summaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/77632-h
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
Diffstat (limited to '77632-h')
-rw-r--r--77632-h/77632-h.htm2479
-rw-r--r--77632-h/images/cover.jpgbin0 -> 147431 bytes
2 files changed, 2479 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/77632-h/77632-h.htm b/77632-h/77632-h.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4dba17a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/77632-h/77632-h.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,2479 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en">
+<head>
+ <meta charset="UTF-8">
+ <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
+ <title>
+ The earliest historical relations between Mexico and Japan | Project Gutenberg
+ </title>
+ <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover">
+ <style>
+
+body {
+ margin-left: 10%;
+ margin-right: 10%;
+}
+
+h1,h2,h3 {
+ text-align: center; /* all headings centered */
+ clear: both;
+}
+h1 { /* use for book title */
+ margin: 1em 5% 1em;
+ font-size: 160%;}
+h2 { /* use for chapter headings */
+ margin:1em 5% 1em;
+ font-size: 140%;}
+h3 { margin: 1em 5% 1em;
+ font-size: 120%;}
+
+h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;}
+div.chapter {page-break-before: always;
+ margin-top: 4em;}
+
+p { text-indent: 1.5em;
+ margin-top: .51em;
+ text-align: justify;
+ margin-bottom: .49em;
+}
+.unindent {text-indent: 0em;
+ margin-top: .51em;
+ text-align: justify;
+ margin-bottom: .49em;}
+.p2 {margin-top: 2em;}
+.center {text-align: center;}
+.justl {float: left;}
+.justr {float: right;}
+.hangwide {margin-left: 6em;
+ text-indent: -6em;}
+.tall {line-height: 150%;}
+
+/* Rules */
+hr {
+ width: 33%;
+ margin-top: 2em;
+ margin-bottom: 2em;
+ margin-left: 33.5%;
+ margin-right: 33.5%;
+ clear: both;
+}
+
+hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;}
+hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;}
+@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} }
+hr.full {width: 95%; margin-left: 2.5%; margin-right: 2.5%;}
+hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;}
+
+/* TABLES */
+table {
+ margin-left: auto;
+ margin-right: auto;
+}
+.tdl {text-align: left;}
+.tdr {text-align: right;}
+.tdh {vertical-align: top; text-align: left;
+ text-indent: -1em; padding-left: 2em;}
+.vlt {vertical-align: top;}
+.vlb {vertical-align: bottom;}
+.pad1 {padding-top: 1em;}
+.pad2 {padding-left: 1em;}
+
+
+.pagenum {
+ visibility: hidden;
+ position: absolute;
+ left: 92%;
+ font-size: small;
+ text-align: right;
+ font-style: normal;
+ font-weight: normal;
+ font-variant: normal;
+ text-indent: 0;
+} /* page numbers */
+
+blockquote { font-size: 90%;
+ margin-top: 0;
+ margin-bottom: 0;
+ margin-left: 5%;
+ margin-right: 10%;
+}
+
+/* Font styling */
+.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;}
+.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;}
+.small {font-size: 92%;}
+.smaller {font-size: 83%;}
+.larger {font-size: 120%;}
+.sansserif {font-family: sans-serif; }
+
+/* Footnotes */
+.footnotes {border: 1px dashed;}
+
+.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;}
+
+.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;}
+
+.fnanchor {
+ vertical-align: super;
+ font-size: .8em;
+ text-decoration:
+ none;
+}
+
+
+/* Transcriber's notes */
+.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA;
+ color: black;
+ font-size:small;
+ padding:0.5em;
+ margin-bottom:5em;
+ font-family:sans-serif, serif;
+}
+
+a { border:none; text-decoration:none; font-variant:normal; }
+abbr { border:none; text-decoration:none; font-variant:normal; }
+
+ </style>
+</head>
+<body>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77632 ***</div>
+
+<p class="center sansserif"><span class="allsmcap"><b>UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS</b></span><br><br>
+<b>AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY</b></p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="justl">&ensp;Vol. 4</span>
+ <span class="justr">No. 1&ensp;</span></p>
+<hr class="full">
+
+<h1>
+THE EARLIEST HISTORICAL RELATIONS<br>
+BETWEEN MEXICO AND JAPAN
+</h1>
+
+<p class="center tall">FROM ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS PRESERVED IN SPAIN
+AND JAPAN</p>
+
+<p class="p2 center tall">BY<br>
+<span class="larger">ZELIA NUTTALL</span></p>
+
+<p class="p2 center tall">BERKELEY<br>
+<span class="allsmcap">THE UNIVERSITY PRESS<br>
+APRIL, 1906</span></p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p class="center sansserif">
+<span class="allsmcap"><b>UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS</b></span><br>
+<br>
+<span class="allsmcap"><b>AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY</b></span><br>
+
+<span class="smcap smaller justl"><b>Vol. 4</b></span>
+<span class="smcap smaller justr"><b>No. 1</b></span>
+</p>
+<hr class="full">
+</div>
+
+ <h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_EARLIEST_HISTORICAL_RELATIONS">
+ THE EARLIEST HISTORICAL RELATIONS
+ BETWEEN MEXICO AND JAPAN
+ </h2>
+
+<p class="center">
+(<span class="smcap">From Original Documents Preserved in Spain and Japan.</span>)<br>
+<br>
+<span class="small">BY</span><br>
+<br>
+<span class="larger">ZELIA NUTTALL.</span><br>
+</p>
+
+<hr class="r5">
+<p class="center smaller">PUBLISHED BY THE CROOKER FUND FOR RESEARCH IN MEXICO.</p>
+<hr class="r5">
+
+
+<p>It is strange but true, that whereas for many years past much
+has been said and written about the hypothetical transmission
+of Asiatic influences to Mexico and Central America by means
+of the ship-wrecked crews of Japanese junks, the precise date
+when official relations were first established between Japan and
+Mexico has only just been ascertained.</p>
+
+<p>It is Señor C. A. Lera, the actual Mexican Envoy Extraordinary
+and Minister Plenipotentiary to Japan and China, who
+deserves the credit of having instituted researches in archives
+and annals of Japan and succeeded in finding therein the documentary
+evidence which a countryman of his, Angel Nuñez Ortega,
+had vainly endeavored to find in the national archives of
+Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>With the coöperation of Father Steichen, a learned missionary
+residing in Japan, who is known as the author of a History
+of Japanese Commerce, Señor Lera obtained translations of important
+original documents, and incorporated them in a report
+to the Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs, which was privately
+printed in Tokio in pamphlet form a few months ago, under
+the title of “First Official Relations Between Japan and Spain
+With Respect to Mexico.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p>
+
+<p>On reading Señor Lera’s valuable contribution I found evidences
+that he was unacquainted with the scholarly monograph
+privately published in Mexico in 1879, by the distinguished
+scholar and diplomat, Señor Ortega, under the title “Historical
+Note on the Political and Commercial Relations Between Mexico
+and Japan in the XVIIth Century.” I found moreover that
+although Señor Lera refers to it, neither of the above writers
+had ever read that most valuable document, the detailed report
+of his embassy submitted to Viceroy Mendoza, by the first ambassador
+ever sent from New Spain to Japan. This is contained in
+Vol. VIII of that monumental work published in Madrid: Collection
+of unedited documents relating to the discovery and conquest
+and organization of ancient Spanish possessions in America and
+Oceania.</p>
+
+<p>Finding myself deeply interested in the facts preserved in
+the above disconnected monographs, it occurred to me that I
+could not send to the San Francisco meeting of the Anthropological
+Association a more acceptable communication than a compilation
+of all three publications, with translations of the original
+documents contained therein. In preparing this I found it necessary,
+in order to fill certain gaps, to refer to a number of works
+on Japan, and also to incorporate certain data contained in a
+newspaper article recently published in the City of Mexico by
+the erudite Father V. de P. Andrade. I venture to believe that
+the data collectively presented here, for the first time in English,
+will be of interest and value, not only to historians and ethnologists,
+but also to the general public.</p>
+
+<p>To them it will doubtless be a matter of surprise, as it was
+to me, to learn that it was no less a personage than Tokugawa
+Iyeyasu, surnamed “The Illustrious,” who, in 1598, took the
+first steps towards establishing official relations with Mexico.
+Iyeyasu is known to have inaugurated the policy of exclusion
+and isolation, which was perfected by his grandson, Iyemitsu,
+and to have organized the form of government which secured to
+Japan a peace of two hundred years.</p>
+
+<p>At the time, however, when he conceived the desire to enter
+into direct communication with New Spain, he was at the beginning
+of his remarkable career. Only two years had passed since
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span>Taikun Hideyoshi had bestowed upon him, as a reward for his
+services as a general, the eight provinces, which were designated
+“The Kwanto,” and ordered him to take up his residence at the
+then unimportant town of Yedo, the present Tokio. Considering
+that since 1542, when the first Portuguese trading vessels visited
+Japan, the Portuguese had been enjoying the monopoly of a system
+of trade by barter, it was certainly a new departure for
+General Iyeyasu to attempt to establish direct communication
+between his new domain and Mexico. It was his idea that this
+result might be obtained if he could but induce the merchant
+vessels which plied between the Philippines and Mexico to touch
+at one of the ports of “The Kwanto.” With this object in view,
+he sought the advice and aid of the learned Franciscan friar,
+Geronimo de Jesús, who wrote for him a Spanish letter to the
+governor of the Philippines, in which, as an opening to future
+negotiations, Iyeyasu courteously invited the Spanish merchant
+vessels to seek shelter in any of the ports situated in his domain,
+if ever overtaken by the dangerous storms so prevalent in these
+regions. This letter, which was written in the same year in
+which the second expedition to Corea came to an end and a
+number of Coreans were brought from that country to Japan,
+was not sent when written, for the negotiations were suspended
+by the stirring events which culminated in the famous battle of
+Sekigakara, which, in 1600, established Iyeyasu’s supremacy in
+Japan. It was not until 1601 that Iyeyasu found leisure to revert
+to his plan, and sent Shinkiro, a wealthy merchant of the
+City of Sakai, as bearer of the above letter and some costly
+presents to the governor of the Philippines. The latter, deeply
+involved at that time in the war which Spain was carrying on
+in Cambodia against Siam, responded by saying that Iyeyasu’s
+proposal pleased him extremely, and that he would accept it as
+soon as he was free and able to do so. Meanwhile he begged him
+to accept certain gifts in return for those which he had received
+with much gratitude through the Japanese envoy Shinkiro.</p>
+
+<p>In the month of May of the following year, a new governor,
+Don Pedro Bravo de Acuña, was appointed for the Philippines.
