Japan and the Japanese

CHAPTER XL.
JAPANESE MERCHANTS. JOURNEY FROM MIAKO TO JEDO. BOTANY OF TH
MOUNTAINS RAINY WEATHER. COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD AND FEhT.
JEDO. ASTRONOMERS AND PHYSICIANS. ACUPUNCTURE. MO.XA.
OTHER JAPANESE REMEDIES. METHOD OF WEARING THE HAIR VISITS TO
THE EMPEROR AND HIS CHIEF OFFICERS. JAPANESE DRESS. BOOKS AXD
MAPS. SUCCESSION OF EMPERORS. DEPARTURE FROM JEDO. GNATS.
FIRE-FLIES. THRESHING. VEGETABLES AND FRUITS. CONDITION OP
THE JAPANESE FARMER. CASTING COPPER. ACTORS AND DANCERS.
THCNBERG'S OPINION OF THE JAPANESE. A. D. 17751775.
THE travellers remained four days at Miako, during which the
accustomed visits were paid to the chief justice and to the two
governors.
A new advance of money was also made to them here
Thunberg's share being three hundred taels, in gold kobangs,
to be charged against the kambang money standing to his credit
from the sale of his private goods, and to be laid out in the pur-
chase of such rarities and merchandise as he chose. Here, again,
the Dutch were waited on by the merchants, from whom they be-
spoke several articles in sowas and lackered ware, to be ready
against their return. Of these Japanese merchants, Thunberg observes
that they are the only persons in the country, except the
emperor, who can become rich, and that they sometimes accumulate
very considerable sums ; but they cannot, as in Europe, purchase
titles, or raise themselves by their money to a higher rank. The
position of the trading and manufacturing class seems, indeed,
almost precisely the same with that which they held in Europe dur-
ing the prevalence of feudal ideas.
Commerce, however, was free from any embarrassments by tolls
or duties, and a considerable internal trade, of which Miako wa
the centre (several annual fares being held there), was carried on,
in tea, silk goods, porcelain, rice, lackered ware, &c.