oriental dans les Provinces Unies. A full abstract of it is in the great
collection, Hist. Gen. des Voyages, vol. viii.