+In September of the same year Iyeyasu dispatched Shinkiro
+again with another letter, also written in Spanish by the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span>Franciscan friar, Geronimo. The original draft of this interesting
+document, which is preserved in Japan, is in Japanese, from
+which language it was translated into French for Señor Lera, so
+that he, in turn, could translate it into Spanish, from which
+language I have made the following literal translation.</p>
+
+<p>I venture to suggest that it would be an interesting experiment
+for some scholar to translate my version back into Japanese,
+and to compare his translation with the original document
+and verify the changes which must have been produced by its
+passing through the crucible of three European languages.</p>
+
+<blockquote>
+<p>“Minamoto Iyeyasu of Japan, to his Lordship the Governor
+of Luzon:&#x2060;—</p>
+
+<p>“After a long voyage your envoy has arrived at last with
+your letter. He has spoken to me of the mode of government
+and the flourishing condition of your country, and, at the same
+time, delivered to me the five objects which you have deigned
+to send me as presents.</p>
+
+<p>“Although I have never had the honor to see or listen to
+you, your amiable behavior makes me realize how all men are
+members of a single family; which reflection has moved me
+deeply.</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing would satisfy my desires so much as to see
+merchant vessels establishing frequent communication between
+my country and New Spain. In formulating this wish, it was
+not only the interests of Japan which moved me, but also, in
+equal measure, your own advantage. Many of your people
+have assured me that it would be a considerable advantage to
+them to be able to count upon a port in the Kwanto as a
+shelter for their ships during tempests. They have also manifested
+to me the pleasure with which they would see Japanese
+vessels making voyages between the Kwanto and New Spain.</p>
+
+<p>“I shall await your answer with eager anticipation.</p>
+
+<p>“If you render me this service, I, in turn, will severely
+prohibit piracy even in the most remote islands of Japan, and,
+if you so desire, I will condemn all pirates to death. You, in
+turn, can execute all Japanese who in the Philippines violate
+your laws. If any of the merchants who with my authorization
+visit your country, prove to be rebellious to your authority,
+I will, upon being informed of their names, prohibit their
+embarking again.</p>
+
+<p>“Although unworthy of you, deign to accept as a sign of
+friendship the Japanese suit of armor, which I send you.</p>
+
+<p>“My ambassador will tell you all that I have failed to
+express in this letter.”</p>
+</blockquote>
+
+<p>It is related that Iyeyasu’s assurances did not disarm the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span>suspicions of the Spaniards, nor convince them that he would
+or could keep his promise. Indeed the Spaniards’ fear to send
+their galleons to Japan was not unfounded, for, but eight years
+previously in 1596, Hideyoshi, since surnamed the “Napoleon
+of Japan,” had confiscated without provocation the Spanish
+vessel named “San Felipe,” and a month before the date of
+Iyeyasu’s above letter another galleon, the “Espirito Santo,”
+almost incurred the same fate. It was sailing with contrary
+winds from Manila to New Spain, and touched the coast of Tosa
+in August, 1602. It was immediately attacked by the natives
+of this province, and its captain, Lope de Ulloa, had to resort
+to arms in order to defend it against its assailants. As soon as
+the news of this singularly inopportune episode reached Iyeyasu,
+in October, he hastened to write to the governor of the Philippines,
+protesting that what had occurred had been without his
+knowledge and consent. He laid stress upon the amicable relations
+then existing between both countries—adding that they
+might almost be regarded as an alliance. Refusing to admit
+that his subjects were in fault, he adroitly suggests that it was
+probably only the fear of a repetition of the “San Felipe” episode,
+which had caused the Spaniards to take alarm and precipitate
+their departure from the Japanese coast. He adds: “Henceforth,
+in case of any kind of accidents, let your people not hesitate
+to take refuge in the ports of my domain, for I have sent
+to all quarters severe orders relating to this matter. Through
+your merchants I have learned that the eight galleons which
+leave Luzon every year for New Spain desire to obtain a license
+permitting them to take refuge in the ports of my country. Full
+of compassion for these foreigners I have had eight licenses written
+and sealed. These will preserve them from the rapacity of
+the people, and thanks to them they will without fear be able
+not only to take refuge in the ports and islands, but also to
+land and penetrate into all villages and towns throughout Japan,
+without incurring the risk of being treated as spies, even should
+they devote themselves to studying the usages and customs of the
+land.”</p>
+
+<p>While nothing could exceed the courtesy and good will expressed
+in this letter, it utterly failed to reassure the governor
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span>of the Philippines, who could but bear in mind several recent
+disastrous losses of Spanish galleons, laden with the much coveted
+riches from the Spanish possessions in Asia. But fifteen
+years had elapsed since Francis Drake had lain in wait at Cape
+St. Lucas for the galleon expected from the Philippines, and
+after robbing it of its treasures, abandoned its crew on the arid
+shores of the Peninsula of California. This disaster had produced
+a profound commotion throughout the Spanish colonies,
+and brought infinite trouble upon the viceroy of Mexico, who was
+obliged to send out a maritime expedition with orders to pursue
+and punish the English corsairs. The seizure of another galleon
+by a Japanese potentate had taken place but six years previously,
+and now, at the very time that Iyeyasu was offering hospitality
+to Spanish merchantmen, came the news of the real or imaginary
+danger incurred by the vessel which had taken refuge in a Japanese
+port. Considering that besides all this the memory of the
+persecution and martyrdom of Roman Catholic missionaries in
+1597 was still fresh, it is not surprising that the Spanish governor
+took no notice of Iyeyasu’s overtures, and broke off negotiations.</p>
+
+<p>In the native history of Japanese Commerce (Nihon Shogyoshi)
+and Kottenhamp’s “History of the Colonization of America,”
+this rupture and the subsequent failures to establish the
+desired commercial relations are attributed, no doubt justly,
+chiefly to the powerful merchant princes of Seville, who violently
+opposed any encroachment on their monopoly of Asiatic
+trade. Six years later, however, in 1608, the situation suddenly
+changed. A new governor, Don Rodrigo de Vivero, came to
+the Philippines, where, at that period, there existed a colony of
+about fifteen thousand Japanese. The principal Japanese merchants
+residing in Manila petitioned him to resume the interrupted
+negotiations, and an ambassador sent by Iyeyasu insisted,
+at the same time, upon the advantages that would accrue to Spanish
+interests by a friendly treaty with Japan.</p>
+
+<p>Iyeyasu’s ambassador, in this case, was the Englishman William
+Adams, a native of Gillingham, Kent, who shares, with his
+companion Timothy Shotten, the distinction of being the first
+Englishmen who went to Japan. Both served as pilots on a
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span>Dutch ship, the “De Liefde,” which had sailed from Texel at
+the mouth of the Zuyder Zee in 1598 with four other vessels
+and was wrecked at Bunzo, in Japan, on April 19, 1600. Adams
+ingratiated himself with the Japanese, volunteered to instruct
+them in the art of ship-building, and won the Emperor’s notice
+by offering to teach him geography and geometry. Received at
+court, he rapidly rose in favor. The title “Hatamoto,” or Noble,
+was conferred upon him, and he became not only Iyeyasu’s influential
+adviser, but was employed, as in this case, as the emperor’s
+envoy in establishing commercial relations with foreign
+countries.</p>
+
+<p>Won over by William Adams’ representations, backed by the
+petition presented by the Japanese residents of Manila, Governor
+Vivero agreed to renew negotiations at once, and commissioned
+the leaders of the Japanese colony to write two letters for him
+in their language. These and some gifts were entrusted to William
+Adams, who was likewise placed in command of the next
+Spanish vessel which was sent to Japan. In the first letter, addressed
+to Iyeyasu, the interruption of negotiations and its cause
+were wisely ignored, and great stress was laid upon “the amiable
+sympathy which from olden times had bound one nation to the
+other,” and assurances were given that “far from wishing to
+abandon it or allowing it to become lukewarm, it would be his
+aim diligently to tighten the bonds of their long friendship.”
+He states, immediately afterwards, that a number of turbulent
+characters having promoted sedition and made disturbance in
+the Japanese colony at Manila, he had adopted the course of
+sending them back to Japan. According to Father Steichen not
+less than two hundred Japanese were thus expelled from Manila.
+Governor Vivero adds that their troublesome behavior would
+certainly not prevent him from receiving any peaceful Japanese
+merchants who might come to the Philippines. With respect
+to such nothing had changed. He continues: That he was sending
+a vessel to Japan, and had given orders to William Adams to
+take shelter by preference in a port in the “Kwanto.” In case,
+however, that contrary winds should impede the vessel’s course,
+he had no objection to any other port being entered, now that
+the whole of Japan was under Iyeyasu’s Lordship. He did not
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span>doubt that his captain and his people would meet with a good
+reception, and he begged, at the same time, that the Catholic
+friars residing in Japan should be well treated. In the second
+letter, addressed to the shogun, Hidetada, Iyeyasu’s son, in whose
+favor the latter had resigned in 1605, Vivero announced the
+sending of a galleon, and states that he would be obliged if the
+shogun would send Japanese vessels, but not more than four a
+year, to the Philippines, and he requests that he view with
+benevolence the friars and priests who were living in Japan.</p>
+
+<p>By the time that these letters reached their destination, eight
+years had elapsed since Iyeyasu had made his first attempt to
+open negotiations. Vivero, the enterprising and enlightened governor
+of the Philippines, henceforth became his ally, and, as we
+shall see, conducted the first Japanese embassy to Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>The credit of having established amicable relations should be
+given to William Adams, whose influence over Iyeyasu finally
+opened to the Spaniards the Port of Uraga, the most commodious
+and flourishing port of Japan, situated in the Province of
+Sagami, a day’s journey from Yedo. An imperial decree, dated
+1608, was posted at the entrance of this port, threatening severe
+penalties to all who might molest the merchantmen from Luzon.</p>
+
+<p>The answers to Governor Vivero’s letters, which were soon
+sent, express Iyeyasu’s and his son’s pleasure at the realization
+of their desire.</p>
+
+<p>With regard to the Japanese who had been forcibly expelled
+from Manila, Iyeyasu simply remarks:&#x2060;—</p>
+
+<blockquote>
+<p>“In your country the government and the people live in
+harmony, the inhabitants treat each other with good will and
+courtesy, and extend even to foreigners the same general benevolence.
+In Japan we also have just laws, and all are governed
+with equity. Consequently we have no thieves nor malefactors.
+Therefore, if the Japanese who are in the Philippines
+commit injustices, pray condemn them to death.”</p>
+</blockquote>
+
+<p>In a letter dated October 2, 1608, Hidetada reiterates his
+father’s assurances that Spanish vessels might visit Japan without
+fear, and expressed the desire that future communications
+should be more frequent between both countries.</p>
+
+<p>Perfect harmony having thus been established, friendship
+increased between the Japanese and Spaniards, and the galleon
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span>which navigated between Manila and Acapulco regularly touched
+at Uraga.</p>
+
+<p>In the following year a change of governor took place in the
+Philippines, and Don Juan de Silva, the new governor, hastened
+to announce to Iyeyasu his arrival in Luzon, and his intention
+to continue to send vessels to Japan. He seized this opportunity,
+however, to inform the emperor that a number of Japanese
+residents in the Philippines were fomenting revolt and disturbing
+the peace. In answer to the latter complaint, Iyeyasu
+sent the governor a copy of the severe laws applied to criminals
+in Japan, directing him to apply these laws in punishing the
+seditious Japanese in the Philippines. He ends with the assurance
+that the friars in Japan were being treated with sympathy
+and good will. Considering that, in 1597, twenty-six Christians
+and foreign friars, among them a native of Mexico, San Felipe
+de Jesús, were crucified at Nagasaki, the imperial assurances that
+he viewed the friars with benevolence and good will must have
+been extremely welcome to Governor Vivero.</p>
+
+<p>Three months subsequently, Hidedata, who vied with his
+father in liberality and affability, renewed the privilege granted
+to Spanish vessels to enter all Japanese ports indiscriminately,
+and sent their captains copies of an official permission, dated
+November 2, 1609, which reads as follows:&#x2060;—</p>
+
+<blockquote>
+<p>“The vessels sailing from Luzon to New Spain may freely
+enter all ports in Japan and take shelter therein in stormy
+weather.”</p>
+</blockquote>
+
+<p>In this same year a strange combination of circumstances
+occurred, which afforded the Japanese rulers an unexpected opportunity
+not only of demonstrating their good will towards
+the Spaniards, but of giving a proof of their good faith and
+generosity. Don Rodrigo de Vivero, the retiring governor of
+the Philippines, sailed from Luzon for New Spain on the 25th
+of July, in a vessel named the “San Francisco,” escorted by two
+galleons. Overtaken by a storm, the “San Francisco” and one
+of the galleons were wrecked on the shores of Japan. As soon
+as the Japanese learned that the ship-wrecked crews were Spaniards,
+and that among them was the former friendly governor
+of the Philippines, they hastened to offer them shelter and food.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span>Vivero dispatched two messengers to the Japanese court to inform
+the emperor and the shogun of his misfortunes. Whereupon
+they not only invited him and his companions to the capital,
+but with spontaneous liberality promised a restitution of
+all the merchandise, etc., which could be saved from both wrecks.
+Iyeyasu generously offered to part with one of the best vessels,
+which had been constructed for him by William Adams, and
+likewise to lend him four thousand ducats, with which to man
+and provision the ship, which was named “San Buenaventura.”
+Vivero was also loaded with presents for the King of Spain and
+Viceroy of Mexico, and was requested to exert his influence towards
+the sending of a Spanish ambassador to Japan.</p>
+
+<p>It appears that Vivero took advantage of his sojourn in Japan
+to prejudice the Japanese rulers against the Portuguese, who had
+hitherto enjoyed the sole privilege of exporting gold from Japan.
+He likewise attempted to have this privilege transferred to the
+Spaniards.</p>
+
+<p>An interesting fact connected with this visit, and to which I
+will revert, is that Iyeyasu requested that as many as fifty expert
+miners be sent to Japan from Mexico in order to teach the
+Japanese the most advantageous methods of working their gold
+mines, the principal one of which was situated in the Island of
+Sado.</p>
+
+<p>Governor Vivero, having consented to take with him to New
+Spain a certain number of Japanese merchants, so that they
+might learn the way, and also study commercial conditions, stipulated
+that the price of the vessel ceded to him might be payable
+in Spanish merchandise.</p>
+
+<p>On the first of August, 1610, after having enjoyed Japanese
+hospitality for over a year, Vivero and his countrymen embarked
+for New Spain with twenty-three Japanese merchants, who were
+under the leadership of two noblemen named Tanaka Shosake
+and Shuya Ryusai.</p>
+
+<p>In Mexico City, where they arrived towards the end of the
+year, the Japanese were presented by Vivero to the viceroy, Don
+Luis de Velasco the Second, who received them well and stood
+sponsor at the baptism of at least one of the two Japanese noblemen,
+who returned to Japan bearing the Christian name Francisco
+and the viceroy’s family name, Velasco.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span></p>
+
+<p>The singularly noble conduct of the Japanese towards the
+ship-wrecked sailors at a time when all nations accepted the
+principle of “<i>jus littoris</i>” could but make a particularly deep
+impression upon the viceroy, who in the year 1600, for instance,
+had granted a concession to the inhabitants of the coast of the
+Gulf of Mexico, which legally authorized them to appropriate all
+ship-wrecked goods. Moved by gratitude, or as Father Caro
+prefers to state, by his ardent desire for the aggrandizement of
+New Spain, the viceroy determined to exert a prerogative usually
+confined to sovereigns, and to send an ambassador to Japan, entrusted
+with a letter in which he expressed to the Japanese rulers
+his gratitude and appreciation of the great charity and liberality
+towards his ship-wrecked countrymen.</p>
+
+<p>Mexican historians have differed as to the name of the ambassador
+appointed, but an original document preserved in the
+archives of the Indies proves, beyond a doubt, that it was General
+Sebastian Viscaino, who in this document is twice mentioned
+as being a son of the viceroy.&#x2060;<a id="FNanchor_1_1" href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes">
+<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote">
+<p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_1_1" href="#FNanchor_1_1" class="label">[1]</a> It has already been mentioned that the contents of this valuable document
+have not been discussed by Señor Ortega, Father Andrade or Señor
+Lera, who erroneously states in a footnote on page 23 of his monograph
+that the texts of the two letters from the Japanese sovereigns are contained
+in Vol. VIII of the collection of unedited documents; whereas this contains
+only the texts of Spanish letters addressed by General Viscaino to the emperor
+and shogun.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The memory of Don Sebastian Viscaino is intimately associated
+with California, for, in 1596, he was commissioned by the
+King of Spain to make a voyage of discovery to California, and,
+as is well known, sailed from the Port of Acapulco with three
+vessels and reached the Port of La Paz, where he established
+himself, built a church and dispatched a series of expeditions
+westward. This expedition ended somewhat disastrously on account
+of the discontent of the soldiers under his command, but in
+1602 he was appointed Captain General of an expedition sent by
+order of Phillip III and fitted out by the Count of Monterey, viceroy
+of Mexico. During this voyage, which lasted nine months,
+the whole coast of Southern California was carefully surveyed.
