Japan and the Japanese

414 JAPAN. A. D. 17751776.
we had passed through this gate, having previously quitted out
uorimous, we were conducted to an apartment, where we waited a
full hour. At last, having obtained leave to approach the imperial
palace, we passed t irough a long lane of soldiers, who were posted
on both sides quite up to the door of the palace, all armed and well
clothed.
" The emperor's private palace was situated on an eminence, and
although it consisted of one story only, still it was much higher
than any other house, and covered a large tract of ground. We
were immediately conducted into an antechamber, where we again
waited at least an hour. Our officers sat down in the Japane.se
manner on one side, and the Dutchmen, together with the interpre-
ters, on the other. It proved extremely fatiguing to us to sit in
their manner ; and, as we could not hold it out long thus, we put our
legs out on one side and covered them with our long cloaks, which
in this respect were of great service to us.
" The time we waited here did not appear long, as great num-
bers of people passed in and out, both in order to look at us and
talk with us. We were visited by several princes of the country,
but constantly incognito, though we could always perceive when
they were coming, from the murmuring
noise which was at first
heard from the inner rooms, and the silence that ensued upon it.
cannon at Nagasaki, which once belonged to the Portuguese, were discharged
only once in seven years, the Japanese knowing little or not at all the proper
management of them, and fixing the match to a long pole, so as to touch
them off at a safe distance. Their longer swords are broad-backed, a little
curved, a yard long, and of excellent temper ; the hilts somewhat roundish
and flat, furnished with a round substantial guard without any bow. The
scabbard is thick and rather fl.it, made of wood, and sometimes covered with
shagreen and lackered. The shorter sword is straight. These swords are
costly and rated at a high value.
From a Japanese work, Siehold states their method of making sword-blades :
" The blades, forged out of good bar-steel, are plastered over with a paste of
potash, porcelain clay and powdered charcoal, and dried in the sun. They
are next exposed to the fire and heated till the mass assumes a white hue.
The glowing bl ides are then plunged into lukc-warm water, three fifths boil-
ing to two fifths cold, and cooled gradually. Often the edge only is heated,
and then the cooling is with cold water. The reforging of old blades is not
uncommon." Of the two swords worn by the Japanese, one is loiig and
slightly curved, the other short and straight