Japan and the Japanese

486 JAPAN. A. D. 18171850.
In 1822, Fisscher accompanied Blomhoff in the quadriennial em-
bassy to Jedo, which, from its long intermission, appears to have
excited unusual attention. It had been proposed to make the
embassy annual as formerly ; but to this change the Japanese
authorities would not assent. Fisscher's account of the journey does
not differ materially from that given by Kiimpfer and Thunberg.
The entrance into Jedo, notwithstanding the absence of carriages,
reminded him, from the noise and the throng of people, of the com-
mercial parts of London. The shops had signs, as in Europe ; the
goods were exhibited from the doors and windows under the charge
of boys, who rivalled each other in calling by loud cries the atten-
tion of purchasers. Long before entering Sinegawa they found
themselves in the midst of a vast crowd, marching along broad
streets, paved at the sides, formed of houses, regularly built, among
which were many large buildings. From the suburb to their hotel,
called Nar/asakia, and in the immediate vicinity of the palace, it
was two hours' march ; and, as the palace was said to occupy a
space half a Japanese mile in diameter, Fisscher estimates the diameter
of the whole city at not less than five or six hours' walk at an
ordinary step.
After the audience and the official visits were over, the Dutch
spent twelve days in receiving visits. Among the crowds who
obtained the privilege of seeing them, were several princes or their
secretaries, and many savans, DoefPs Globius among the rest. Sev-
eral of these visitors had more or less knowledge of the Dutch lan-
guage, and great eagerness was exhibited to obtain new scientific
information. To a party given to the Dutch by the master of the
mint and the conductor of the embassy, many of the Japanese
guests came rigged out in Dutch clothes ; and as these had been
collected through long intervals, and preserved as curiosities, they
presented a very grotesque and antique appearance.*
Fisscher's own
party were laid under contribution in the same way, their lady visitors
unpacking and rummaging their trunks, and putting them to the
necessity of giving away some of the most valuable articles. The
* Siebold represents the Dutch at Desima as humoring the Japanese antip-
athy to change, by adhering in their dress to the old fashion, and as rigged
out in velvet coats and plumed hats, in the style of Vandyke's pictures