+After reaching Cape Mendocino, they proceeded as far north as
+45 degrees north latitude, but he was forced to return to Acapulco
+on account of illness and mortality amongst his men.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p>
+
+<p>The account of his embassy to Japan, evidently written under
+his dictation by the secretary of the expedition, is divided into
+twelve chapters, and fills ninety-seven printed pages in the collection
+of unedited documents to which I have already referred.
+This document, which is full of interesting and valuable information
+concerning the avowed and secret aims of his mission, gives a
+detailed account of its history. It enables one clearly to recognize
+moreover the manifold causes and events which within a
+few years wrought so complete a change in Iyeyasu’s views, and
+which culminated in the banishment of foreigners, the extirpation
+of Christianity, and the complete isolation of Japan for
+centuries.</p>
+
+<p>On the 22nd of March, 1611, Viscaino sailed in a vessel
+named the “San Francisco” from Vera Cruz, accompanied by
+the Japanese nobleman now known as Don Francisco de Velasco,
+twenty-two Japanese merchants, a commissary and six friars
+of the Franciscan order, a captain named Palacios and a crew
+of fifty-two.</p>
+
+<p>Before launching into Viscaino’s report, of which I shall give
+a literal translation, excepting where abbreviations and commentaries
+are necessary, let us read the Japanese records of the foregoing
+events, which were indirectly communicated by the well-known
+scholar, Mr. Ernest Satow, to Señor Nuñez Ortega, in
+1879. They demonstrate that in the 17th century, as now, the
+official records of Japan were written with a brevity and reticence
+which causes so many modern Japanese war dispatches to
+read more like our weather reports:&#x2060;—</p>
+
+<blockquote>
+<p>“The Sairan Igen of Arai Haku Seki (B. 1657, D. 1725)
+says: In the 15th year of Keycho (1600) a merchant vessel
+belonging to New Spain was driven by a storm on the east
+coast of Japan and considerably damaged. The government
+ordered that it should be repaired, and provisions having been
+supplied it was started to depart. In the summer of the 17th
+year (1612), an ambassador came from that country on a
+complimentary mission, to return thanks. Amongst the presents
+was a self-sounding bell (clock), and our manufacture of
+this article commenced from this date.”&#x2060;<a id="FNanchor_2_2" href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p>
+</blockquote>
+
+<div class="footnotes">
+<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote">
+<p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_2_2" href="#FNanchor_2_2" class="label">[2]</a> This clock is still preserved in the temple of Kino-San, near Shizouka,
+Province of Suraga. An inscription records its history, and a small metal
+plate, fastened to it, records that it was made in Madrid.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span></p>
+
+<p>The same annals preserve the following report, made to their
+government by the Japanese merchants on their return from
+New Spain:&#x2060;—</p>
+
+<blockquote>
+<p>“Some of our sailing merchants departed in company with
+this embassy. They (the merchants) returned in the following
+year, and stated that the country visited was populous
+and productive. They also reported that the foreigners had
+thanked them, saying: ‘Our countries are far apart and navigation
+is difficult. Pray do not come again.’”</p>
+</blockquote>
+
+<p>It is, of course, evident that this blunt intimation that their
+presence was not desired in New Spain emanated from the same
+monopolists who had caused the rupture of negotiations in 1602,
+and who, later on, obtained a royal decree, limiting the traffic
+between Mexico and Japan to one galleon a year, and putting restrictions
+upon the value of the cargo it carried.</p>
+
+<p>From Viscaino’s report we learn that the relations between
+the Japanese merchants and the Spanish crew of the “San Francisco”
+were decidedly strained. He relates that, at the beginning
+of the voyage, the Japanese gave trouble on account of
+their haughtiness and rudeness to the sailors—especially “concerning
+matters of the kitchen,” and by their high-handedness.
+The general put an end to this state of affairs by ordering that
+no Spaniard was to interfere with a Japanese, nor lay hands
+on him, nor give occasion for dispute, under penalty of death.
+The same threat was made to the Japanese, and they were enjoined
+to be civil, and to come to him whenever any difficulty
+presented itself, and to avoid all disputes and quarrels with the
+sailors. Viscaino likewise threatened that if any Japanese were
+insolent, he would have him hanged from the yardarm, and
+would report him to the Japanese emperor, of whom it was
+known that he did not like his vassals to be insolent—especially
+when they were being treated to such a good voyage. Whereupon,
+it is recorded, the Japanese were so filled with fear that they “restrained
+their pride and haughtiness, became more docile than
+lambs,” and gave no cause for complaint during the remainder
+of the voyage. Their leader was the first to set an example of
+changed behavior. Viscaino invited him to his table, considering
+it expedient, as he says, to please and satisfy him, in view of
+the fact that upon his report to the emperor would depend the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span>manner of reception accorded to the Spaniards by his Imperial
+Majesty, and the dispatch with which permission would be obtained
+to set out from said Empire of Japan for the discovery of
+said islands of gold and silver, which constituted the principal
+aim of this expedition.</p>
+
+<p>It is interesting to note that in the letters which General
+Viscaino sent by messengers to the emperor and his son, on his
+arrival in Japan after a voyage of eighty days, he emphasized
+how much respect and honor had been accorded to the Japanese
+merchants during the voyage, but refrained from all mention of
+the islands of gold and silver, which it was his main object to
+discover.</p>
+
+<p>General Viscaino’s letter to Iyeyasu reads as follows:&#x2060;—</p>
+
+<blockquote>
+<p>“Most Serene Emperor of the kingdoms and provinces of
+Japan:&#x2060;—</p>
+
+<p>“Sebastian Viscaino, General and Ambassador of his Majesty
+the King of Spain, Phillip III, and also of the Marquis
+of Salinas, Viceroy of New Spain and the King’s Lieutenant,
+as well as the Friar, Peter Baptist, of the Order of St.
+Francis, make known unto your Majesty that, to-day, Saturday,
+the 10th of June, 1611, we have reached this Port of
+Uraga in a vessel in which we sailed from the Port of Acapulco,
+in New Spain, on the 22nd of March of this year. We
+have come to this kingdom directly for the sole purpose of
+bringing you the news that said Marquis received the embassy
+and presents which you sent through Friar Alonzo
+Munoz, and also to bring to this realm Josquendono and
+your other vassals who went last year with Don Rodrigo de
+Vivero to New Spain, as well as to return the money which
+by your order was lent to Don Vivero and the value of the
+ship ‘San Buenaventura,’ which said Marquis purchased in the
+name of my lord and king. It was not considered expedient
+to return here in said vessel for reasons of which Josquendono
+and the other Japanese will inform you. They will tell you at
+the same time how, during their voyage to and from New
+Spain, they were respected and honored and given presents on
+account of their being your servants and vassals. While the
+said Marquis could have sent them back by the Islands of
+Luzon, he did not do so, considering that voyage would be
+long and dangerous, not only on account of difficult navigation
+but because they, the money and the value of the ship
+which we are bringing to your Majesty, in the name of my
+lord and king, might have been endangered on account of
+the number of Dutch pirates, whose vessels are in the vicinity
+of the Islands, and who are going about robbing and in revolt
+against my lord and king.”</p>
+</blockquote>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span></p>
+
+<p>Viscaino closes his letter by humbly begging permission to go
+to court in order to “kiss the emperor’s hands,” and by an
+allusion to the existing relations of peace and good understanding
+which it is his mission to promote.</p>
+
+<p>Notwithstanding these relations, the general found it necessary,
+before landing his Spanish crew, to confer with the governor
+of the port and the commander of the Japanese fleet of
+junks as to the best method of avoiding quarrels and disputes
+between the Spaniards and Japanese. He issued orders that,
+under penalty of death, no Spaniard was to draw his sword or
+any other arm against the Japanese—nor use violence against
+Japanese women, nor take anything from any one against his
+will.</p>
+
+<p>A great number of Japanese visited the Spanish vessel,
+among them many noblemen. These were received with honors
+by Viscaino, who “offered them chairs and gave them sweets,
+which they soaked in sherry, which they liked extremely.”</p>
+
+<p>He records complacently that the Japanese merchants and
+their leader, Josquendono, departed at once for the court of the
+emperor, in order to give him an account of their voyage, in
+which they expressed the excellent treatment they had received
+from the Spaniards. But since we know the nature of the official
+report of their voyage, made by some of these same merchants,
+who must also have harbored resentment at the threats employed
+by Viscaino on ship-board, we may be prompted to doubt whether
+all accounts were as favorable as that of Josquendono, who had
+been won over by Viscaino. An insight into an existing undercurrent
+of ill will towards the Spaniards is afforded by Viscaino’s
+remark, “that it was indeed well that they had come
+directly to Japan, for their arrival with the Japanese merchants
+contradicted the rumors which had been rife, and which had
+spread the belief that the Spaniards had deceived the emperor;
+that the money lent to Vivero would never be returned, and
+that the Japanese who went to New Spain were enslaved and
+made to serve the Spaniards.”</p>
+
+<p>In a few days Viscaino received a gracious communication,
+signed by several court officials, informing him that the shogun,
+Hidedata, had received his letter with great pleasure, and granted
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span>him permission and all facilities to visit him immediately at his
+court. In the five junks placed at his disposal Viscaino at once
+embarked with an escort of thirty Spaniards, armed with muskets
+and arquebusses, and with the friars and a few of the Japanese
+whom he had brought from New Spain.</p>
+
+<p>At the mouth of the river Yedo he was met by the commander
+of the junks, who made great demonstrations of joy
+and offered him a Japanese collation. The Spaniards responded
+by a salutation of musketry and arquebusses and by the beating
+of the drum. On the main mast of the ambassador’s junk they
+flew the royal standard, and at the stern floated another royal
+standard, made of Castilian silk, along with an infantry flag with
+its streamers, all of which, it is related, gave great pleasure to
+the Japanese beholders who crowded the banks of the river that
+was filled with innumerable junks.</p>
+
+<p>On landing, the Spaniards were hospitably entertained at the
+house of the commander, and were assigned a fine residence,
+whither a nobleman, followed by a numerous suite, came with a
+message from the shogun. The general went out to meet him
+at the door, his escort being drawn up in line. The Japanese
+nobleman was most polite, bowing to the ground, according to
+native usage. The ambassador followed the Spanish mode, and
+made a great display of politeness—particularly at the door,
+where there was much discussion as to who should enter first.</p>
+
+<p>The nobleman expressed the shogun’s hope that the Spaniards
+were resting and contented in his domain. He informed
+them that his messenger had orders to provide amply for the
+general and his escort, and that they would be given six meals
+a day, for the expenses of which he was sending gold and silver
+instead of the customary rice, which was used in barter. On the
+following day he sent two cooks, many servants and an abundance
+of game and fish. Two kitchens were set up in which meals
+were respectively prepared in Spanish and Japanese styles. The
+shogun’s messenger returned to investigate whether all was being
+attended to, and was invited to dine by the ambassador, who
+found that his guest cared less for his meat than for his sherry,
+but was unwilling or unable to respond when his host drank his
+health for the second time.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span></p>
+
+<p>On the next day, Tuesday, another messenger was sent by
+the shogun, announcing that on Wednesday, if the weather were
+fine, Viscaino would be permitted to deliver his embassy. This
+message was communicated by two noblemen, who then inquired
+whether Viscaino had it in mind to adapt himself to the ancient
+court etiquette of the rulers of Japan, which required that, in
+the imperial presence, he would have to kneel on both knees and
+remain with his hands and head on the floor until the shogun
+gave the sign for him to rise. The Spanish ambassador promptly
+answered that he did not intend to do any such thing, but would
+adhere to Spanish court etiquette, would make the bows and
+render homage to the emperor in the same way as he would to
+his own lord, the King of Spain. He also announced that he
+would refuse to lay aside his sword and dagger, or remove his
+boots, and that the chamberlain would have to assign him a seat
+near enough to the shogun to be able to hear what the latter
+said. This answer caused much consternation and discussion and
+an exchange of messages. Finally the general threatened that
+if he were not allowed to deliver his embassy according to
+Spanish etiquette, he would return to New Spain without delivering
+the viceroy’s letter or presents, and would merely report
+that he had brought back the Japanese merchants, and returned
+the money lent to Vivero. Upon this the shogun’s counsellors
+courteously reminded him that, when received at the Japanese
+court, Don Rodrigo Vivero, who was not only a cavalier and
+relative of the viceroy, but had also been governor of Luzon,
+had made no objections, and had entered the presence of the
+shogun in the way that was required of him. Ambassador Viscaino
+replied that all this was perfectly true in the case of Don
+Vivero, who personally was worthy of the highest consideration,
+but the latter had come to this court because he had been ship-wrecked
+and lost, and because necessity compelled him to seek
+aid and means to proceed to New Spain. He was then in such
+dire necessity that he was not to blame for any act of submission
+he may have made, since he came to implore succor and naturally
+was grateful to the ruler of this country who afforded
+him aid. It was in consideration of all this that the viceroy
+had dispatched the present embassy to escort the Japanese merchants
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>home and to express the good will of their Catholic majesties.
