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BOADS KAILWAYS-TELEGBAPHS. 467
models imposed by the State.* Yet some even of these vessels were over 200 tons
burden, and freely navigated all the waters of the archipelago.
All direct commercial relations with foreign lands being interdicted, the large
junks which conveyed mandarins and ambassadors to the Liu-kiu Archipelao-o,
Formosa, and China, belonged exclusively to the Government. But since the open-
ing of the treaty ports to European trade the mercantile navy has been rapidly
developed. Japan already equals France, while surpassing several European states
in the number and tonnage of its steamers, as well as of its whole fleet. The Bar-
racouta, which was the first paddle-boat that made its appearance in a Japanese
port, had scarcely entered the Nagasaki waters when the natives, eager to learn,
asked permission to study the action of the engine, and obtained from the chief
engineer a plan and section of the works.
As soon as the Japanese daimios found themselves in direct relations with
foreigners they hastened to purchase steamers, with the view of enhancing their
prestige in the eyes of their subjects. About two hundred of these vessels were pre-
sently seen lying at anchor before the palaces of the daimios. But most of them being
crazy old boats, sold at exorbitant prices and manned by inexperienced crews, they
soon became useless hulks. The era of real deep sea navigation had not yet begun.
As early as the year 1872 a Japanese vessel had already crossed the ocean,
bound for San Francisco, and since that time the flag of the Rising Sun has
appeared in the ports of the West. The Mitsubisi Steamship Company, which,
however, enjoys a government subsidy, owned in 1876 more than forty vessels of
2,000 tons burden, plying between all the sea-ports of the archipelago, and running
as far as Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Vladivostok. This company is gradually
monopolising the local carrying trade to such an extent that foreign shipping has
notably diminished during the last ten years. The English flag alone has hitherto
suffered nothing from this native competition. The Chinese also take a consider-
able share of the profits derived from the trade of Japan. As brokers and agents
they are gradually replacing the Europeans and Americans in all the treaty ports.
Tn every commercial house the situation of comprador or commissioner, is invariably
occupied by a native of the Middle Kingdom.f
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ROADS RAILWAYS TELEGRAPHS.
Although the sea, now lit up by numerous still
lighthouses,!
offers the readiest
means of communication, road building has not been completely neglected. Carts
Japanese mercantile navy in 1S79:
Sailing vessels of European build . . . 714 of 27,550 tons.
Steamer.
Junks averaging 31 tons ....
18.174
166 42,670
745,134
Total, exclusive of fi.-hing smacks . 19,054 815,44-1 ,,
Knu-lish vessels . . . W of 417,691 tons.
Others 351 ..331,181
838 74.S.872
t Foreign Shipping engaged in the trade of Japan (1878) :
Foreitrn.Ts si.l, n's in the Japanese Treaty Ports (1878) :-English 1,170 ; other European
1,410; riiiii.-s.'. :t,028; total 5,505.
+ Lighthouses in Japan in 1881 : 45, besides the harbour lights.
sand Americans