historicalgeogra00psal

:
142 A Defcription of
Law, and the Mathematicks ; and for this purpofe
there are noble Academies not unlike the
Unlverfities in Europe,
It requires fonae Years to perfeft themfelves in
the two old ways of Writing I have before mentioned
: They teach one another the Greek
Tongue, in which they commonly difcourfe without
being underftood by the Laity : Hence in the
writings of their modern Philofophers and Demi-
Gods, you (hall here and there fee a few lines
of Greek j but this Language the Bonzii keep a-
mong themfelves, whereas in Formofa our Priefts
will teach it to any Body for Money.
But fome perhaps will ask me, Who brought
Greek fir ft into Japan or formofa ? I muft honeftly
anfwer, that we have many things amongft us
that I know not how, when, or from whence
they came ^ and yet this confeflion of my ignorance
is no argument againft the matter of faO:
For I doubt not but I might ask a thoufand Engliflimen
from whence they had their Language,
before I fhould meet with ten that were able to
fatisfie me *, fo there is no queltion but fome of
the learned of ray Countrymen can tell you when
Greek and other things were introduced into our
Ifland oi formofa.
Our Schools or Colleges are very nobly founded,
and have been greatly enriched by bountiful
Benefa£tors : The King, 'Vice- Roy, Noblemen,
and Gentlemen, fend all their Sons thither , and
the Priefts who are the Tutors, are loaded with
vaft Rewards and Prefents, according to the proficiency
of their Pupils.
Here (by way of digreffion ) I (hall tell you
how we determine Con trover lies, and how Criminals
that deferve Death are convifted, and fentenced
: We have -no written or Statute Laws
but