 Part of the Island. In
six Days I found a Vessel ready to carry me to Japan; and spent fifteen Days in
the Voyage. We landed at a small Port-Town called Xamoschi, situated on the
South-East Part of Japan. The Town lies on the Western Part, where there is a
narrow Streight, leading Northward into a long Arm of the Sea, upon the
North-West Part of which Yedo the Metropolis stands. At landing I shewed the
Custom-House Officers my Letter from the King of Luggnagg to his Imperial
Majesty: They knew the Seal perfectly well; it was as broad as the Palm of my
Hand. The Impression was, A King lifting up a lame Beggar from the Earth. The
Magistrates of the Town hearing of my Letter, received me as a publick Minister;
they provided me with Carriages and Servants, and bore my Charges to Yedo, where
I was admitted to an Audience, and delivered my Letter; which was opened with
great Ceremony, and explained to the Emperor by an Interpreter, who gave me
Notice of his Majesty's Order, that I should signify my Request; and whatever it
were, it should be granted for the sake of his Royal Brother of Luggnagg. This
Interpreter was a Person employed to transact Affairs with the Hollanders: He
soon conjectured by my Countenance that I was an European, and therefore
repeated his Majesty's Commands in Low-Dutch, which he spoke perfectly well. I
answered, (as I had before determined) that I was a Dutch Merchant, shipwrecked
in a very remote Country, from whence I travelled by Sea and Land to Luggnagg,
and then took Shipping for Japan, where I knew my Countrymen often traded, and
with some of these I hoped to get an Opportunity of returning into Europe: I
therefore most humbly entreated his Royal Favour to give Order, that I should be
conducted in Safety to Nangasac. To this I added another Petition, that for the
sake of my Patron the King of Luggnagg, his Majesty would condescend to excuse
my performing the Ceremony imposed on my Countrymen, of trampling upon the
Crucifix; because I had been thrown into his Kingdom by my Misfortunes, without
any Intention of trading. When this latter Petition was interpreted to the
Emperor, he seemed a little surprised; and said, he believed I was the first of
my Countrymen who ever made any Scruple in this Point; and that he began to
doubt whether I were a real Hollander or no; but rather suspected I must be a
CHRISTIAN. However, for the Reasons I had offered, but chiefly
