Japan in Our Day

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Scribner, 1903 - Japan - 293 pages
 

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Page 2 - ... and the windows also have golden ornaments. So vast, indeed, are the riches of the palace, that it is impossible to convey an idea of them. In this island there are pearls also, in large quantities, of a red (pink) colour, round in shape, and of great size, equal in value to, or even exceeding that of the white pearls.
Page 2 - ... round in shape, and of great size, equal in value to, or even exceeding that of the white pearls. It is customary with one part of the inhabitants to bury their dead, and with another part to burn them. The former have a practice of putting one of these pearls into the mouth of the corpse. There are also found there a number of precious stones.
Page 2 - Kublai, now reigning, to make the conquest of it, and to annex it to his dominions. In order to effect this, he fitted out a numerous fleet, and embarked a large body of troops, under the command of two of his principal officers, one of whom was named Abbacatan, and the other Vonsancin.
Page 1 - They have gold in the greatest abundance, its sources being inexhaustible; but as the king does not allow of its being exported, few merchants visit the country, nor is it frequented by much shipping from other parts. To this circumstance we are to attribute the extraordinary richness of the sovereign's palace, according to what we are told by those who have access to the place. The entire roof is covered with a plating of gold, in the same manner as we cover houses, or more properly churches, with...
Page 283 - He there describes Will Adams's place thus : " This Hemi is a Lordshipp geuen to Capt. Adams pr. the ould Emperour to hym and his for eaver, & conformed to hys sonne, called Joseph. There is above 100 farms or howsholds, uppon it, besides others under them, all which are his vassals, and he hath power of lyfe & death ouer them, they being his slaues ; he hauing as absolute authoritie over them as any tono (or king) in Japan hath over his vassals.
Page 1 - It is of considerable size; its inhabitants have fair complexions, are well made, and are civilized in their manners. Their religion is the worship of idols. They are independent of every foreign power, and governed only by their own kings. They have gold in the greatest abundance, its sources being inexhaustible, but as the king does not allow of its being exported, few merchants visit the country, nor is it frequented by much shipping from other parts.
Page 233 - The Empire of Japan shall be reigned over and governed by a line of Emperors unbroken for ages eternal.
Page 22 - Heusken on horseback with two guards, then his norimono bearers, etc. Next followed a long retinue bearing packages containing my bedding, chairs, food, trunks, and packages containing presents ; my cook and his following. The vice-governor of Shimoda followed with his train, then the Mayor of Kakizaki, and lastly the private secretary of the Governor of Shimoda. A Dutch interpreter was carried in a kago in Mr. Heusken's rear. The whole train numbered some three hundred and fifty persons.
Page 2 - The entire roof is covered with a plating of gold, in the same manner as we cover houses, or more properly churches, with lead. The ceilings of the halls are of the same precious metal ; many of the apartments have small tables of pure gold, of considerable thickness ; and the windows also have golden ornaments. So vast, indeed, are the riches of the palace that it is impossible to convey an idea of them.
Page 276 - ... chirping bird ; the gravely dressed doctor passes with a boy to carry his pestle-and-mortar box, and ' the thousand-year-life-pills ; ' the fortune-teller spreads on a cloth his fifty little sticks and six black and red blocks of wood, which can tell you more than man should know ; the bean-cake-seller tinkles his bells and beats his gong to announce his sticky wares ; the amma, the blind shampooer, feels his way slowly through the crowd, piping three lugubrious notes on his reed-flute, and ready...

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