Japan and the Japanese

HORSEMANSHIP. 286
they make us of a fan which hath the roads printed upon it, and
tells them ho y many miles they are to travel, what inns they are
to go to, and what price victuals are at. Some, instead of such a
fan, make use of a road-book, which are offered them for sale by
numbers of poor children, begging along the road. The Dutch are
not permitted, at least publicly, to buy any of these fans, or road
books.
" A Japanese on horseback, tucked up after this fashion, makes
a very comical figure at a distance; for, besides that they are
generally short and thick, their large hat, wide breeches and cloaks,
together with their sitting cross-legged, make them appear broader
than long. Upon the road they ride one by one. Merchants have
their horses, with the heavy baggage packed up in two or three
trunks or bales, led before them. They follow, sitting on horseback,
after the manner above described. As to the bridle, the traveller
hath nothing to do with that, the horse being led by one of his foot-
men, who walks at the horse's right side, next by the head, and
together with his companions sings some merry song or other, to
divert themselves, and to animate their horses.
" The Japanese look upon our European way of sitting on horse-
back, and holding the bridle one's self, as warlike and properly
becoming a soldier. For this very reason they seldom or never use
it in their journeys. It is more frequent among people of quality
in cities, where they go a visiting one another. But even then the
rider (who makes but a sorry appearance when sitting after our
manner) holds the bridle merely for form, the horse still being led
by one, and sometimes by two, footmen, who walk on each side of
the head, holding it by the bit. Their saddles come nearer our German
saddles than those of any Asiatic nation. The stirrup-leathers
are very short. A broad round leather hangs clown on both
sides, after the fashion of the Tartars, to defend the legs. The stirrup
is made of iron, or Sowaas, very thick and heavy, not unlike
the sole of a foot, and open on one side, for the rider to get his
foot loose with ease, in case of a fall, commonly of an exceeding
neat workmanship, and inlaid with silver. The reins are not of
leather, as ours, but of silk, and fastened to the bit.
" Besides going on horseback, there is another more stately and
expensive way of travelling in this country, and that is to be car-