Japan and the Japanese

SPEX'S NEGOTIATIONS. 155
nor had a Spanish embassy, which had just arrived
very successful ;
from New Spain, with thanks to the emperor for his courtesies to
Don Rodrigo. The presents of this ambassador were very splendid ;
but his carriage was so haughty as to displease the Japanese.
"
demanded leave for the Spaniards to build ships, for which the for-,
ests and workmen of Japan afforded greater facilities than either
Manilla or New Spain, and to explore the coasts, the Spaniards'
ignorance of which had cost them the loss of some valuable vessels.
This was agreed to ; but the emperor declined the request for the
expulsion of the Dutch, saying that he had nothing to do with
these European quarrels. Adams was present at these interviews ;
nor did he fail by his representations to excite the suspicions of the
emperor against the Spaniards.
Sionsubrondono, the emperor's treasurer, freely
told the Dutch
that the Spaniards and Portuguese had represented them as coming
to Japan rather as privateersmen than as traders, and that, as
might be seen by the smallness of their present cargo, their chief
resource for trade was in the prizes they took. But Adams entered
with great zeal into their defence, insisting upon their honesty and
fairness as the qualities which had given them such success in trade,
referring to the recent truce with Spain as showing that plunder
tvas not their object, and excusing the smallness of the present
venture by the lack, as yet, of any regular treaty.
These representations were not without their effect. Konsequidono
received the Dutch very graciously, approved the requests which
they made on the subject of trade, and promised to lay them before
the emperor pending their visit to Jedo, for which he furnished
them with vessels, horses and guides. With much persuasion he
was at last induced to accept a present, which the Dutch regarded
as a special favor, as he had positively declined any from the Por-
tuguese and Spaniards. Before their departure, they were admitted
to an audience from the emperor, who inquired of them how many
soldiers they had in the Moluccas * whether ;
they traded to Borneo ;
whether it were true that the best camphor came from that island ;
what odoriferous woods the Dutch had in their country ;
He
and other
similar questions, to which they replied through their interpreter.
*
They had about four hundred, and the Spaniards about twice as many,