Japan and the Japanese

252 JAPAN. A. D. 1C90.
arms, including those made in Japan after European patterns ;
penter's knives ;
car-
" Our ships
silver.
cannot be laden, nor set sail, till
special leave has
been given, and the day of their departure determined by the court.
When they are laden, all our private goods and what else we have
to bring on board, must be again narrowly searched. For this
purpose, two of our landlords, two apprentices of the interpreters,
and two clerks, with some kulis, or workmen, about two or three
days before the departure of the ships, call upon every one in his
room, as well those who stay at Desima as those who are to return,
and who, during the time of sale, have been lodged in our empty
houses. These people visit every corner, and examine all our
things piece by piece, taking an exact memorandum of what they
find ; then they bind them together with straw ropes, and put their
seals to them, along with a list of what the parcel contains, for the
information of the gate-guard, who would else open them again.
All contraband goods arc seized at this search. Should any of
these be found upon any Dutchman, the possessor would be at
least banished the country for Hie, and the interpreters and serv-
ants appointed for his service and all other suspected persons would
be put to the rack, till the seller and all his accomplices were discovered,
by whose blood only is such a crime to be expiated. Of
this we had a late instance in the imperial steward's own secretary,
who, having endeavored to send over some cimeter blades to China,
was executed for it, with his only son, not above eight years old.
Upon my own departure, although my things, for good reasons,
were visited but slightly, and over a bottle, yet they seized upon an
old Japanese razor and a few other things, just because they happened
to see them.
" The day determined for the departure of our ships drawing
near, they proceed to lade their cargoes one after another. Last
of all, the arms and powder are brought on board, followed by the
ship's company, who must again pass in review according
to the
list which was given in upon the ship's
arrival. The ship being
ready, she must weigh her anchors that instant and retire two
leagues off the town towards the entrance of the harbor, where she
rides till the other ships are laden in the same manner. \Vhen all
the homeward-bound ships are joined, they proceed on their voyage,