Upon the whole we will venture to promife, that the perufal of "Mon Bonnet de Nuit" will give fatisfaction to the

reader.

ART. XVI. Tal om Japanska Nationen. &c.

A Speech concerning the Japanese; delivered before the Royal Academy of Sciences, by C. P. Thunberg, when he refigned the office of Prefident. Stockholm.

THIS great naturalift and traveller, the fucceffor of Linnæus,

has enjoyed fuperior advantages of obfervation to any other perfon, fince the expulfion of the Portuguese from the Japanese islands. The adventurers of that nation were fo entirely occupied by their thirft of gain, and their eagerness to propogate the catholic faith, that, notwithstanding all their opportunities, they have left nothing, which, by cafting a ray of light on the hiftory of man, might have formed fome fmall counterpoife to the indignation and horror, which are excited by the accounts of their rapacity and bloodshed. Kæmpfer's account is the only one which deferves any notice, and that, notwithstanding the veracity and research of the author, is more calculated to excite curiofity, than to gratify it. The prefent writer occupied the ftation of phyfician to the Dutch factory; and, partly by means of fonie fubftantial benefits which his profeffional skill enabled him to conter on the natives; partly by his eager defire of information; and partly, no doubt, by the prudence of his conduct; overcame much of their well-grounded jealousy of the Europeans; and, unlike the common run of Oriental adventurers, returned happily to his country, laden with the rich, but innocent, fpoils of the Eaft. He has already communicated fome of his treasures to the world in his Flora Japonica, and his papers in the Swedish tranfactions; in this academical harangue of forty pages, he communicates fome of the general refults of his obfervations on the inhabitants, referving the reft, with the particulars, for a separate and more confiderable publication.

In this and the following numbers, it is our intention to give rather a tranflation than an abstract, fince readers of all denominations will undoubtedly with for as full information, on fuch a fubject as can be obtained. To them we leave it to enquire, whence it happens that a nation fo diftinguished by good fenfe, and good morals, fo far advanced in the art of government, and in economy, in manufactures, and agriculture, fhould be fo far behind in fcience? Is this owing to their ftrong averfion to every thing foreign, or to fome unufual occurrence in the progress of that society?

The

The empire of Japan, is fituated at the very eastern extremity of Afia, entirely cut off from our quarter of the world, and confifts of a great multitude of islands of various magnitude. It lies between the 30th and 40th degrees of north latitude; and fo far to the east, that when we in Stockholm reckon four o'clock in the afternoon, the inhabitants are immerfed in the deep fleep of midnight, and confequently have fun fet and fun rife eight hours earlier.

The Portugueze, who, about two centuries and a half ago, firft difcovered it, were accidentally thrown by a ftorm on the coaft, which is in general bordered with hills and clifts, together with a multitude of unfafe and ftormy ports, whence navigation is always dangerous, and fometimes impoffible.

The whole inland part of the country confifts of mountains, hills and dales; fo that it is rare to meet with any extenfive plain. The mountains are of various altitude, more or lefs continued, more or lefs covered with wood, fometimes volcanic, but most frequently cultivated quite up to the fummit. It may, in general, be justly said of Japan, that the foil is of itfelf unfruitful, but in confequence of fufficient warmth of climate, plentiful rains, continual manuring, and industry, it is forced into a confiderable degree of fertility, and maintains a number of inhabitants, not exceeded by thofe of any other country.

The natives are well grown, agile, and active, and at the fame time ftout limbed, though they do not equal in ftrength the northern inhabitants of Europe. The men are of moderate ftature, feldom tall, and in general thin; though I have seen some that were fufficiently fo. The colour of the face is commonly yellow, which fometimes varies to brown, and fometimes to white. The inferior fort, who, during their work in fummer, have often the upper parts of the body naked, are fun-burnt and browner; women of diftinction, who never go uncovered into the open air, are perfectly white. The eyes of this people, as well as of the Chinese, are well known they have not the round fhape of thofe of other nations, but oblong, fmall, more funk, and appear more fmiling They are moreover of a dark brown, or rather black colour; and the eyelids form at the larger angle a deep furrow, which gives them their peculiar keen look, and diftinguishes them fo ftrikingly from other nations. The eyebrows are also fituated fomewhat higher. The head is in general and the neck fhort; the hair black, thick and of an oily smoothness; the nofe, though not flat, yet fomewhat thick and thort.

The national character confifts in intelligence and prudence, franknefs, obedience and politenefs, good-nature and civility, curiofity, industry and dexterity, œconomy and fobriety, hardi

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nefs,

nefs, cleanliness, juftice and uprightness, honesty, and fidelity; in being mistrustful, fuperftitious, haughty, refentful, brave, and invincible.

In all its tranfactions, the nation fhews great intelligence, and can by no means be numbered among the favage and uncivilized, but rather is to be placed among the polished. The prefent mode of government, admirable fkill in agriculture, fparing mode of life, way of trading with foreigners, manufactures, &c. afford convincing proofs of their cunning, firmness, and intrepid courage. Here there are no appearances of that vanity, fo common among the Afiatics and Africans, of adorning themfelves with fhells, glafs beads, and polished metal plates: neither are they fond of the useless European ornaments of gold and filver lace, jewels, &c. but are careful to provide themfelves, from the productions of their own country, with neat clothes, well-tafted food, and good

weapons.

Neatnefs and cleanlinefs is obferved, as well with respect to their perfons, as clothes, houfes, furniture, meat and drink. The bathe and wash themselves, not barely once a week, like our ancestors, but every day, and that in a warm bath, which is prepared in every houfe, and for travellers in all the inns.

