Japan and the Japanese

470 JAPAN. A. D. 18111813.
happy ; but, as the contrary often happens in the married state, a
father who gives his daughter to a husband cannot be indifferent,
for fear of future misfortunes.' He spoke this with tears in his
eyes, and in a voice which affected us."
Of the value which the Japanese put upon female society the
following curious instance occurred. The prisoners' meals were at
one time superintended by an old officer of sixty, who was very
civil, and frequently consoled them with assurances that they should
be sent home. One day he brought them three portraits of Japan-
ese ladies, richly dressed, which, afier examining, they handed buck ;
but the old man insisted they should keep them, and, when asked
why, he observed that, when time hung heavy on their hands, they
might console themselves by looking
at them !
For the first fortnight of the new year all business was sus
pended. Nothing was thought of except visiting and feasting. In
the latter half of the month the more industrious resumed their employments.
All who can, procure new clothes on this occasion, and
the Japanese insisted upon furni.shing
their prisoners in the same
way. " Custom requires," says Golownin, " that each person should
visit all his acquaintances in the place in which he resides, and send
letters of congratulation to those who are at a distance. Our in-
terpreters and guards were accordingly employed, for some days
previous to the festival, in writing letters of that kind and visitingcards.
On the latter the names of the person from whom the card
comes, and for whom it is intended, are written, and the opportu-
nity by which it is presented is also noted. Teske translated for
us one of his congratulatory letters, addressed to the officer at
Kunashir by whom we had been entrapped, and which was to the
following effect : " Last year you were happy, and I greatly desire
that that this new year you may enjoy good health, and experience
happiness and prosperity in every undertaking. I still respect you
as formerly, and request that you will not forget me. TESKE."
It is evident, from Golownin's narrative, that the houses, furni-
ture and domestic; arrangements, at Matsmai, notwithstanding the
coldness of the climate, differed in nothing from those in use in the
more southerly islands. The Japanese, Golownin observed, were,
compared with the Russians, very small eaters. They were also much
more temperate in it drinking, being
looked upon as disgraceful
to