At length, after six weeks negotiation, and on the plea of the ambassador's health, a spot was assigned as a walk, not exceeding 100 paces in length and 40 in breadth, in the immediate vicinity of which were two watch-towers. A debarkation of a single boat was attended by a fleet of 10 or 15 vessels surrounding it ; in the same manner the boat was escorted back to the ship. So strict were the Japanese, that the Nadeshda was debarred intercourse with the Dutch ships, and letters were not even allowed to be sent by them to Batavia. The ambassador alone was per mitted to transmit a report to the Emperor of Russia, translated by the interpreters into Dutch with such scru pulous accuracy, that every line of the translation termi nated with the same letter as the lines of the original. This copy was deposited with the governor. On the de parture of two Dutch vessels, Krusenstern having wished the captains a happy voyage, and made enquiries after their health, received in reply a sign with their speaking trumpet. For this silence, the chief of the Dutch factory apologised by letter to the ambassador, on the grounds that the captains had been forbidden to utter a word. Here our author breaks forth into a violent philippic against the Dutch, for their mean and servile compliance with Japanese prejudices yielded in the true spirit of gain; and though Kruscnstern may write under the influence of pique, we do not dissent from the justice of his observa tion, that such conduct is unworthy of the character of an enlightened and great nation. The important point being at length settled, of the ambassador having permission to land, a considerable building, called Mcgasaky, was ap pointed for his residence, and watched with as much care as the seven towers of Constantinople. The situation of his excellency's quarters appears to have been selected with a remarkable regard to security. The building was placed on a neck of land, so near the sea, that at high wa ter the tide came close to the walls. The windows were armed with double lattice work, and consisted of spaces about a foot wide, calculated to admit a very moderate al lowance of light. The whole habitation was secured by a bamboo fence, even on the sea side, the waves being deemed but an insufficient harrier by the Japanese. Large gates, with double locks, at w hich were stationed porters to take charge of the keys, and who seem to have exe cuted their trust with troublesome fidelity, were placed on the land and sea sides. Besides, guards watched the spot, who did not slumber on their posts. Though our author expatiates on this barbarous intolerance of the Japanese, yet he does them the justice to admit, that such materials as he required for the repair of the ship were readily granted. The supply of provisions was also liberal to the ship's company. 'fire landing of the Russian ambassador on the 17th December, was attended with circumstances of considerable pomp and ceremony. The Prince of Fi sen's boat, a barge surpassing in size and magnificence every thing of the sort, (being 120 feet long,) was destined for the reception of his excellency. The walls and ceil ings of the numerous cabins were varnished in the hand somest manner, and the stairs of red wood so highly po lished, as to have the appearance of lacquer. On the decks were spread mats and the most costly carpets ; and the whole boat was hung round with double rows of vari ous coloured silk. On the ambassador stepping on board, the Russian imperial standard waved with the flag of the Prince of Eisen, whose guard took their station close to the standard. The Japanese fortresses were decorated with new flags and curtains, and manned by troops in their best dress. An innumerable fleet of boats accompanied the ambassador to the town of Nangasaky. So far his ex cellency was ushered into his Japanese majesty's domin ions in a manner suitable to the representative of a pow erful monarch. But he had no sooner landed and entered into his dwelling, than he was locked up like a state crimi nal, and the keys were sent to the governor. The day after the ambassador left the ship, two Banjos, accom panied with a great number of boats, came on board to receive the presents. Two boats lashed together, with a platform of strong planks laid across, covered with red cloth, were appointed to receive the large mirror. All at tempts to persuade them to remove this valuable covering were ineffectual, as the respect with which every thing was attended destined as a present to the emperor re quired to be scrupulously enforced, and rejected all paltry consideration of economy. A guard instantly jumped into the boat for the honour of the mirror. One of the inter preters being asked how it would reach Jeddo, replied, it would be carried there. An objection being raised on the ground of the distance and number of men required to carry it, the interpreter gravely answered, that nothing was impossible to the emperor of Japan ; and that a live elephant, a present from the emperor of China, had been so transported. We are furnished with another trait of Japanese character by the same author, which chews with what exactness the emperor's orders are executed. A Chinese junk was drievn ashore on the east coast of Japan in a gale of wind, and lost her masts and rudder. Accord ing to an ancient regulation, every ship touching on thc Japanese coast, by whatever accident, must be brought to Nangasaky. Accordingly, this junk must find its way there. This could only be effected by a process of tow ing ; and the great probability was, that during the voy age, which lasted 14 months, the towing•fleet, consisting of 100 boats and 600 men, with the said junk, would :II go to the bottom. But neither the intricacy of the navi gation, nor perils by storm frequent on this coast, nor the length of the voyage, nor the inadequate compensation of so touch toil by the object being attained,weighed for a moment, when placed in competition with established custom an,1 the emperor's orders. On the 19th February 1805, the Russian
ambassador received intimation that the emperor of Japan had sent a person, attended by eight nobles, with full powers to treat with hint. The person deputed was said to be of the highest rank, and one who was permitted to view the emperor's feet, though not to elevate his look higher.