In politeness, obedience, and fubmiffion, the Japanese have few equals; fubmiffion to the magiftrate, and obedience to parents, is implanted in children from their earlieft years; and in all ranks they are inftructed in this by examples. Infe-riors make to their fuperiors deep and refpectful, and fhew them blind and reverential, obeifance: To their equals they make the politeft compliments and falutations. They generally bow the back with the head downwards, and the hands towards the knees, or below them along the legs as low as the foot, to fhew greater reverence: The deeper this must be, the nearer to the ground do they bow their head. When they fpeak to a fuperior, or are spoken to by him, or when they have any thing to deliver to him, they never omit thefe bows. When an inferior meets a fuperior, he always continues in this posture till the latter has paffed by. When equals meet each other, they pay one another the fame compliment, and pafs each other in a pofture fomewhat bent. Upon entering a houfe, they fall down on their knees, and bow the head; and when they rife to depart, the fame ceremony is repeated. Superftition is perhaps more general and extravagant here, than any where elfe; which arifes from the little knowledge they have in moft fciences, and the abfurd principles which their priests implant in them. This imperfection appears in their worship, feftivals, vows, ufe of certain medicines, &c.

Their'

Their curiofity is exceffive; nothing imported by the Europeans escapes it. They afk for information concerning every article, and their queftions continue till they become wearifome. It is the phyfician, among the traders, that is alone regarded as learned, and particularly during the journey to court, and the refidence at Jeddo, the capital of the empire, that he is regarded as the oracle, which they truft can give refponfes in all things, whether in mathematics, geography, phyfics, chemistry, pharmacy, zoology, botany, medicine, &c. When the Dutch have their audience of the emperor, council, or governors, they confider, from head to foot, their hats, fwords, clothes, buttons, trimming, watches, fticks, rings, fhoes, buckles, &c. nay, they must frequently write on paper, or the peculiar fans of the Japanese, in order to fhew them their manner of writing and their letters.

It is highly probable that this people were not always fo fufpicious. Difturbances or war perhaps introduced them, but the deceits practiced by the Europeans ftill more excited and increafed this vice; which at prefent, in their trade, at least with the Dutch and Chinefe, exceeds all bounds.

I have often been a witness of the good difpofition of the Japanese, even at a time when they have every reason to entertain all poffible contempt and hatred, and to use every precaution, on account of the bad conduct and cunning artifices of the Europeans who trade thither. The nation is indeed haughty, but ftill gentle. By mild measures and civility it may be led and affected, but by menaces it is altogether immoveable.

Honesty and fidelity is obferved in all the country; in few other countries perhaps is theft fo rare. Robbery is totally unknown. Theft is feldom heard of: and Europeans, during their journey to court, are fo fafe, that they take little care of the goods they carry along with them; though it is otherwife not confidered as a crime, at leaft at the Dutch factory, and by the lower people, to fteal from the Dutch fome of their wares, fuch as fugar or copper, as they are carried to or from the quay.

Economy has its peculiar abode in Japan. It is a virtue, admired as well in the emperors palace, as in the meanest cottage. It makes thofe of fmall poffeffions content with their Jittle, and it prevents the abundance of the rich from overflowing in excefs and voluptuoufnefs. Hence it happens that what in other countries is called fcarcity and famine, is unknown here, and that, in fo very populous a state, scarce a perfon in neceffity, or a beggar, fhould be found. The people

4.

in

in general are neither greedy, nor eager after riches, while at the fame time they seem to avoid gluttony and drunkeness.

Haughtiness is among the chief failings of the nation. They believe themselves to be the facred offspring of the gods, heaven, fun and moon; an origin which many of the Afiatic nations, with equal confidence, arrogate to themselves. They also believe themselves to be fuperior to other men. If a Japanese should bear with patience all other injuries, the pride of other men would be totally infupportable to him. The haughtiness of the Portuguefe drove them from this country, and this alone would be fufficient to ruin the trade of the Dutch.

Juftice is much regarded by them; the monarch never exceeds his bounds; nor is there, either in ancient or modern history, that he has extended his ambition or his demands, to the territories of other people. Their hiftory abounds with heroic atchievements exerted in defending their country against external violence, and internal fedition; but not a fingle inva→ fion of other countries, or other men's property, occurs.

Voltaire fays, that whoever fhall defire that his country fhall be neither greater nor lefs, neither richer nor poorer, may justly be called a citizen of the world. Such are the Japanese they with not to acquire the territories of others, nor will they fuffer any diminution of their own. They fol low the ufages of their forefathers, and never adopt the manners of other countries. Juftice is always feen in their courts; their fuits are always finished fpeedily, and without intrigue; equity is obferved even towards the Europeans; fo that the contract entered into is neither anulled, nor is it mifinterpreted or altered in a fingle letter, provided the Europeans themselves do not give occafion to fuch practices.

Liberty is the life of the Japanese; not indeed fuch a kind of liberty as often degenerates into violence and licentioufnefs, but a liberty fecured and limited by law. I cannot comprehend how it has happened, that fome hiftorians have confidered the common people in Japan as flaves. A fervant, who hires himself for a year, is not on that account a flave. A foldier, fubject to ftill more fevere difcipline, enlisted for a certain, often a confiderable term of years, is not on this account a flave, though he is content to obey the strictest commands of his officer. The Japanese speak with horror of the Dutch flave trade. The liberty, both of high and low, is protected by laws; and the uncommon feverity of those laws, together with their certain execution, keeps every one within his proper limits. With refpect to foreign nations, there is no people, in all the extent of India, fo vigilant over their freedom, and none more exempt from foreign invafion oppreffion