Japan and the Japanese

220 JAPAN. A. D. 1690.
the Japanese were," in Kampfer's opinion, " their pride of warlike
humor being set aside, as civil, as polite and curious a nation as
any in the world, naturally inclined to commerce and familiarity
with foreigners, and desirous to excess to be informed of their his-
tories, arts and sciences. But," he adds, " as we are only mer-
chants, whom they place in the lowest class of mankind, and as
the narrow inspection we are kept under must naturally lead them
to some jealousy and mistrust, so there is no other way to gain
their friendship, and to win them over to our interest, but a willingness
to comply with their desire, a liberality to please their avari-
cious inclinations, and a submissive conduct to flatter their vanity.
'T was by this means I worked myself into such a friendship and
familiarity with my interpreters, and the officers of our island, who
daily came over to us, as I believe none before me could boast of,
ever since we have been put under such narrow regulations. Lib-
erally assisting them as I did with my advice and medicines, with
what information I was able to give them in astronomy and mathe-
matics, and with a cordial and plentiful supply of European liquors,
I could also in my turn freely put to them what questions I pleased
about the affairs of their country, whether relating to the government
in civil or ecclesiastical affairs, to the customs of the natives,
to the natural and political history ; and there was none that ever
refused to give me all the information he could, when we were alone,
even of things which they are strictly charged to keep secret. The
private informations thus procured from those who came to visit me
were of great use to me in
collecting materials for my intended his-
tory of this country ; but yet they fell far short of being altogether
satisfactory, and I should not, perhaps, have been able to compass
that design, if I had not by good luck met with other opportunities,
and in particular the assistance of a discreet young man, by whose
means I was richly supplied with whatever information I wanted
concerning the affairs of Japan. He was about twenty-four years
of age, well versed in the Chinese and Japanese languages, and
very desirous of improving himself. Upon my arrival, he was
appointed to wait upon me as my servant, and at the same time to
be by me instructed in physic and surgery. The Ottona, who is
the chief officer of our island
[of Desima], having been attended by
him under my inspection in a serious illness, suffered him to con