Japan and the Japanese

DESCRIPTION OF DESIMA. 225
oned as one of the streets of Nagasaki. It has been raised from
the bottom, which is rocky and sandy, lying bare at low water
The foundation is of free-stone, and it rises about half a fathom
above high water mark. In shape it nearly resembles a fan with-
out a handle, being of an oblong square figure, the two longer
sides segments of a circle. It is joined to the town by a small
stone bridge, a few paces long, at the end of which is a guard-house,
where there are soldiers constantly upon duty. On the north, or
seaward side, are two strong gates, never opened but for lading and
unlading the Dutch ships. The island is enclosed with pretty
high deal boards, covered with small roofs, on the top of which is
planted a double row of pikes, like a chevaux-de-frise, but the whole
very weak, and unable to hold out against any force.
" Some few paces off, in the water, are thirteen posts, standing at
proper distances, with small wooden tablets at the top, upon which
is written, in large Japanese characters, an order from the gov-
ernors, strictly forbidding all boats or vessels, under severe penalties,
to come within these posts, or to approach the island.
" Just by the bridge, towards the town, is a place where they
put up the imperial mandates and proclamations, and the orders of
the governors.
" Besides this, the ottona, or chief officer of the street, chiefly
at the time of the sale, causes orders of his own, much to the same
purpose with those of the governors, to be put up on the other side
of the
bridge, just by the entry into the island.*
"
By my own measuring I found the breadth to be eighty-two
common paces, and the length
of the longest side two hundred and
thirty-six.
The surface is commonly estimated at a stadium (about
* A translation of one of these tablets is given by Kampfer, as follows :
" Courtesans only, but no other women, shall be admitted. Only the
ecclesiastics of the mountain Kofu shall be admitted. All other priests,
and all Jammabos, shall stand excluded." [Note by Kampfer. Kofu is
stated to be a mountain near Miako, a sanctuary and asylum for criminals,
no officers of justice being suffered to come there. Its inhabitants, many
thousand in number, lead an ecclesiastical life. All are admitted that de-
sire it, or who fly there for shelter, and are afterwards maintained for life,
if they can but bring in thirty taels for the use of the convent, and are
otherwise willing to serve the community in their several capacities These
monks are not absolutely confined to this mountain, but many travel up and