Japan and the Japanese

224 JAPAN. A. D. 1C90.
three acres). There is a narrow walk to go round along the dea
boards which enclose it. The houses are on both sides of a broad
street that runs across the island. These houses, and the whole
island, were built at the expense of some of the inhabitants of Naga-
saki, to whom, or their heirs, the Dutch pay a yearly rent of six
thousand five hundred taels a price far beyond the real value.
The houses, built of wood, and very sorry and poor, are two stories
high, the lower stories serving as warehouses, and the uppermost
to live in.
" The other buildings are three guard-houses, one at each end
and one in the middle of the island, and a place by the entrance,
where are kept all the necessary instruments to extinguish fires.
Water for the kitchen and for common use, which is a separate
charge in addition to the rent, comes from the river which runs
through the town, being brought over in pipes made of bamboos,
into a reservoir within the island.
" Behind the street is a convenient house for the sale of goods,
and two warehouses, strong enough to hold out against fire, built
by the Company at their own expense ; also, a large kitchen ; a
house for the deputies of the governors of Nagasaki, who have the
regulation of the trade ; a house for the interpreters, made use of
only at the time of the sale ; a kitchen and pleasure-garden ; a
place to wash linen and other things ; some small private gardens,
and a bath. The ottona, or chief ofiicer of the street, has also a
house and garden of his own.
" Such," says Kiimpfer, " is the state of the island," and such it
continues to the present time, " to the small compass of which the
Dutch have been confined by the Japanese; and as things now
stand, we must be so far satisfied with it, there being no hopes that
we shall ever be better accommodated or allowed more liberty by
so jealous and circumspect a nation.
down the country, in what manner or business they please. Very many of
them betake themselves to trade and commerce.]
" All beggars, and all persons that live on charity, shall be denied entrance.
" Nobody shall presume with any ship or boat to come within the palU
sades of Desima. Nobody shall presume with any ship or boat to pass undei
the bridge of Desima.
"No Hollander shall be permitted to come out, but for weighty reason*.'