The Japanese plenipotentiary having arrived, much al tercation took place on both sides in adjusting the ceremo nies to be observed at the audience. It was settled that the ambassador should pay the plenipotentiary an Euro pean, and not a Japanese compliment. This last is said to be so very degrading, that not even the lowest European would submit to it. The ambassador, however, was to ap pear without his sword or shoes, nor would they allow him a chair, or any kind of European seat. He was to sit with his feet tucked under him, in front of the governor and plenipotentiary. A norinmn, or sedan chair, was allowed the ambassador, but the officers of his suite were to walk. The arrangements being finally made, the 4th of April was appointed for his first audience. The ambassador and his suite, consisting of five persons, and a serjeant to carry the standard of Russia, were conveyed in a barge adorned with flags and curtains, and landed at a place called Mussul Trap. On an occasion, fer which such preparations were made, and expectation raised, merely an exchange of com pliments took place, and a few insignificant questions were put. The second audience was of the same nature, and here ended the matter. An order was delivered to the ambassador, prohibiting any Russian ship from again visit ing Japan. The presents, and even the letters from the Emperor of Russia, were refused. It was enjoined, that ' any Japanese cast upon the coast of Russia should be de livered over to the Dutch, who would send them by way of Batavia to Nangasaky. Finally, the Russians were pro hibited from offering presents and making purchases, and from visiting or receiving the visits of the Dutch factor. The repair of the ship, and the supply of provisions, were deck red to be taken into the imperial account. And it was notified, that the Emperor of Japan had sent 2000 sacks of salt, and 100 of rice, besides 2000 pieces of cassock or silk wadding, the former as a present for the crew, and the latter for the officers. The reason assigned for refusing the presents was, that the Emperor of Japan would he ob liged to make a suitable return to the Emperor of Russia, and to send an ambassador to St Petersburgh : and that it was contrary to the laws of the empire for any Japanese to quit his country. Such was the result of an embassy of which such sanguine hopes had been formed in Russia. Not on ly were no new advantages gained, but the written per mission granted to the Russians to visit Nangasaky was re voked. All communication is now suspended between Russia and Japan, nor is it expected that it will be again opened until some great change takes place in the J ?pan ese government. Nor, perhaps. is such a change vei) re mote. At the very moment of our writing this article, we find it mentioned, among continental intelligence, that the Dairi of Japan has been intriguing in secular affairs, and endeavouring, by means of his priests and adherents, to gain the people to his cause. Whence the supremacy of the bubo is threatened, and a popular insurrection appre hended.
We shall conclude this article, by offering to our readers a description, from Krusenstern, of the Ainos, a race of people but little known in Europe. As this author's ac count has simplicity of narrative, and the appearance of truth to recommend it, we shall make no apology to our readers for presenting it in his own words. We shall on ly premise, that the island of Jesso was wrested from the Ainos, its original inhabitants, by the Japanese ; the former arc now confined to a small space, which alone retains the name of Jesso, the rest of the island being called Matzu mary, from the principal Japanese settlement here. The Japanese discipline exists in full force in the most norther ly part of the island, the farthest limit of their empire " The Ainos," Krusenstern observes, " are rather below the middle stature being at the most five feet two or four in ches high, of a dark, nearly black, complexion, with a thick bushy heard, black rough hair hanging straight down, and, excepting in the beard, they have the appearance of the Kamtschadales, only that their countenance is much more regular. The women are sufficiently ugly : their colour, which is equally dark, their coal black hair combed over their faces, blue painted lips, and tattooed hands, added to DO remarkable cleanliness in their clothing, do not give them any great pretensions to loveliness ; this at least was the case with those we had an opportunity of seeing on the north side of Jesso. We perceived, indeed, in Aniwa bay, some who were younger, whose eyes had not lost their brightness, and who on this account were not quite so ugly; hut I confess that the impression even these made upon me was equally unfavourable. They are modest, however, in the highest degree, and in this point form the completcst contrast with the women of Nukahiwa and of Otaheite. Their modesty even amounted to' bashfulness, occasioned perhaps by the jealousy of their husbands, and the watch fulness of their parents ; they never quitted for a moment, while we were on shore, the huts in which they had assem bled, and were extremely distressed when Dr. Telesius made drawings of them.