+He added, what was not quite true, that he had not come
+to ask for anything, nor to bring merchandise, nor to reap gain
+or profits, but solely for the purpose of delivering his embassy.
+He repeated, however, that he would sooner depart without delivering
+it than allow the authority of king and viceroy to be
+lowered one fraction of its grandeur, for his king was the greatest
+lord on earth. Viscaino’s arrogant utterances naturally gave
+offense to the shogun’s messengers; they returned to the palace
+greatly nonplussed, and affairs came to a standstill.</p>
+
+<p>It was then that the shogun wisely summoned a meeting of
+the presidents of the councils of state and government, and
+other high officials, who, after lengthy debates, finally formulated
+the decree that the Spanish ambassador was to be permitted
+to fulfill his “mission according to his own usage as best he
+could.” It was moreover decided that it was only when he spoke
+in the name of his king that he was to be permitted to occupy
+the same platform as the shogun who, seated, would receive the
+viceroy’s letter and presents. Having delivered these, the ambassador
+was to descend a step, and there deliver his present to
+the shogun, after which he was to seat himself. The decree
+concluded with the resolution that as much honor and mercy as
+possible was to be conceded to the first ambassador from New
+Spain. All difficulties having thus been overcome by the good
+will and courtesy of the Japanese, the audience took place on the
+following morning.</p>
+
+<p>The shogun sent four thousand soldiers of his guard to escort
+the Spaniards to his palace. The latter formed a group and proceeded
+in solemn procession, headed by the captain and pilot
+of the Spanish vessel, followed by members of its crew, and a
+sergeant, who bore the banner with three streamers, each held
+by a man. The standard came next, with its three streamers,
+the ambassador holding it with his right hand. Friar Luis Sotelo,
+the commissary of the Franciscan order, walked at one side
+with General Viscaino, and two Franciscan friars at the other,
+this group being preceded by the commander of the junks and
+another Japanese nobleman.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span></p>
+
+<p>The rear-guard was formed by the secretary of the expedition,
+a sergeant, and the general’s negro drummer, whose appearance
+and drumming made a great commotion, and attracted a
+numerous crowd. A detachment of the Japanese guard marched
+in front of the Spaniards and another behind. At the fifth door
+of the palace they were met by the chamberlain and other officials
+and were led into a waiting room, where the ambassador
+sat for a little while. Thence they were ushered through an
+inner, richly decorated hall, into a great court-yard, where stood
+more than a thousand royal princes and knights, each one wearing
+a helmet on which his insignia of rank was displayed. To
+them the ambassador made the courtesies and bows which he
+considered they were entitled to, beginning with the highest in
+rank. He records that they responded by folding their hands
+and bowing until their heads touched the ground. Passing on
+to another square, the ambassador came into the presence of the
+shogun, seated in his royal robes on cushions and rich carpets.
+To his right, at a distance, sat his nine counsellors, and, at a
+lower level, his steward, chamberlain, and secretary. A sign
+was made to the ambassador to approach, and he did so, all
+present observing him in profound silence. First of all he made
+three bows, which were not very deep, and lowered the staff he
+carried until it nearly touched the ground. He then advanced
+six paces to a lower platform and made three bows, which were
+slightly lower than the preceding ones. The next three bows he
+made, while standing on the lowest platform, were still more
+profound. Then he placed on his head the viceroy’s letter, and,
+after making three more bows, deposited it on the platform.
+During all this time the shogun and his counsellors were observing
+the ambassador and his extraordinary performances
+with unconcealed merriment, which the Spanish attributed entirely
+to the fact that before this the Japanese had never seen a
+full dress Spanish costume. Viscaino’s raiment is described as
+being very fine. His cap was adorned with feathers and a gold
+band. His sword and dagger were gilt, his boots were white
+with buttons, and his frill was of the finest lace.</p>
+
+<p>Showing evidence of being pleased, the shogun beckoned to
+his secretary, and gave him an order to lead the ambassador to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>the seat prepared for him, also to tell him that the shogun was
+glad to have seen him—especially after all the hardships of the
+long sea voyage. The thought of not seeing land for eighty-one
+days seemed to the shogun to be truly dreadful. The ambassador
+replied, through the interpreter, that he kissed his Highness’
+hands for the great condescension that he was showing him, and
+that, as far as the hardships were concerned, which he had
+undergone and was yet to undergo on the return voyage, he had
+come to regard them as gifts ever since he had come into the
+presence of such a prince. When this speech was translated by
+the secretary, the prince bowed his head several times towards
+the ambassador to express his thanks. Viscaino then arose, and
+after a very profound obeisance presented the viceroy’s gifts.
+Up to the present the Spanish ambassador had had everything
+his own way, but now occurred an episode which was probably
+unexpected. After a moment’s silence, the prince waved his
+hand with great majesty, and two chamberlains approached the
+ambassador and led him out of the audience chamber. After
+a little while, during which the shogun examined the vice-regal
+presents, Viscaino was again led into the hall, which he entered
+as he had made his exit, performing the same series of triple
+bows. This time, it is related, these bows were more profound,
+a sign that the ambassador had been impressed with great respect
+for the shogun’s authority. The latter informed him,
+through his chief counsellors, that he much esteemed the gifts,
+and that, if the general would like the Spanish soldiers and
+servants to see him, they would be permitted to enter the audience
+room. The ambassador then made another bowing exit,
+and returned with his men, who were, as he takes pains to record,
+“booted and armed.” The shogun examined them with evident
+curiosity. The friars were then presented, and offered him their
+gifts themselves, two of them being excellent interpreters.</p>
+
+<p>Each time that the friars addressed a word to the ambassador,
+he, although in the presence of the shogun, arose and
+made them an humble and respectful bow, thus demonstrating
+his reverence for their priesthood, an observance which, he says,
+impressed the shogun and his counsellors. At the end of a
+quarter of an hour, during which the prince contemplated the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>Spaniards, he made a sign to two of his chief counsellors, who
+again went to the ambassador and led him out of the hall. He
+was then requested to allow the shogun to view the portraits of
+the King and Queen of Spain, which were intended for the emperor.
+When these were sent for and brought before the shogun,
+he arose and dismissed every one from the audience room and
+sent a message to the ambassador, telling him that he was to
+return to his lodgings, and that the portraits would be sent back
+to him later. It is recorded that he and his consort and the ladies
+of the palace particularly enjoyed seeing the portrait of the
+Spanish queen, on account of her beauty and rich costume, which
+to them seemed very strange.</p>
+
+<p>On receiving his dismissal, the ambassador set out as he
+had come, but received the injunction that no volleys of musketry
+were to be fired as long as he was inside the palace precincts.
+Once outside, to the great delight of the Japanese, the
+Spanish soldiers began to fire loud volleys of musketry, with
+such rapidity that in an hour they had used a whole barrel of
+powder.</p>
+
+<p>The following days were spent in making visits and presents
+to the court officials, and on St. John’s day the ambassador and
+his men went in state to mass, at the Convent of San Francisco,
+in order, as is stated, to honor the feast of the Saint, and also to
+give an example to the Japanese to go to church and respect the
+priests.</p>
+
+<p>At mass they offered a thanksgiving for the mercy that during
+their stay in the city there had been no accident or bloodshed
+such as might have been expected. At the Elevation of the
+Host, volleys were fired and the royal standard and banner
+were lowered to the base of the altar. On their way to the convent
+the Spaniards were met by Masumane, the mighty Lord of
+the Province of Oxo, who was awaiting them on horseback, accompanied
+by two thousand soldiers and many mounted horsemen.
+This noble prince, who was to become the friend and protector
+of the Spaniards and all Christians, is described as so powerful
+that, in case of warfare, he could command the services of eighty
+thousand men. As soon as he saw the ambassador he dismounted
+and sent him a message, asking him as a favor to order the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>Spanish soldiers to discharge their firearms, because he wanted
+to see and hear them do so. Acceding to this request, they discharged
+two such loud volleys that he put his hands to his ears
+in alarm. Frightened by the noise a number of horses threw
+their riders, or rolled on the ground. Viscaino relates that the
+prince and his suite were so amused at this that they nearly died
+of laughter. When order was restored, the prince approached
+the ambassador, and bowing to the ground, offered him thanks
+and his services, and passed on with such demonstrations of politeness
+and courtesy that the Spanish ambassador was led to
+state that the Japanese nobility excelled in politeness all of the
+nations of the world.</p>
+
+<p>The return journey to the Port of Uraga was made at the
+expense of the shogun and with a large escort of people. About
+a week later the embassy set out for the court of the emperor,
+Iyeyasu, at Shizuoka, in the Province of Suraga. On their way
+the Spaniards met nothing but hospitality, and on arriving at
+“Corunga,” were lodged in houses adjacent to the palace. On
+the following day the emperor sent a gracious message, expressing
+the hope that the ambassador was sufficiently rested to come
+to the palace. If not, he would be granted an audience whenever
+it suited him best. Viscaino, who, it is said, was always
+ready to guard his dignity and impose his will, sent answer that
+he was ready to deliver his embassy, but that he first desired to
+know how the ceremony was expected to be. He, for his part,
+refused to remove his sword, dagger and boots, nor would he
+kneel upon the floor; what is more, it was his wish and intention
+to be accompanied by his armed men bearing the insignia of
+war, the standard, banner and drum. The answer was that the
+emperor graciously permitted him to deliver his embassy according
+to his own usage, but that on no account would he be
+permitted to fire volleys of musketry in the imperial court. Possibly
+as a means of giving the emperor an opportunity of expressing
+his displeasure at the arrogance of the Spanish ambassador, it
+was decided that he was to enter and leave the audience chamber
+twice,—the first time as the ambassador of the king and viceroy,
+the second time in his capacity of captain general.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span></p>
+
+<p>On arriving at the palace, Viscaino was notified of this arrangement,
+and when he made his first entrance the emperor
+bowed his head in silent acknowledgment of the series of bows
+with which he advanced and presented the letter and viceregal
+gifts.&#x2060;<a id="FNanchor_3_3" href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes">
+<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote">
+<p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_3_3" href="#FNanchor_3_3" class="label">[3]</a> These gifts consisted, in the first case, of the clock, manufactured in
+Madrid, which the Japanese described as a “self-sounding bell,” and
+copied with such success that Japanese clocks subsequently became famous
+as articles of commerce.</p>
+
+<p>Besides this, the viceregal gifts consisted of the royal portraits already
+mentioned; of a water-proof coat, two saddles, a roll of paper, two barrels
+of Spanish wine, two sets of the implements used in falconry, and a roll of
+ribbon with gold braid, such as was used in Spain to adorn gala shoes.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+<p>When Viscaino entered the second time, he was received on
+a lower platform, and the emperor with what is described as
+“greater severity” bowed his head only at the captain general’s
+entrance and exit, being apparently absorbed in examining the
+royal portraits just received.</p>
+
+<p>When the friars offered their gifts, they were spoken to with
+great friendliness by the emperor, who asked them many questions.
+A message was sent to the ambassador, who was waiting
+outside, telling him that the emperor had been pleased to see
+him, that he was to go back to his lodgings, and that the emperor
+would speak to him later on—a promise which was never
+fulfilled.</p>
+
+<p>The following days were spent in an interchange of visits
+with court officials. One of the ladies of the imperial palace,
+a devout Christian convert named Julia, went to visit the ambassador
+and hear mass at his residence. Her example was followed
+by a number of Christian Japanese, who were received
+with much affection by the Franciscan friars. Many other Japanese
+also came and expressed their desire to be taught the Catholic
+religion and to be baptized.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile General Viscaino was preparing petitions to the
+emperor, which were worded as follows:&#x2060;—</p>
+
+<blockquote>
+<p>“Sebastian Viscaino, Captain General of Phillip, King of
+Spain, says:&#x2060;—</p>
+
+<p>“That he carries an order from his king and the viceroy
+of New Spain to make a survey of all the ports of this kingdom
+from Nagasaki to its northernmost limits, providing your
+Imperial Majesty grants the permission to do so. He is to
+make charts and take soundings, so that if obliged to take
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>shelter from storms, Spanish vessels on their way from Luzon
+to New Spain may know which are the best ports to enter,
+and may not be wrecked and lost as heretofore. Viscaino
+begs, as mercy, that a Japanese official be sent to accompany
+him, and to obtain ships and provisions for him everywhere
+at moderate prices. He ends with the promise that when the
+survey map is made, he will send one copy to the emperor and
+another to his lord and king.”</p>
+</blockquote>
+
+<p>In a second petition Viscaino requests permission to build a
+ship, so that when he returns to New Spain in the vessel in
+which he came, he could fill the new one with Japanese products,
+which he wished to take home as presents. He begs that the
+emperor will aid him by issuing an order that wood, carpenters,
+blacksmiths and other necessary workmen be supplied to him
+at reasonable rates such as are paid by his Imperial Majesty.
+He also asks that a Japanese official be placed in charge of the
+building of the vessel, and adds that he would gratefully receive
+this favor in the name of his king, for whom the ship was intended,
+and that he would return in it to Japan in the following
+year, with a view to promoting the friendship and commercial
+treaty already existing.</p>
+
+<p>In the third remarkable petition Viscaino makes the false
+assertion that he had come to Japan for the sole purpose of
+bringing thither the Japanese vassals of his Imperial Majesty,
+and of returning the money lent to Rodrigo de Vivero. He
+claims that he had no other interests or merchandise, but admits
+that he has some stuffs and cloths, which he was obliged to sell
+in Japan in order to provide food for his men and to build the
+ship mentioned in the previous petition. He complains that
+when he attempted to sell the stuffs in the Port of Uraga, he
+was prevented from doing so by some Japanese courtiers, who
+stated that his Majesty needed said stuffs for his personal use.
