Japan and the Japanese

86 JAPAN. A. D. 15121445.
remote province Xisinmra.* The crew, about two hundred In num-
ber, had a singular appearance ; their language was unintelligible,
their native land unknown. On board was a Chinese, named Go-
how, who understood writing. From him it was gathered, that
this was a nan-ban (Japanese form of the Chinese nan-man], that
is,
'
southern barbarian '
ship. On the
twenty-sixth, this vessel
was taken to Aku-opi harbor, on the north-west side of the island,
and Tokitaku, governor of Tanegozima, instituted a strict investigation
concerning her, the Japanese bonze, Tsyn-sigu-zu, acting aa
interpreter by means of Chinese characters. On board the nanban
ship were two commanders, Mura-synkya and Krista-m ita.
They had fire-arms, and first made the Japanese acquainted with
shooting arms, and the preparation of shooting powder." It is
added that the Japanese have preserved portraits of these two dis-
tinguished strangers ; but, if so, it is much to be feared that the
likenesses cannot be relied upon, as Fischer, one of the most recent
writers on Japan, and who has himself published the finest specimens
which have yet appeared of Japanese graphic art, says he
never knew nor heard of a tolerable Japanese portrait-painter;
while Golownin declares that the portraits taken of himself and his
companions, prisoners on the island of Malsmai, in 1812, to be
forwarded to Jcdo, bore not the least resemblance to the originals.!
* No such province is mentioned in the lists of Japanese provinces by father
Rodriguez, Kampfcr and Klaproth.
t " They wished to have our portraits taken at full length ; and Tcsce,
who knew how to draw, was appointed to execute them. He drew them in
India iifk, but in such a style that each portrait would have passed for that
of any other individual as well as of him It was intended for. Except the long
beard, we could trace no resemblance in them. The Japanese, however, s(-nt
thein to the capital, where they were probably hung up in some of their giil-
leries of pictures."
Golownin'* Captivity in Japan, vol. i., ch. 4.