Japan and the Japanese

234 JAPAN. A. D. 1C90.
without them. He is obliged, by virtue of his office and by the
oath he hath taken, narrowly to examine into the conduct, lite and
behavior, not only of our servants and officers, but also of ourselves,
and to keep us to a strict obedience to the imperial orders, though
he is very cautious of laying any commands upon us of his own sole
authority, knowing that we would refuse to obey them.
" However, he hath so much power over us that in case any con-
siderable crime be committed, or any disregard shown to the impe-
rial orders, by any one of us, he can arrest him, and lay him in
irons, of which there are many and almost daily instances.
" Our present Ottona, losikawa Gibugemon, as on one side he
worked himself into no small esteem and favor with the govern-
ment by his great severity in the execution of his office, but chiefly
by having betrayed us and our interest in a late affair,* so much is
he, on the other side, hated by us. I will not take upon me to
examine what reasons he hath to allege for his conduct in that
affair, though I have been credibly informed he had very good ones.
Thus far I must do justice to his character, and own that he shows
a great deal of prudence in his conduct, that he is no ways given to
covetousness or falsehood, as, also, that he is an enemy to ignorance
and brutality, and so well versed in the moral doctrine of Koosi (or
Confucius], and in the history, laws, and religion of his country, that
he hath been desired to write the history of the province of Fisen.
" The Ottona has under him a Kif.zi Josi, or messenger, whose
business it is daily to examine into the condition and safely of
the locks at the water-gates, to look into the state of our ware-
houses and other buildings, and to give his master notice of what
he finds out of repair ; also several clerks, who are to make lists
of all the movable goods belonging to private persons, which may
be disposed of, to seal them up in the Ottona's name, and to take
thorn into safe custody.
" The Ottona hath the same salary allowed him by the Dutch
East India Company as the chief interpreter, and the same share
in the money detained by the order of the government from tko
price of our goods, besides several other advantages, as, for instance,
his salary as Ottona of another street in the town, many presents
* The smuggling affair mentioned on page 249.