+If this is the case, he says, “the whole ship’s cargo and its men
+are at the emperor’s disposal. If not, then will his Majesty
+please send an order, so that now, and whenever he may return
+to this land from New Spain or Luzon, General Viscaino can
+sell such stuffs free from duty or taxation.” It would be well,
+he adds, to settle once and for all time what was to be done, so
+that one could know whether to return another time to Japan
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>and whether peace and amity are to continue. Viscaino closes
+his note by stating “that in New Spain the Japanese merchants
+were allowed to sell their merchandise without paying duties or
+taxes of any kind.”</p>
+
+<p>The imperial message brought to Viscaino, after four days,
+stated that the orders had been given, and that he would be permitted
+to build a ship wherever he chose to do so—that the material
+and workmen would be furnished him at very moderate
+prices, and that the concessions to survey the ports and to sell
+stuffs free of taxation would be granted him. Not satisfied with
+this, Viscaino sent his expression of thanks, somewhat contradictorily
+adding, “that he wished to inform the emperor that the
+principal business for which he had come to Japan was to find
+out whether his Majesty intended to be friends with the Dutch
+and allow them to enter his realm. If so, the Spanish king would
+not like his vassals to come to Japan to trade, and the peace
+begun could not be continued, for many reasons which he would
+explain, if permitted to do so, to his Majesty and the council.”</p>
+
+<p>On the next day at the house of the emperor’s secretary,
+the latter and the president of the council listened attentively
+to Viscaino’s representations. He asked them, in the first place,
+for a written acknowledgment that he had faithfully brought
+back the Japanese who had gone to New Spain, and that they
+themselves had testified that they had been well treated during
+their voyage. He added that if any one had any complaint to
+make, he would certainly give him satisfaction. He also wished
+a written acknowledgment of his having paid all that was lent
+to Don Rodrigo de Vivero, and the proceeds of the sale at Acapulco
+of the Japanese ship in which Vivero had made the voyage
+to New Spain. He here volunteered to pay any debt that
+might be found remaining due, and then asked for a return of
+the bonds or bills which Vivero had left as guarantees for the
+payment of the debt. The Japanese officials told him that they
+considered his requests just ones, and that both of them would
+immediately report to the emperor on the subject. After having
+thus emphasized the faithfulness and honesty with which
+he had performed his mission, Viscaino made an attack upon
+the Dutch, which was to cost him and his countrymen dear. He
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>accused certain Dutch traders who had made a mercantile contract
+with the emperor a year previous, of being pirates, who,
+after committing many robberies, had been pursued and chastised
+by the governor of the Philippines. He affirmed that they
+certainly would not be able to fulfill their contract with the
+emperor, and asked “what friendship could the latter have with
+people who were not only thieves, but were disobedient and in revolt
+against their lord, the King of Spain!” He requested his
+auditors to reflect upon what he had already written on this subject
+to the emperor, and also requested an answer as to whether
+the Japanese intended to tolerate Dutch trade or not. He expressed
+a wish not to have to leave Japan without knowing the result
+of his embassy, so as to report it to the King of Spain.
+Viscaino’s listeners expressed great surprise at his accusations
+against the Dutch traders and withdrew. On the following day
+they sent a message, saying that they had reported all he had told
+them to the emperor; that as they knew he intended to spend
+some time in Japan, an answer would be sent him before his departure
+for New Spain; that he was to go in God’s name to the
+Port of Uraga. On his return to that port, he found that the
+emperor had cut off the free supply of food and lodgings
+which had heretofore been given to Viscaino. Viscaino interprets
+this act as a token of the displeasure the emperor was said to
+have felt at the Spanish embassy having visited the court of
+his son, the shogun, before his. He also accuses the emperor
+of an avarice which was increasing with advancing years, and
+makes other derogatory remarks concerning the aged monarch.
+A few days later the Spaniards entered the domain of the shogun,
+who sought to make amends for his father’s abrupt action,
+and attributed it to the influence of his counsellors. Notwithstanding
+Viscaino’s report against the emperor, he boasts further
+on of his embassy not having cost his king one hundred
+pesos, or dollars—a fact, however, which he attributes to the
+shogun’s generosity and to his own practical wisdom and industry,
+which enabled him, as he said, “to make a quarter of a
+dollar of his Majesty’s treasury appear like a million.”</p>
+
+<p>A series of disappointments awaited the Spaniards at Uraga.
+Their sale of stuffs did not yield as much as they expected, for
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>being unknown to them, the Japanese did not appreciate the real
+value of the finest woolen cloths and friezes, and would not buy
+them. Then, when the cost of building a vessel was estimated,
+it was found to exceed by far the means at their command; so it
+was determined to repair and strengthen the vessel they had
+come in, and to make the survey of the ports in it alone. It
+was found necessary before starting to apply to the shogun
+not only for credentials to the lords and princes who resided
+in the north of Japan and were not on good terms with the
+emperor, but also for the escort of a high official, who, in the
+name of the shogun, was to oblige people to furnish the necessary
+provisions and all assistance needed in making the survey.
+The shogun, who was under the influence of Friar Luis Sotelo,
+and showed a decided leaning towards Christianity, sent kindly
+messages to Viscaino, and expressed the wish to see and speak
+with him at length on his return concerning the friendly relations
+between his country and the Spanish nation. He also sent word,
+through the commander of the junks, that he had heard that
+Viscaino had given up building the vessel for lack of means,
+and he deplored his father’s parsimoniousness. He expressed
+the desire that the emperor’s license to build the vessel be transferred
+to him, as he would like to carry out the plan himself.
+Viscaino states that he gave him the imperial permit on account
+of being under obligations to him, and as it was important not
+to offend him on account of his friendliness towards Christians.
+Viscaino caused, however, a document to be drawn, in which he
+ventured to impose the following conditions upon the shogun:&#x2060;—</p>
+
+<blockquote>
+<p>“The ship was not to carry more than one hundred tons.
+It was to be placed under his entire command; only two Japanese
+were to go as stewards of the ship and of its cargo. Not
+a cent was to be spent on the vessel by the Spaniards, but, on
+arrival at Vera Cruz, if the viceroy desired to buy the ship,
+it was to be given him at a moderate price. If not wanted, it
+was to sail for Manila, or wherever the viceroy might command.”</p>
+</blockquote>
+
+<p>It is needless to state that these conditions, which Viscaino
+attempted to impose upon the Japanese ruler who was to defray
+the entire expense of the building, were never fulfilled. What
+happened will be told later on. While at Uraga, Viscaino had
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>a memorable interview with William Adams, the staunch partisan
+of his former employers, the Dutch, for whom, in 1611,
+he had obtained permission to establish a ship-building factory at
+Firando. Two Dutchmen had arrived at Uraga while Viscaino
+was there, carrying many presents for the emperor, who through
+William Adams’ influence received them very well, and gave
+them all the permits and grants they asked for. In their name
+Adams went to see the Spanish general, and demanded from
+him an explanation as to “why he had told the emperor that
+the Dutch were a bad people, who were disobedient and in revolt
+against their king, and who went about robbing and creating
+trouble.” Viscaino’s characteristic answer, which is verbally
+given, was, “that it was perfectly true that he had said all that
+to the emperor, and much more besides, and that he had fallen
+short of the truth in describing what the Dutch were. He ended
+by stating that he was ready to give them any satisfaction they
+desired.” He adds, “that it was agreed that the Dutchmen were
+to meet him, but that they did not dare to do so and adopted
+the alternative of leaving Uraga at night without seeing him.”</p>
+
+<p>Viscaino little imagined when he wrote thus disparagingly
+of the Hollanders, that these same men were about to secure a
+monopoly of Japanese trade which was to last for as many centuries
+as the dynasty of the Tokugawas.</p>
+
+<p>The above encounter, in which William Adams called Viscaino
+to account, is of special interest, for it was to him that
+Friar Cavo attributes the total failure of Viscaino’s embassy,
+and the fresh persecution of the Catholics which began at about
+this time.</p>
+
+<p>According to Cavo, the emperor, surprised at the Spanish
+ambassador’s over-bearing threats and demands, asked William
+Adams, his friend and adviser, whether such was the style of
+European nations. The answer was an emphatic denial, followed
+by a warning to the emperor “to be on his guard against
+the Spaniards, because it was their desire to dominate the whole
+world. For this purpose, they sent out as precursors the Jesuits,
+who, under the pretext of teaching the Christian religion, incited
+the people to rise in rebellion against their sovereigns. By
+this method they had made themselves masters of immense possessions
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>in Asia and America. It was because they knew all this
+that the Dutch had cast off the yoke of their rule, and that the
+English and Germans were in warfare against them.” It was
+evidently immediately after his interview with Viscaino, in which
+Adams had ascertained the Spaniards’ antagonism towards the
+Dutch and more besides, that he returned to the emperor’s
+court, and informed his Majesty that they knew for a certainty
+that the principal aim of the Spanish ambassador’s visit was
+to discover certain islands of gold and silver. Adams and the
+merchants then took the liberty of asking the emperor how he
+could possibly have given the Spanish general permission to
+make a survey of the entire coast and of all the ports of his
+realm. The Spaniards, they said, were bellicose and skilled in
+the use of arms, and might come with a great armada to conquer
+Japan. In England and Holland no such permission would
+have been given to the Spaniards.</p>
+
+<p>The old emperor evidently resented the criticism of his action—even
+from his friends, for he loftily answered, “that if the
+English and Dutch would not grant such a permission, they must
+indeed be cowardly, since they admitted fear of another nation.”
+He said that “he had certainly not understood that the Spaniards
+had any such evil intentions, but that even if they had,
+he would have given them as ample a permission as he had done.
+He would have no fear even if the whole of Spain came against
+him, for he had enough men to defend him, so that this matter
+did not cause him the slightest anxiety. As to the islands that
+were to be discovered in his realm, he would like to know where
+they were—what report had been made about them and what
+their riches were reputed to be. If they belonged to his crown,
+he would know how to defend them, and if not, he wished the
+Spaniards good luck in discovering them, and he hoped that they
+would find them situated at a convenient distance, so that he
+could enter into mercantile relations with them, this being what
+he cared for most.” The Dutchmen then told him that the rumor
+of the existence of these islands was attributable to some
+Portuguese, who, being lost at sea, had come across them. They
+had spent several days on them, saw that they were inhabited,
+and that the land was fertile and produced gold and silver, but
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>they could not tell in what latitude, nor at how many leagues
+from Japan the islands were situated.</p>
+
+<p>The emperor somewhat sarcastically rejoined that “it would
+certainly require great good fortune for any one to discover
+anything so vague.”</p>
+
+<p>Although the Dutchmen were dissatisfied at the way in which
+the emperor had received their communications, they evidently
+bore fruit. Soon after, a Portuguese frigate arrived, with Don
+Nuño de Sotomayor, the Admiral of the Fleet of the Indies, as
+ambassador to Iyeyasu and the shogun. With the presents he
+offered, he made a request that the Portuguese be allowed to return
+to trade in Japan, stating that they would like to do so
+under certain conditions, the principal one being the removal of
+the governor of Nagasaki, against whom they had made some
+complaint. The emperor received them coolly and simply said
+that “if they desired to come to his country, they might do so,
+but that it was not for them to ask him to reform things therein,
+and that he did not wish to grant their request.” The Portuguese
+left without obtaining more than this rebuff, and “with
+evil disposition towards the Japanese.”</p>
+
+<p>Doubtless the enemies of the Spaniards likewise brought to
+Iyeyasu’s notice a disagreeable little episode which occurred at
+about that time, and cited it as an example of Spanish commercial
+dishonesty. It seems that no less a personage than a son
+of the commander of the junks had entrusted a member of
+Don Rodrigo Vivero’s suite with a quantity of valuable merchandise,
+which was taken to Mexico and sold there. From the
+proceeds the Spaniards were to buy certain woolen stuffs and
+fine cloths for the Japanese nobleman’s household. The latter
+learned, on Viscaino’s arrival, that the Japanese goods had been
+sold in Mexico, and also that Vivero’s follower had sent him
+nothing in return. It seems that it was with difficulty that the
+ambassador pacified the incensed creditor, and tried to exonerate
+Vivero from all blame, stating that he doubtless knew
+nothing about his follower’s affairs. In order to hush the matter
+up, however, Viscaino and the Franciscan friars jointly compensated
+the Japanese lord with woolen stuffs of the value of seven
+hundred dollars. Commenting on this, Viscaino expresses himself
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>as follows, unconsciously rendering a tribute to Japanese
+commercial honesty, at that period:&#x2060;—</p>
+
+<blockquote>
+<p>“This transaction was wrong and deserving of punishment—especially
+with people like these, who are so punctual
+and exact, and are unacquainted with such dealings.”</p>
+</blockquote>
+
+<p>Unfortunately, about this period, a high official in the house
+of the aged emperor was found guilty of an unprecedented act
+of deceitfulness and treachery, and, on being tortured, confessed
+that not only he but his wife and other fellow servants had been
+converted to Christianity by the Spanish friars. All were arrested
+and threatened with punishment and the confiscation of
+their property if they did not abjure their new faith. Many
+remained firm and incurred disgrace and loss of property,
+among them the lady Julia, who was expelled from the palace
+with shorn head and exiled to an island.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly afterwards, under pretext of having to extend the
+boundaries of the town, the Franciscan monastery at Yedo was
+destroyed, and throughout the country the Christian churches
+and monasteries were razed to the ground. An ill-timed speech
+delivered by Viscaino during his visit to a Japanese lord was
+also doubtless reported to the emperor, and must have prejudiced
+him still more against the Spanish influence. Viscaino had
+assured his Japanese host “that the latter could not give greater
+satisfaction to the King of Spain than by allowing the friars to
+enter his domain and preach to his vassals—thus establishing permanent
+peace. For the King of Spain,” he said, “did not care
+about trade with Japan, nor any temporal interests, for God had
+given him many kingdoms and dominions. The only inducement
+that his Christian Majesty had (to enter into relations with
+Japan) was a pious desire that all nations should be taught the
+holy Catholic faith, and thus be saved.”</p>
+
+<p>While the emperor, under the influence of his English and
+Dutch protestant advisers, daily took more active measures to
+expel the Roman catholicism introduced by the Spaniards and
+Portuguese, Viscaino was sailing northward, surveying ports
+and thickly populated islands, and bestowing upon them the
+names of his patron saints! He little thought, as he took his
+soundings, and in the absence of a Spanish cosmographer, superintended
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>the drawing of his charts by a Japanese artist, that he
+had become the unconscious educator of the Japanese, and that
+they, and never the Spaniards, were to make sole use of the results
+of his trained skill.</p>
+
+<p>His charts, of which he duly sent the promised copies to the
+emperor and shogun, were examined with great interest by more
+than one Japanese nobleman. One lord, the coast of whose
+domain he had surveyed, sent him presents and a message, saying
+“that he much esteemed the trouble Viscaino was taking in
+discovering towns of his dominion, that he was delighted to hear
+that there were good ports in his land, and that he would much
+like to see the map of demarcation and the paintings which had
+been made.”</p>
+
+<p>Everywhere Viscaino and his companions were well received
+and generously entertained. Friar Luis Sotelo accompanied him
+for part of the time, and was with him when he visited Masumane,
+the powerful Lord of Oxo, who had displayed such interest
+in Spanish musketry at Yedo. This prince welcomed the
+Spanish general, and particularly Friar Sotelo, with utmost
+affection, respect and reverence, and insisted upon serving food
+and drink to them with his own hands. As a pledge of a friendship
+which he faithfully kept, he changed his sword for Viscaino’s
+dagger, and, on receiving this, kissed its crossed handle,
+and placed it on his head. He displayed his socialistic tendencies
+and esteem for Christians by bestowing a title on one of his
+own servants, who was a convert, and by inviting him to dine
+with him and his Spanish Christian friends. Thereupon, naturally
+enough, many other members of Prince Masumane’s
+household crowded around the friar, kissed the hem of his robe,
+and announced their intention to frequent the Franciscan monastery
+and study the Christian religion. Masumane from the
+first exhibited the greatest interest and inclination towards the
+Catholic faith, proved himself a true friend and protector of
+the Christians, and ultimately became a convert with all of his
+family, and a large number of his vassals.</p>
+
+<p>At the beginning of December, General Viscaino had reached
+40 degrees north latitude. On interrogating the natives he found
+that they knew the use of the compass, and was told that there
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>was a distance of about sixty leagues from the extremity of Japan
+to Corea, and that before reaching Tartary, in the channel lay a
+great island called Yeso, which was inhabited by people like
+savages who were so covered by hair that only their eyes were
+visible, and who habitually visited Japan in the months of July
+and August for trading purposes. Intense cold set in, and as
+Viscaino concluded that ports situated on the northwestern and
+southeastern shores of Japan would be of little use to vessels
+trading from the Philippines, he decided to return to Uraga,
+where he arrived on the 4th of January and met the members of
+his crew who had remained behind. He lingered at Uraga until
+the end of May selling his woolen stuffs at Yedo, “with difficulty
+and poor profits,” and then started on a survey of the coast lying
+between Uraga and Nagasaki.</p>
+
+<p>He first went to Ito, however, where, as agreed upon, the ship
+was being built by Japanese workmen under the patronage of
+the shogun. He found that beyond the preparing of the timber
+nothing had been done to advance its construction, and was
+struck by the lukewarmness and slowness with which the work
+was progressing. The general gave instructions to the shipbuilders
+by word and by letter, and then proceeded on his journey.
