Japan and the Japanese

222 JAPAN. A. D. 1690.
Royal Society, There was prefixed to it by the translator, Dr. L
G. Scheuchzer, a valuable introduction, containing a catalogue of
works upon Japan, which Charlevoix, in the similar catalogue at
the end of his History of Japan, has mainly copied ;
as was done
also by his publishers,
as to most of Kampfer's engravings.
Kampfer's work is divided into five books. The first book contains,
first, a
general and particular geographical description of the
empire, derived mainly from Japanese writers ; second, a disquisition
on the origin of the Japanese, whom Kampfer thinks, from
the evidence as well of language as of character, not to be a
Chinese colony, nor even to belong to the same stock ; third, the
stories, evidently mythical, which the Japanese give
of their own
and fourth, an account of the climate of Japan, its miner-
origin ;
als and metals, plants, animals, reptiles,
fish and shells.
The second book devoted to the political state of Japan contains,
first, their mythological history ; second, the annals of the Dairi,
with a description of their court and residence ; and third, a list
of the Kubo-Sama. This part of the work, at least the annals, is
sufficiently dry; but it contains the substance of all that the
Japanese know or believe as to the chronology of their own
history.
The third book describes the religious state of Japan, giving
an analytical view of the different creeds prevailing there, such as
throws great light upon the confused and mixed up view taken in
the letters of the Jesuit missionaries.
The fourth book treats of foreign relations and trade. The rise
and fall of the Portuguese missions, although the most interesting
portion of the history of Japan, is very slightly touched upon, as it
seems to have been no part of Kampfer's plan to revamp old
materials, but to collect new ones.
The fifth book, and much the largest, is devoted to his two jour-
neys from Nagasaki to Jedo and back those journeys having
furnished him with the principal opportunity he enjoyed of seeing
Japan
as it was.
" The place where the Dutch live," says Kiimpfer, " is called
Desima, that is, the Fore Island, the island situated before the
town; also, Desimamatz, or the Fore Island Street, it being reck-