CHAPTER VII

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A GLIMPSE OF SOCIAL LIFE IN JAPAN, AS DISCLOSED BY THE WEED

The Japanese—Marco Polo’s mention of Japan and its people—Pinto, Portugal’s pioneer in eastern seas—Lands at Nagasaki in 1545—Friendly reception—News of the event reaches Manila and Goa—Spanish merchant vessels with Francis Xavier speedily arrived at Bungo—Warm welcome—Tobacco and smoking, a new revelation to these primitive people—Good work done by Xavier and his coadjutors among the sick and needy—The Shogun, Iyeyasu, permits free intercourse and unrestricted trade—Spaniards and Portuguese accused of overreaching practices, and of draining the country of its gold—Jesuits and Friars swarm in Japan and bring upon themselves disgrace and ultimate expulsion—William Adams the first Englishman to set foot in Japan—His rapid rise in favour and fortune—The arrival of Dutch merchantmen—Helped by Adams to secure a trade basis at Firando—Adams desires to return home, but is put off from time to time—He writes letters to England telling of himself, and inviting London merchants to trade with Japan—They do so, and vessels laden with merchandise are despatched under the command of Captain Saris, who bears a letter from King James to the Emperor of Japan, resulting in England’s first commercial treaty with that country—Adams dies in Japan after twenty years’ residence, loved and honoured by all.

An Edict against smoking falls into abeyance—Family records of smoking in 1605-7—Excellent properties of tobacco-smoking enumerated by an old writer—Objections to its use—The theft of the golden pipe—Smoking now universal in Japan—An ‘At Home’—Men’s revolt against women’s authority as to when and where to smoke—Primitive habits among the peasantry—Cultivation and revenue—Sir Earnest Satow statistics—Reflections.

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