+On returning to Miaco on July 2, he had four copies
+made of his survey charts, or as he calls them his “Discovery of
+Japanese Ports,” these being intended for Iyeyasu, the shogun,
+the King of Spain and himself. From Corunga, a week later,
+he sent a message to the emperor, asking permission to start on
+his homeward voyage. It is evident that the emperor understood
+that Viscaino intended to sail directly to New Spain, for
+he sent word that Viscaino was to go on to Uraga, whither his
+answer would reach him, and there the emperor sent him a gift
+and a letter for the Viceroy of Mexico. The fact of his not sending
+any letter or gift to the King of Spain by Viscaino proved
+that he, probably enlightened by William Adams, had not taken
+very seriously Viscaino’s pretence to be the ambassador of the
+king as well as of the viceroy. Viscaino, who had been informed
+that the emperor was so incensed at the Christians, on
+account of the treachery in his household, that no Christian
+dared approach him, complains that the emperor’s answer to
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span>the viceroy was very different from what had been promised,
+since in it his Majesty wrote “that he did not like” the Christian
+religion.</p>
+
+<p>The complete text of this remarkable letter has just been
+published by Señor Lera, who wrongly states, however, on page
+23, that Spanish translations of both letters are contained on
+page 185, Vol. VIII, of the “Documentos Ineditos,” and on
+page 22, that the first galleon which sailed from Uraga for Acapulco
+carried six letters to the viceroy.</p>
+
+<p>In Iyeyasu’s letter, dated July 18, 1612, which closes the official
+correspondence between him and the viceroy of New Spain,
+he courteously thanks the viceroy for his presents and letter,
+and “expresses the hope that Heaven will permit that their
+mutual relations will be as close as those which result from familiar
+intercourse between neighboring countries.” He remarks
+“that the interchange of merchandise could but be of mutual
+advantage”; and then expounds the elements of the Japanese
+religion, explaining that “in Japan, in making solemn compacts
+or agreements, it was customary to appeal to the gods to
+act as witnesses of their sincerity. These gods infallibly reward
+those who are faithful to their promises, and punish those who
+violate them.” Iyeyasu next asks, “whether the path of all
+virtue is not to be found in the practice of the five virtues: Humanity,
+Justice, Courtesy, Prudence, and Fidelity?”</p>
+
+<p>He then makes a statement which reveals too well what unfortunate
+experiences he had had in his dealings with the very
+people whose intercourse he had cordially desired for many
+years, and what erroneous ideas concerning the Christian religion
+had reached him in his seclusion within his palace walls,
+for he says:&#x2060;—</p>
+
+<blockquote>
+<p>“The doctrine followed in your country differs entirely
+from ours, therefore, I am persuaded it would not suit us.”</p>
+</blockquote>
+
+<p>“In the Buddhist writings it says that it is difficult to convert
+those who are not disposed towards being converted. It is
+best, therefore, to put an end to the preaching of your doctrine
+on our soil.</p>
+
+<p>“On the other hand, you can multiply the voyages of merchant
+ships, and thus promote mutual interests and relations.
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span>Your ships can enter Japanese ports without exception. I have
+given strict orders to this effect.” The presents sent with this
+letter are said to have been “five pairs of gilt screens and a map
+of Japan.”</p>
+
+<p>The shogun’s letter was brief and reserved, but entirely
+friendly. He gives thanks for the viceroy’s letter and presents,
+states “that intercourse and inclination, mocking at distance,
+have brought them together as neighbors,” and adds “that he
+would await with impatience the merchant vessel, which, once a
+year, was to bring him news of the viceroy and his nation.”</p>
+
+<p>In conclusion he mentions three breast-plates and other pieces
+of Japanese armor, which he begs the viceroy “to accept as a
+proof of his devotion.”</p>
+
+<p>At the time this letter was written, the shogun, who did not
+share his father’s views, and was under the influence of Friar
+Luis Sotelo, was preparing to send an embassy to New Spain
+on his own account, with a view of counteracting his father’s
+severity and establishing direct relations between New Spain and
+his own domain.</p>
+
+<p>The first step towards the execution of his plan had been his
+request to Viscaino to transfer to him the emperor’s license to
+build a vessel, and it would seem as though the whole affair had
+been kept a profound secret from his father and from General
+Viscaino. As soon as the latter had departed, presumably for
+New Spain, the rigging and fitting up of the vessel, which seems
+to have been purposely delayed, were rapidly completed. Five
+weeks after Viscaino’s departure, Friar Sotelo sailed from Uraga
+for New Spain with credentials appointing, him the shogun’s
+ambassador, and with a numerous suite of Japanese. They had
+barely reached the open sea, however, when they were overtaken
+by a storm which drove their ship upon the rocky coast and
+completely wrecked it. The fact that when building it the
+dimensions planned by Viscaino had been altered and the probability
+that the Japanese were as yet unskilled in the navigation
+of similar vessels may in part account for the loss of the vessel.
+The shogun, who, for unknown reasons, cast the entire responsibility
+and blame for the disaster upon Friar Sotelo, had him cast
+into prison and sentenced to death. He released and pardoned
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span>him, however, at the instance of Masumane, who took Friar Sotelo
+to his court and made him his chief counsellor.</p>
+
+<p>While all this was occurring at Uraga, General Viscaino was
+cruising about in search of the two islands, for it had never been
+his intention to sail for New Spain until he had accomplished
+what he and his father, the viceroy, had decided to be the principal
+aim of his voyage, namely, the discovery of the islands
+described by the Portuguese mariners. To his chagrin, he had
+had to give up setting out with the second ship, as he had planned
+from the beginning, for it had been built of a greater capacity,
+and although he had seen it actually afloat at Uraga, it could not
+be finished before he left.</p>
+
+<p>On the 16th of September, Viscaino, with a reduced crew,
+and short of many necessary provisions, sailed from Uraga. On
+the 25th, after covering more than two hundred leagues, he found
+himself in the latitude in which, according to certain charts,
+the islands were supposed to lie. Finding no sign of these, the
+general held a consultation with the pilots on board as to what
+would be the best method to pursue in searching for them. All
+agreed to sail southward to 32 degrees of latitude, and did so,
+coming across many signs of a proximity to land, such as floating
+pieces of pumice stone, ducks and turtles. But they did not find
+the islands. The general, who it is recorded would not allow
+himself to think of returning to Acapulco until he had ascertained
+whether the islands existed or not, gave orders to retrace
+the ship’s course. They continued their search with extraordinary
+diligence until October 12th, when some of the sailors became
+disheartened. The pilot then declared that, to his belief,
+the islands did not exist, and that he had exceeded his obligations
+and the viceroy’s orders. Some of the crew mutinied, and, as
+he had no armed men to back him, the general, to avoid being
+killed, was obliged to pacify them with good words. On the
+14th a violent storm overtook them, followed on the 18th by a
+hurricane which obliged them to cut down the mainmast. For
+eleven days they were in great peril, and suffered from lack of
+water and food, all cooking utensils having been washed overboard.
+Giving themselves up as lost, and realizing the importance
+of continuing their voyage to New Spain, they held a consultation
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>and decided that there was nothing to do but return
+to Japan, obtain a loan from the emperor, which their king
+would approve of, and make preparations to go back to New
+Spain in the following year. With a vessel which owed its
+escape from foundering to the lining which had been given it
+in Uraga, they reached this port, where further trials and deceptions
+awaited them.</p>
+
+<p>The first news learned by Viscaino, on reaching the harbor of
+Uraga, was the history of the shogun’s attempt to send an embassy
+and the loss of his vessel. The following is his characteristic
+comment on this disaster:&#x2060;—</p>
+
+<blockquote>
+<p>“We found on reaching Uraga that the ship ‘San Sebastian’
+had sailed and had run aground about a league from
+port, because the Japanese had insisted on carrying out their
+will, and had loaded it without permission from the Spaniards.
+The Japanese recognized their mistake.”</p>
+</blockquote>
+
+<p>On landing, Viscaino at once sent messages to Iyeyasu and
+the shogun, announcing his return and explaining his misfortunes
+and the absolute necessity there was for him to obtain
+means to fit himself out for his return journey to Mexico in the
+following year.</p>
+
+<p>The answer he received was that both sovereigns were grieved
+at his hardships, and that he was not to be troubled, as they
+would furnish him with what was necessary; that the emperor
+was about to visit his son at Yedo, and that, while there, both
+would discuss what was to be done. As soon as the general heard
+that the emperor had reached Yedo, he went thither to see him
+and solicit the loan he had asked for. He spent five whole months
+making extraordinary efforts, by means of presents and petitions,
+to attain his end. He underwent many hardships and suffered
+from exposure to cold—even waiting for hours by the roadside
+and in the places where he expected the emperor to pass
+when out hunting, but he never succeeded in speaking to him,
+nor did his petitions ever reach their destination, being intercepted
+by the secretaries and counsellors.</p>
+
+<p>All this did not correspond with what had been promised
+him, and it was but natural he should abuse the Japanese, and
+accuse them of bad faith, etc. Later on he learned the cause of
+the treatment he had received and exonerated the emperor’s
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>counsellors from blame. It seems that a friar, whose name and
+whose order Viscaino withholds, had sent a communication to
+the emperor, stating that he had heard that the general was
+soliciting a loan of six thousand dollars, to be repaid in New
+Spain. He warned the emperor and his counsellors to be careful,
+because Viscaino carried no authorization from the viceroy
+or from the King of Spain to make a loan there, that he had
+no means of repaying it, and that none of the friars would be
+responsible for the debt. Naturally the emperor withheld the
+loan, but kept Viscaino waiting in uncertainty for five months.
