Japan and the Japanese

238 JAPAN. A. D. 1690.
and three without. Six of the poorer inhabitants of Nagasaki,
furnished by turns from all the streets, and relieved once u month,
have their appropriate stations within the island, whence they go
over to one another all
night, and indicate, according to the custom
of the country, both their
vigilance and the hours, by beating two
wooden cylinders, one against the other. They are also to watch
thieves, accidents of fire, and the like.
" During the sale, another guard, on purpose to watch accidents
of fire, is kept by our Ottona, his clerks, our landlords, the officers
of our exchequer, and the cooks. In their first round they knock
at every door, to ask whether there be no Japanese hid within, and
to recommend to the occupants to take care of the fire. The Ot-
tona must be present at least once in the night, when, according to
the custom of the country, his fire-staff, hung about with iron rings,
as the badge of his authority, is carried rattling after him. The
Dutch also keep, at the same time, a watch of their own people, to
take care that their masters be not robbed by their Japanese guards.
" The S/iip and Harbor Guard, appointed to have a general in-
spection over all foreigners, Chinese as well as Dutch, goes the round
of the harbor all
night, particularly about our island. The Spy
Guard watches from the mountains back of the town the approach
of foreign ships. The Gate Guard keeps the gate towards the
town, that being the only passage in and out. It is mounted daily
by five persons, their servants not computed. At the time of the
sale of our goods there are never less than ten, but sometimes twelve
or more, and to these, its regular members, are added at that time
two persons from the ship and harbor guard, two from the spy
guard, four furnished by the town of Nagasaki, four by the silk
merchants, and two on the part of the two chief magistrates
or
burgomasters of the lower town of Nagasaki, one of whom keeps
the journal of the guard, wherein (for the information of the governors
of the town, who, at least once a month, call for this record
and look it over) is entered what passes from hour to hour, and
what persons and things go in or out. Yet, without express orders
from the governors, or leave given by the Ottona, nothing
is suffered
to pass through but what is sent in by those appointed to provide
us with necessaries and unprohihited goods. For a still
greater
security, three sworn searchers are added to this guard, one or two