T r e a d i n g o n
t h e C r u c i f i x .
D u t c h .
boiling water mentioned by me at p. 247 o f this work, was one-
o f the inftruments o f torture, varied and lengthened by the molt
diabolical inventions. Thofe of Stngok were the moil: horrible ;
they flow with vaft violence and noife beneath a lofty precipice*
and emit the moft noifome fulphureous vapor, which rifes to a
great height. Hither the Ghriftians were brought in multitudes*
and in cafe they refufed to renounce their religion, were carried
bound to the fummit of the mountain, and precipitated into the
fubjacent Pblegethon.
I n order to imprefs on every fubjedt a deteftation o f the
Chrijlian religion, and poffibly to difcover i f there be any latent
favorers of its doctrine, the following annual cuftom is preferved
throughout the empire : people of aE ranks and periods of life*
even to children o f a certain age, are affembled in the different
places, where they perform the ceremony o f trampling upon the
crofs. It was even faid to have been a rite exadted from the
Dutch, as the price o f their commerce with the Japanefe, Swift,.
in his voyage to Laputa, is humorous on the in Eject; for when
Gulliver, under the char after o f a Dutchman, petitions the emperor
to be excufed the ceremony, his majefty, much furprifed,
tells him, that he was the firft o f his countrymen who .ever
made any fcruple, and that he fufpected he muft be a Chriftian*
and not a Hollander. In 1611 the Dutch fent a folemn embaffy
to the emperor, then refident at Miaco, and were faid to have at
that time obtained an advantageous commercial treaty; at length
they fell under the general edidt of expulfion; yet even after
that fevere decree, procured re-admiffion, under moft mortifying
reftrictions ; they virtually are compelled to renounce their
4 religion;
religion; they muft give up their prayer-books on firft landing,
and relinquifh during their whole confinement every mark
o f Chriftianity. But what will not a Dutchman do for gain!
They make from the faftory an annual journey to the emperor’s
court, which they dignify with the name of embaffy;
but it is no more than a compulfory vifit to prefent their gifts :
their manner of travelling, both on their way and on their return,
is under a ftridt guard, more like that of a parcel o f con-
vidts, thart the merchants o f a great commercial nation. One
fhip only is permitted to trade with this empire annually, and
that is confined to. the port of Nagafaki, in the .little ifle o f De-
lima, on the weft fide of the ifland Kiuftu. In fait, this is the
only fecure harbor in all the mighty empire of Japan. As
foon as a veflel arrives, a Japanefe guard is put on board; the
number, fize, age, and complexion o f the crew noted down;
every living creature in the veffel is to be accounted fo r ; a
monkey died, and the coroner’s inqueft fat on the body. The
next thing done is to take an exadt inventory of, and to caufe all
the fails, mafts, ropes, rudder, guns, arms, ammunition, 8cc. and
all the tackle of the fhips, to be conveyed into the emperor’s
warehoufe, there to be kept under lock and feal till the time
comes for their departure, when they are reftored, according
to the inventory taken, of, which both parties have an exadt
duplicate*.
T he fadtory is imprifoned in the little ifland the whole year,
excepting during the fix weeks o f open trade, when the Japanefe
come there with their goods, eredt booths, and have all
* Some of thefe precautions,. Tbunberg fays, are now omitted* E.
forts
F a c t o r y .