+Meanwhile the latter received an offer from certain Spaniards
+to loan him the sum he needed, the capital and interest to be
+payable in New Spain. This offer was joyfully accepted, and
+Viscaino drew up a mortgage of his and the king’s property to
+give as security. But the friars warned the Spaniards also,
+stating that they had their grave doubts as to whether the loan
+would ever be repaid, and other things which, Viscaino says,
+could not bear repetition. In his dire necessity he called together
+his men, who were suffering from hunger, explained the
+situation and told them that nothing remained but for him to
+try to sell in Yedo at auction all he possessed—not only his negro
+slave and the mattresses from his own bed, but also the merchandise
+he had bought on commission for several noblemen of Mexico.
+He appealed to them to follow his example, and to sell all
+their personal belongings, so that they would be able to pay what
+they owed, repair their vessel and sail for New Spain. He
+thought that even if they had to live on rice and water alone
+during the whole voyage, it would be better than “to remain in
+the heathenish country they were in.” When on the next day he
+endeavored to collect the clothing, etc., in order to take all to
+Yedo for sale, the majority of his men excused themselves, some
+hid their belongings and others sold them secretly and deserted.
+Being powerless, as he says, to “exercise the power of royal
+justice,” Viscaino confesses that he thought it best “to be silent
+and dissimulate.” So he collected all he possessed and went to
+Yedo to dispose of it, with the intention of paying his debts, and
+then meeting the expenses of his return voyage by taking freight
+and Spanish and Japanese passengers on his vessel.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span></p>
+
+<p>The Spaniards agreed to this and some Japanese were inclined
+to do so, when another friar of the same order crossed
+Viscaino’s plans—not only hindering the sale of his effects and
+the realization of his project, but also preventing Japanese merchants
+from even visiting the general’s lodgings.</p>
+
+<p>After making certain accusations against the friar, who
+seems to have been no other than Luis Sotelo, Viscaino describes
+how he became so discouraged that he actually fell ill. He was
+rapidly growing worse when a new vista suddenly opened out
+before him. Agents sent by Lord Masumane arrived, and offered
+to employ him and his men to build a vessel and to navigate
+it, when ready, to New Spain. Viscaino, who had had to relinquish
+all hope of ever being able to return in his own ship,
+which had become unseaworthy, only too gladly drew up a contract,
+the terms of which were, as he states, most favorable to his
+Majesty, the King of Spain. Masumane’s agents undertook not
+only to give the remainder of the Spanish crew, consisting of
+twenty-six pilots, carpenters and other workmen, the same salary
+they had been receiving from the crown, but also to advance
+them good wages and free transportation for themselves and
+their belongings to the prince’s domain.</p>
+
+<p>General Viscaino, the royal constable, the surgeon and three
+or four other officers were to remain in the pay of the Spanish
+crown, but were to have free board and lodgings from the time
+they embarked until they reached Acapulco. Over and above
+these terms of agreement, which were faithfully kept by the
+Japanese, Viscaino imposed upon the agents two conditions
+which Masumane did not subsequently recognize. The first of
+these was that all employees, whether Japanese or Spaniards,
+were to be exclusively under the general’s orders. The second
+was that, if, previous to sailing, no permission was received
+from the viceroy of Mexico for Japanese to go to New Spain,
+only a few Japanese were to be allowed to fill menial positions
+on board, and only in case they were needed. This clause, similar
+to that introduced by Viscaino in his previous contract,
+absolutely confirms the statement of the Japanese merchants
+who returned from New Spain and reported that they had been
+asked not to return, and shows that the vice-regal government
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>of Mexico had received orders from Spain to follow a policy of
+exclusion in order to protect Spanish-Asiatic trade.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until the 26th of October, 1613, that the vessel
+was ready for the voyage. Viscaino complains of having had
+great trouble with the Japanese, and of suffering much from the
+constant interference of “a friar who had persuaded the Japanese
+to help him to further a plan he had in mind.” At the last
+moment, Viscaino relates, “the friar took entire command of
+everything, embarked as many Japanese as he wanted, and constituted
+himself Governor and Captain General of the vessel.”
+The friar was no less a personage than Friar Luis Sotelo, whose
+previous expedition as the shogun’s ambassador had ended so
+disastrously. This time he and a Japanese nobleman, named
+Hasekura Rokuyemon, set out as co-ambassadors for Masumane,
+the Lord of Oxo, with a suite of one hundred and eighty Japanese,
+including sixty Samurai and several merchants. They were
+provided with letters not only to the viceroy of Mexico, but also
+to the King of Spain and to Pope Paul V.</p>
+
+<p>Viscaino pathetically records that he protested in vain, and
+finally, in order to avert a great disaster, was forced “to dissimulate
+and to embark as a mere passenger” upon the ship he
+and his men had built. He adds that the humor of the Japanese
+was such that they actually would have killed him had he attempted
+to do otherwise.</p>
+
+<p>It would seem as though Viscaino left the vessel at the first
+Mexican port which was touched, for it is from Zacatula, north
+of Acapulco, that Viscaino dispatched, on January 22, 1614, his
+report to his father, Don Luis de Velasco, then living in Spain,
+and whom he probably soon joined. He seems to have ended
+his days in obscurity, for the date of his death was unknown to
+his Mexican biographer, Beristian.</p>
+
+<p>The somewhat lengthy superscription of Viscaino’s report
+conclusively reveals the true aim of his embassy, which he took
+such pains to conceal from the Japanese, but of which they were
+informed by William Adams and his Dutch friends. It reads as
+follows:&#x2060;—</p>
+
+<blockquote>
+<p>“Account of the voyage made for the discovery of the
+Islands named ‘The Rich in Gold and Silver,’ situated in
+Japan, Don Luis de Velasco being Viceroy of New Spain, and
+his son, Sebastian Viscaino, the General of the Expedition.”</p>
+</blockquote>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span></p>
+
+<p>Here ends the history of the first and last Spanish vice-regal
+ambassador to Japan.</p>
+
+<p>Friar Sotelo’s arrival in Mexico as the ambassador of the
+Protector of Christianity in Japan, and with a flock of would-be
+converts, was regarded as a triumph of the church and particularly
+of the deservedly much loved Franciscan order. At Acapulco,
+the town officials determined to honor the members of an
+embassy to the viceroy, the king and the pope with extraordinary
+honors, and greeted it with salutes of artillery. Its members
+were escorted with music to luxuriously appointed lodgings,
+and the festivities were crowned by a gala bull-fight. The
+viceroy sent orders that provisions for the journey to the capital
+were to be provided, and a large mounted and armed escort was
+to accompany the embassy on its long and somewhat perilous
+journey. In all villages, towns and cities along their route the
+travelers were received with military music and triumphal
+arches. Carpets strewn with pieces of gold were spread on their
+pathway, and they were lodged and lavishly entertained at the
+royal houses. In the capital, where they were anxiously expected,
+they were lodged in a palace near the Convent of San Francisco,
+where they were at once visited by the archbishop, the judges
+and officers of the inquisition and the high nobility and gentlemen
+of Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>Having opportunely arrived in Holy Week, the Japanese
+were able to witness the solemn processions and impressive religious
+ceremonies held in the cathedral and churches of Mexico,
+the interiors of which were beautifully decorated with flowers.
+They were so impressed with what they saw that seventy-eight
+members of the Japanese ambassador’s suite expressed their
+desire to be baptized. This sacrament was performed in the
+Church of San Francisco with great solemnity and the sanction
+of the archbishop’s presence, members of the highest nobility
+acting as sponsors. Subsequently the Japanese ambassador expressed
+his desire to be baptized, but after consultation the archbishop
+and the commissary-general of the Franciscan order advised
+him to defer this ceremony until his arrival at the Spanish
+court.</p>
+
+<p>It is recorded that on the day the Japanese ambassador went
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>to “kiss the hand” of the viceroy, he distributed new liveries
+to his servants and went in state to the palace, with a mounted
+escort.</p>
+
+<p>The viceroy, Don Diego Fernandez de Cordova, Marquis of
+Guadalcazár, who received him with great delight and courtesy,
+expressed his satisfaction at the embassy’s having been sent from
+Japan. He consented to give the Japanese passports allowing
+them to go to Spain, but informed them that it would be necessary
+for them to obtain from the King of Spain permission to
+return to Mexico; a detail which again reveals the existence of
+an established policy of exclusion.</p>
+
+<p>On account of the difficulties of transporting so many persons,
+it was decided that the majority of the ambassador’s suite was
+to remain in Mexico. The baptized converts were sent back to
+Acapulco, and the few merchants who had accompanied the
+embassy remained in the country, doubtless studying its products
+and manufactories. The mercantile relations with Mexico,
+which are said in the “Japanese History of Commerce” to have
+been kept up until 1636, when they entirely ceased, were probably
+established by these merchants and limited to Masumane’s
+domain.</p>
+
+<p>Friar Sotelo, Masumane’s ambassador, his relatives and the
+sixty Samurai departed for Vera Cruz, visiting Puebla, where
+bull-fights and tournaments were held in their honor, and where
+they were lodged in the Franciscan monastery.</p>
+
+<p>On the 10th of June, after spending four and a half months
+in Mexico, the embassy embarked in one of the best Spanish
+vessels and, escorted by the fleet commanded by General Antonio
+de Oquendo, reached Havana a fortnight later, and finally
+landed in Spain on the 5th of October, 1614.</p>
+
+<p>The embassy was received with honors in Madrid, where the
+baptism of the ambassador was celebrated. He was given the
+name of the king, who probably acted as his sponsor, and that of
+Francis, the founder of Friar Sotelo’s order.</p>
+
+<p>Friar Cavo states that “this embassy did not succeed in
+establishing commercial relations between Spain and Japan on
+account of the persecution of Christians going on in the latter
+country.” It is obvious, however, that no diplomatic negotiations
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>could possibly have been entered into by the King of Spain
+with ambassadors who were sent by one of the feudal lords and
+not by the emperor of the country whence they came.</p>
+
+<p>After a very short stay in Madrid, during which, however, the
+King of Spain appointed Friar Sotelo his court preacher, the embassy
+went to Rome, where the friars and Hasekura Phillip
+Francis were received in audience by the Pope on the 3rd of November,
+1615. It is recorded that after being presented to his
+Holiness they read him, probably with a view of obtaining his
+support, Latin translations of Masumane’s letters, in which the
+prince cordially invited Franciscan friars to his domain, promised
+to protect all converts to the Catholic faith, expressed his
+desire to hold friendship with his Catholic Majesty, the King of
+Spain, and to enter into direct commercial relations with Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>The Franciscan friar, Gregorio Petrocha, then made an address,
+and a Monsignor answered for the Pope, expressing his
+joy at the embassy, his benevolent acceptance of the homage and
+reverence paid to the Apostolic See by the “King,” Masumane,
+who, he hoped, would soon follow his pious inclination and be
+baptized. The embassy was dismissed with presents and a letter
+for Masumane.</p>
+
+<p>Beristian states that a painting from life of Friar Sotelo and
+Hasekura is preserved in the Quirinal Palace, in the ante-chamber
+of the chapel.</p>
+
+<p>Señor Lera’s publication contains the only statement I have
+been able to find concerning the date of the return of Masumane’s
+embassy to Japan. He says that after an absence of six years it
+reached Nagasaki in 1620. This prolonged absence seems to indicate
+that it would have been dangerous for them to have returned
+sooner on account of the emperor’s persecution of the Christians,
+and the proscription of their religion. It is not impossible that
+some of these converted Japanese remained permanently in
+Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>Three years after the return of the embassy Iyeyasu died
+under tragic circumstances, and was succeeded by his grandson,
+Iyemitsu, who, in 1624, issued an edict ordering away all foreigners
+and interdicting Christianity.</p>
+
+<p>In the following year Friar Sotelo, with several companions,
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>was burned alive at Bomura, thus realizing, as is quaintly said,
+“the desire with which he had come to Japan, to win a martyr’s
+crown.”</p>
+
+<p>In 1636 all commercial relations with New Spain ceased, and
+in 1638 the Portuguese were expelled from Japan, and all ports
+were closed to foreign traffic. The Dutch alone were tolerated as
+traders and settlers, but the latter were virtually imprisoned on
+the peninsula of Dashima, where they had a factory.</p>
+
+<p>Iyemitsu completed the system inaugurated by his predecessor,
+and put an end to Japanese trade and intercourse with foreign
+countries by issuing an edict forbidding his subjects to leave
+their country, under pain of capital punishment. He also ordered
+the destruction of all vessels of European pattern belonging
+to Japan. From that time to 1854, when Commander Perry
+made a treaty with the shogunate at Uraga, Japan “maintained
+a most rigid policy of isolation.”</p>
+
+<p>The foregoing history of the events which followed Iyeyasu’s
+attempt to establish commercial relations with New Spain, based
+on original documents only and here presented for the first time,
+explains some of the reasons why, later on, the same emperor
+decided that intercourse with European nations positively endangered
+the integrity and future of Japan.</p>
+
+<p>All had been simple at first when the Portuguese, regularly
+meeting Japanese merchants at the Island of Hirado, traded by
+barter and exported from Japan on an average of over three
+million dollars a year in gold. The three Portuguese Jesuit missionaries,
+St. Francis Xavier, Torres, and Fernandez, who landed
+in the Province of Satsuma in 1549, met with unexpected success
+in introducing the Catholic religion. The arrival of certain
+Spanish Franciscan friars, sent on a mission to Miaco by the
+governor of Manila, divided the Christian foreigners and converts
+in Japan into two rival parties, one consisting of the Portuguese
+Jesuits backed by the merchants of their own country,
+the other of the Spanish Franciscans supported by the Manila
+merchants, who bitterly resented the Portuguese monopoly of
+Japanese trade. The arrival of the Spanish Dominicans caused
+still further complications; the dissensions among the members
+and followers of the three orders giving direct provocation to the
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>persecution of Christians by the Japanese government. In order
+to establish peace, Pope Gregory XIII in 1585 issued a Bull forbidding
+all religious orders but that of the Jesuits to exercise
+priestly offices in Japan.</p>
+
+<p>Vivero, the first Spanish official who landed in Japan, made
+efforts to poison the emperor’s mind against the Portuguese,
+with a view of securing the monopoly of gold exportation for the
+Spaniards. Vivero and the viceroy of Mexico also ignored Iyeyasu’s
+request for the expert Mexican miners, whom he had
+wished to employ to teach the Japanese the best methods of working
+their own gold mines.</p>
+
+<p>Viscaino, the first Spanish ambassador, maligned the Dutch,
+with whom a commercial treaty had just been made, and went
+so far as to threaten that if the Japanese intended to tolerate the
+Dutch, the Spanish king would not allow his subjects to have
+dealings with Japan. On the other hand, the protestant Dutch
+republicans, and their influential English friend, William Adams,
+denounced the religion of the Portuguese and Spaniards, and described
+the latter’s thirst for gold and success in conquering
+many remote countries which yielded the precious metal.</p>
+
+<p>The revelation that Viscaino’s secret mission was precisely
+to discover an unknown source of gold, presumably belonging to
+his dominion, was received by Iyeyasu simultaneously with the
+reproach of having unsuspectingly granted permission to survey
+the Japanese coast, which would unquestionably facilitate
+any future invasion of Japan, whether actually intended or not
+by the Spaniards. It seems possible that the existence of Viscaino’s
+charts may have suggested to the emperor and his counsellors
+the idea of closing all Japanese ports to foreign nations.</p>
+
+<p>The discoveries that certain converts made by Japanese missionaries
+had pledged their allegiance to a foreign power; that
+in the emperor’s own household Christians had been guilty of
+treachery and duplicity, and the memory that missionaries, in
+open defiance of the emperor’s orders, not only had preached in
+the streets of Miaco, but had even erected a church, explain, moreover,
+why the ruling class in Japan took alarm, and concluded
+that the Christian religion “struck at the root of the political
+and religious systems of Japan,” and that “Christians formed
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>a dangerous and anti-national class, whose extirpation was essential
+to the political system initiated by Iyeyasu and perfected by
+Iyemitsu.”</p>
+
+<p>While it has seemed to me that the foregoing data concerning
+the earliest relations between Japan and Mexico were interesting
+from a historical point of view, I have also realized that they
+could but be of particular value to ethnologists and those who
+are especially interested in evidences of Asiatic influences in
+Mexico and Central America. To them I venture to recommend
+the consideration of the following facts:&#x2060;—</p>
+
+<p>More or less frequent indirect intercourse between Japan and
+Mexico undoubtedly took place as soon as communication was
+established between the Philippine Islands and Acapulco.</p>
+
+<p>In 1608 there were fifteen thousand Japanese residing in the
+Philippines, some of whom were probably employed in the crews
+of the galleons, eight of which came to Acapulco each year. In
+1610, with the ex-governor of the Philippines, Vivero, twenty-three
+Japanese noblemen and merchants spent five months in
+Mexico and its capital.</p>
+
+<p>In 1613, one hundred and eighty Japanese spent four and a
+half months in Mexico. The majority remained when the embassy
+departed for Europe, seventy-eight returning to Acapulco.
