Japan and the Japanese

840 JAPAN. A. D. 1090 1C92.
castle is between throe and four thousand yards. Its brea 1th is
somewhat less. The riven Jodotjawa, runs on the north side, and
below the city falls into the sea. This river rises a day and a half's
journey to the north-east, out of a midland lake in the province of
UMI, which, according to Japanese histories, arose in one night,
that spot which it now fills being sunk in a violent earthquake.
Coming out of this lake, it runs by the small towns Udsi and Jodo,
from which latter it borrows its name, and so continues down to
Osaka. About a mile before it comes to this city, it sends off one
of its arms straight to the sea. This want, if any, is supplied by
two other rivers, both which flow into it just above the city, on the
north side of the castle, where there are stately bridges over then).
The united stream having washed one third of the city, part of its
waters are conveyed through a broad canal to supply the south
part, which is also the larger, and that where the richest inhabitants
live. For this purpose several smaller channels cut from the
large one, pass through sonic of the chief streets, deep enough to be
navigable for small boats, which bring goods to the merchant's
doors though sonic arc muddy, and not too clean, for want of a
sufficient quantity and run of water. Upwards of an hundred bridges,
many extraordinarily beautiful, are built over them.
" A little below the coming out of the above-mentioned canal
another arm arises on the north side of the great stream, which is
shallow and not navigable, but runs down westward, with great
rapidity, till it loses itself in the sea. The middle and great stream
still continues its course through the city, at the lower end whereof
it turns westward, and having supplied the suburbs and villages
which lie without the city, by many lateral branches, at last loses
itself in the sea through several mouths. This river is narrow,
indeed, but deep and navigable. From its mouth up as far as
Osaka, and higher, there are seldom less than a thousand boats
going up and down, some with merchants, others with the princes
and lords who live to the west, on their way to and from Jedo.
The banks arc raised on both sides into ten or more steps, coarsely
hewn of freestone, so that they look like one continued stairs, and
one may land wherever he pleases. Stately bridges are laid over
the river at every three or four hundred paces' distance. They are
built of cedar wood, and are railed on both sides, some of the rai.fe