Japan and the Japanese

258 JAPAN. A. D. 16901692.
houses, havre Ogates at each end. which are always J closed at nio-ht o
and often in the day, when there is the least occasion lor it. The
streets of Nagasaki are neither straight nor broad, but crooked,
dirty and narrow, leading some up and others down hill, on account
of the irregularity of the ground upon which the town is built.
Some of the steepest have stair-cases of stone. They are full stocked
with inhabitants, as many as ever they will hold.
" The houses of the common people are mean, sorry buildings,
small and low, seldom above one story high. If there be two
stories, the uppermost is so low that it scarce deserves the name.
The roof is covered with shavings of fir wood [shingles?] fastened
by other pieces of wood laid across. Indeed, the whole structure is
of wood, as are most buildings throughout the empire. The walls
within are wainscoted and hung with painted and variously-colored
paper.* The floor is covered with mats wove of a considerable
thickness, which they take care to keep exceedingly clean and
neat. The rooms are separated from each other by movable
paper screens. Seats and chairs they have none, and only some
few household goods, chiefly such as are absolutely necessary for
daily use in the kitchen and at meals. Behind every house is a
back yard, which, though never so small, yet contains always some
curious and beautiful plants, kept with a great deal of care.
"The houses of eminent merchants, and of other rich people, are
of a far better structure, commonly two stories high, and built
after the Chinese manner, with a large court-yard before them and
a garden behind.
" The palaces of the two resident governors take in a large spot
of ground, standing something higher than the rest of the town.
The buildings are very neat and handsome, and all uniform ; strong
gates and well guarded lead into the court about which they are
arranged.
" Besides the governors' palaces there are some twenty other
houses in Nagasaki belonging to the principal nobility of the. island
of Kiusiu, always occupied by some of their vassals, who take care
of them, and in which the owners lodge when they come to town.
* It would seem that E irope had derived the idea of paper-hangings, as
substitute for tapestry, fr m Japan.