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EAST ASIA.
as Hizen, Arita, or Imari porcelains, from the names of the province, the industrial
town, and the sea- port whence they are forwarded. The town of Hirado or Firando,
in the island of like name at the extremity of the peninsula, is much frequented by
the steamers plying along the coast. In the seventeenth century, for the ten years
from 1613 to 1623, this place was thrown open to the English and Dutch traders.
Nagasaki, or " Cape Long," which became famous in the West as the only place
in the Empire not closed to foreign trade after the expulsion of the Portuguese in
1623, is by no means one of the largest cities in Japan. Although
its excellent
port, or rather the inlet, is from 60 to 100 feet deep, and well sheltered by the
surrounding hills, it has the disadvantage of being situated at the extremity of a
narrow peninsula destitute of fertile or productive lands. But while its foreign
trade has remained almost stationary, the local traffic has, nevertheless, considerably
increased, entirely, however, to the profit of the native shipping. Nagasaki exports
little agricultural produce, but does a large trade in lacquer and mother-of-pearl
wares, enamelled and cloisonne pottery, and other products of the local industries.
A portion of its export trade is now shared by Fukabori, and some other neighbour-
still remains one of
ing towns. But, thanks to its historic associations, Nagasaki
the most interesting places in Japan for all intelligent European travellers. Its
bay also presents one of the finest prospects in these waters, although the view has
been somewhat marred by the erection of unsightly fortifications on the surrounding
headlands. The bay is encircled by an amphitheatre of green hills, rising to a height
of 1,000 feet, laid out in well-cultivated terraced plots,
or clothed to their summits
with a dense forest growth."
The entrance of the bay is studded with numerous islets, amongst which is the
solitary rock of Takaboko, or the " Lofty Spear," the Papenberg, or " Priests'
Hill " of the Dutch, so named in memory of the missionaries and Japanese converts
said to have been hurled from this spot into the sea in the year 1622. Above the
city the place is also shown where twenty-six priests were crucified in 1597. The
narrow artificial fan-shaped islet of De-sima, where the Dutch traders were
confined, like victims of the plague, is now connected with the mainland, and the
buildings which served as the prison houses of the foreigners from 1639 to 1859
have been destroyed by a fire. In the interior of the city is shown the quarter
where the Chinese merchants were confined. The neighbouring town of Inasa
possesses some dockyards, reluctantly ceded to the Russian Government for refitting
its vessels. Farther south, and beyond the bay, are scattered several islands, amongst
others Taka-sima, which has some coal mines worked according to the European
method. In 1881 the daily yield was about 1,000 tons, or as much as that of all
the rest of Japan.
The town of Simtibara, which was destroyed by an eruption from Mount Unzen
in 1792, lies at the east foot of this volcano, whence flow numerous hot springs.
It commands the west entrance of the large bay of like name, while to the east of
the opposite side, and some distance inland the town of Kmamoto (Kumamofo), is
grouped round an ancient stronghold, whose sloping bastions are crowned with
verandahs and elegant houses under the shade of camphor trees. This is the most