Japan and the Japanese

212 JAPAN. A. 1). 1512 1C90.
respect for his person, and a great opinion of his ho Sness. After a
very great drought, the country people, his neighb< as, desired him
to say a kitoo, or extraordinary solemn prayer, in order to obtain
rain. He answered that it was not in his power to make rain, and
that he could not assure them that his kitoo would obtain it.
However, at their pressing instances, he promised to do his utmost.
Accordingly, he wT ent up to the top of the mountain and made his
kitoo. The next day there fell suclr profuse showers as even to
wash away the smaller bridges in the city of Miako, which made
both the city and country believe that his kitoo had been rather too
strong. His companions, who came over with him from China, had
likewise very great respect paid them, as more immediate partakers
of his glory; so that even a cook, who came over with this
learned and sanctified company, was raised to the dignity of supe-
rior of one of the three convents of Nagasaki, where, by his sub-
lime understanding and reputed great knowledge, he obtained," and
in Kiimpfer's time still held, " the name and repute of a Godo, that
is, a person blessed with divine and most acute understanding,
whom they suppose to be able to find out by his Safari, or Enthu-
siastic Speculations, such mysterious truths as are far beyond the
reach of common knowledge."
What tended to favor Ingen's design was an edict lately issued by
the emperor, aimed at the few remaining Catholics, and also at the
sect of the Siuto or Moralists, requiring everybody to belong to
some sect of the recognized religions of Japan, and to have a
Drusi in their houses that is, a corner or altar consecrated to some
idol. Nevertheless, in spite of his favorable reception and eminent
learning and sanctity, Ingen failed to gain the submission of the
various Buddhist sects in Japan ; nor was his spiritual headship
acknowledged, except by the three Chinese convents.
Though the prohibition of the export of silver, mentioned as hav-
ing taken place in 1671, did not affect the Dutch, the very next
year the Japanese commenced a system of measures which, within
a quarter of a century, reduced the Dutch commerce to the very
narrow limit at which it has ever since remained. The first step
was to raise the value of the kobang to six tael eight maas of sil-
ver ; nor was this by any means the worst of it. The Dutch were