Japan and the Japanese

IMPERIAL AUDIENCE. 367
ilemen of the emperor's court, who were strangers to us. Having
waited about an hour, during which time most of the imperial coun-
cillors of state, old and young, went into the palace, some walking
on foot, others carried in norimons, we were conducted through two
stately gates, over a large square place, to the palace, to which tlide
is s.n ascent of a few steps leading from the second gate. The place
between the second gate and the front of the palace is but a few
paces broad, and was then excessively crowded with throngs of
courtiers and troops of guards.
" Thence we were conducted up two other stair-cases into a spa-
cious room next to the entry on the right, being the place where all
pereons that are to be admitted to an audience wait till they arc
called in. It is a large and lofty room, but, when all the scieens
are put on, pretty dark, receiving but a sparing light from the upper
windows of an adjoining room. It is otherwise richly furnished,
according to the country fashion, and its gilt posts, walls and screens,
are very pleasing to behold.
" Having waited here upwards of an hour, and the emperor hav-
ing in the mean while seated him.-elf in the hall of audience, Tsina-
Kami and the two commissioners came in and conducted our presi-
dent into the emperor's presence, leaving us behind. As soon as
he came thither, they cried out aloud, Hollanda Captain ! which
was the signal
for him to draw near and make his obeisance. Accordingly
he crawled on his hands and knees to a place showed him
between the presents, ranged in due order on one side, and the
place where the emperor sat on the other, and then kneeling, he
bowed his forehead quite down to the ground, and so crawled back-
wards like a crab, without uttering one single word. So mean and
short a thing is the audience we have of this mighty monarch.
Nor are there any more ceremonies observed in the audience he
gives even to the greatest and most powerful princes of the empire ;
for, having been called into the hall, their names are cried out
aloud ;
then they move on their hands and feet humbly and silently
towards the emperor's seat, and having showed their submission by
bowing their forehead down to the ground, they creep back again in
the same submissive posture.
" The hall of audience is not in the least like that which hath
been described and figured by Montanus in his Memorable Embas-