+The presumption is that they remained there awaiting the return
+of the ambassadors, which was delayed for six years.</p>
+
+<p>Iyemitsu’s prohibition to Japanese to leave their country,
+under penalty of death, indicates that a large number of persecuted
+Christians had been going into voluntary exile. In all
+probability some of these, and also members of the Japanese
+colony in the Philippines, came to Mexico and settled there.
+What is more, for over two hundred years Mexico was the highroad
+over which passed the merchandise brought from Spain’s
+Asiatic possessions, and landed at Acapulco by vessels whose
+crews frequently were partly Asiatic.</p>
+
+<p>It is obvious, therefore, that it is the first duty of ethnologists
+to assign to the above influx of Japanese into Mexico in historical
+times any indications of Asiatic influence that they may detect,
+and for anthropologists to consider the more or less limited mingling
+of races which doubtless occurred in the 17th century and
+afterwards.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span></p>
+
+<p>I will set an example by attributing to the Japanese who
+visited Mexico in the 17th century the introduction of the raincoat
+made of grass or palm leaves, which is worn by the Indians
+inhabiting the Pacific coast of Mexico, and which is said to be
+identical with that used in Japan from time immemorial.</p>
+
+<p>In this connection it suffices to point out the significant fact
+that the members of Masumane’s suite returned to Acapulco
+from the City of Mexico in June, precisely at the beginning of
+the rainy season. It being absolutely necessary for them to have
+some protection from the torrential showers they were exposed
+to during their long journey, it seems more than probable that
+they deftly manufactured from native grasses or palm leaves
+such rain-coats as they had been accustomed to make and wear
+in their native land.</p>
+
+<p>The practical lesson thus taught the observant natives and
+the models furnished by the rain-coats discarded at the end of
+the wet season would surely sufficiently account for the introduction
+and use to the present day of these useful and easily manufactured
+garments, of which a specimen, bought in the marketplace
+at Oaxaca, has been sent by the writer to the Museum of the
+Department of Anthropology of the University of California.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p class="center">
+<span class="sansserif allsmcap"><b>UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS<br>
+<br>
+DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY</b></span>
+</p>
+
+<p class="p2">The publications issued from the Department of Anthropology of the
+University of California are sent in exchange for the publications of
+anthropological societies and museums, for journals devoted to general
+anthropology or to archaeology and ethnology, and for specimens
+contributed to the museum collections of the Department. They are
+also for sale at the prices stated, which include postage or express
+charges. They consist of three series of octavo volumes, a series of
+quarto memoirs, and occasional special volumes.</p>
+
+
+<p class="unindent allsmcap"><b>AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY.</b></p>
+
+<table class="small">
+<colgroup>
+ <col span="1" style="width: 3em;">
+ <col span="1" style="width: auto;">
+ <col span="1" style="width: 7em;">
+</colgroup>
+
+<tr><td class="tdl vlt">Vol. 1.</td>
+ <td class="tdh">No. 1. Life and Culture of the Hupa, by Pliny Earle Goddard. Pages 88, Plates 30, September, 1903</td>
+<td class="tdr vlb">Price, 1.25</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdh">No. 2. Hupa Texts, by Pliny Earle Goddard. Pages 290, March, 1904.</td>
+<td class="tdr vlb">Price, 3.00</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl vlt">Vol. 2.</td>
+<td class="tdh">No. 1. The Exploration of the Potter Creek Cave, by William J. Sinclair. Pages 27, Plates 14, April, 1904</td>
+<td class="tdr vlb">Price,&ensp; .40</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdh">No. 2. The Languages of the Coast of California South of San Francisco, by A. L. Kroeber. Pages 72, June, 1904.</td>
+<td class="tdr vlb">Price,&ensp; .60</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdh">No. 3. Types of Indian Culture in California, by A. L. Kroeber. Pages 22, June, 1904.</td>
+<td class="tdr vlb">Price,&ensp; .25</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdh">No. 4. Basket Designs of the Indians of Northwestern California, by A. L. Kroeber. Pages 60, Plates 7, January, 1905.</td>
+<td class="tdr vlb">Price,&ensp; .75</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdh">No. 5. The Yokuts Language of South Central California, by A. L. Kroeber (in press).</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl vlt">Vol. 3.</td>
+<td class="tdh">The Morphology of the Hupa Language, by Pliny Earle Goddard. Pages 344, June, 1905.</td>
+<td class="tdr vlb">Price, 3.50</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl vlt">Vol. 4.</td>
+<td class="tdh">No. 1. The Earliest Historical Relations between Mexico and Japan, by Zelia Nuttall. Pages 47, April, 1906.</td>
+<td class="tdr vlb">Price,&ensp; .50</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdh">No. 2. Contributions to the Physical Anthropology of California by A. Hrdlicka (in press).</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdh">No. 3. Shoshonean Dialects of California, by A. L. Kroeber (in press).</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdh">No. 4. Indian Myths from South Central California, by A. L. Kroeber (in press).</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdh">No. 5. The Geography of the Pomo Indians, by S. A. Barrett (in preparation).</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl vlt">Vol. 5.</td>
+<td class="tdh">No. 1. The Phonology of the Hupa Language: Part 1, The Individual Sounds, by Pliny Earle Goddard (in press).</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdh">No. 2. Navaho Myths, Prayers and Songs with Texts and Translations, by Washington Matthews, edited by Pliny Earle Goddard (in press).</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+
+
+<table class="small">
+<colgroup>
+ <col span="1" style="width: 4em;">
+ <col span="1" style="width: auto;">
+ <col span="1" style="width: 7em;">
+</colgroup>
+
+<tr><td class="tdl pad1" colspan="3"><b>GRAECO-ROMAN ARCHAEOLOGY.</b></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 1.</td>
+ <td class="tdh">The Tebtunis Papyri, Part 1. Edited by Bernard P. Grenfell, Arthur S. Hunt, and J. Gilbart Smyly. Pages 690, Plates 9, 1903</td>
+<td class="tdr vlb">Price, $16.00</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 2.</td>
+ <td class="tdh">The Tebtunis Papyri, Part 2 (in preparation).</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 3.</td>
+ <td class="tdh">The Tebtunis Papyri, Part 3 (in preparation).</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdl pad1" colspan="3"><b>EGYPTIAN ARCHAEOLOGY.</b></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 1.</td>
+ <td class="tdh">The Hearst Medical Papyrus. Edited by G. A. Reisner. Hieratic text in 17 facsimile plates in collotype, with introduction and
+vocabulary. Quarto, pages 48. Now ready.</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 2.</td>
+ <td class="tdh">The Predynastic Cemetery at Naga-ed-Der. The Archaeological Material, by A. M. Lythgoe (in preparation).</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 3.</td>
+ <td class="tdh">The Predynastic Cemetery at Naga-ed-Der. The Anatomical Material, by Elliott Smith (in preparation).</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 4.</td>
+ <td class="tdh">The Early Dynastic Cemeteries at Naga-ed-Der. By G. A. Reisner (in press).</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 5.</td>
+ <td class="tdh">The Cemetery of the Second and Third Dynasties at Naga-ed-Der, by A. C. Mace (in preparation).</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 6.</td>
+ <td class="tdh">The Cemetery of the Third and Fourth Dynasties at Naga-ed-Der, by G. A. Reisner (in preparation).</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. 7.</td>
+ <td class="tdh">The Coptic Cemeteries of Naga-ed-Der, by A. C. Mace (in preparation).</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdl pad1" colspan="3"><b>ANTHROPOLOGICAL MEMOIRS.</b></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td class="tdl vlt pad2">Vol. I.</td>
+ <td class="tdh">Explorations in Peru, by Max Uhle (in preparation).<br>
+ No. 1. The Ruins of Moche.<br>
+ No. 2. Huamachuco, Chincha, Ica.<br>
+ No. 3. The Inca Buildings of the Valley of Pisco.</td>
+<td class="tdr"></td>
+
+
+<tr><td class="tdl pad1" colspan="3"><b>SPECIAL VOLUMES.</b></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdh" colspan="2">The Book of the Life of the Ancient Mexicans, containing an account of their
+rites and superstitions; an anonymous Hispano-American manuscript
+preserved in the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, Florence, Italy. Reproduced
+in fac-simile, with introduction, translation, and commentary,
+by Zelia Nuttall.</td>
+<td></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td></td>
+ <td class="tdh">Part I. Preface, Introduction, and 80 Fac-simile plates in
+colors. 1903.</td>
+<td></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td></td>
+ <td class="tdh">Part II. Translation and Commentary. (In press).</td>
+<td></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td></td>
+ <td class="tdh"> Price for the two parts</td>
+ <td class="tdr">$25.00</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdh" colspan="2">The Department of Anthropology, Its History and Plan, 1905.</td>
+<td></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<div class="small">
+<p class="hangwide"><b>ASTRONOMY.</b>—W. W. Campbell, Editor. <b>Publications of the Lick Observatory.</b>—Volumes I–V completed. Volume
+VI (in progress).</p>
+
+<p class="hangwide"><b>BOTANY.</b>—W. A. Setchell, Editor. Price per volume $3.50. Volume I (pp. 418)
+completed. Volume II (in progress).</p>
+
+<p class="hangwide"><b>EDUCATION.</b>—Elmer E. Brown, Editor. Price per volume $2.50.</p>
+
+<p class="hangwide"><b>GEOLOGY.</b>—Bulletin of the Department of Geology. Andrew C. Lawson, Editor.
+Price per volume $3.50. Volumes I (pp. 428), II (pp. 450) and
+III (475), completed. Volume IV (in progress).</p>
+
+<p class="hangwide"><b>PATHOLOGY.</b>—Alonzo Englebert Taylor, Editor. Price per volume $2.00.
+Volume I (in progress).</p>
+
+<p class="hangwide"><b>CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY.</b>—Edward B. Clapp, William A. Merrill, Herbert C.
+Nutting, Editors. Price per volume $2.00. Volume I (in
+progress).</p>
+
+<p class="hangwide"><b>PHILOSOPHY.</b>—Volume I, completed. Price, $2.00</p>
+
+<p class="hangwide"><b>PHYSIOLOGY.</b>—Jacques Loeb, Editor. Price per volume $2.00. Volume I
+(pp. 217) completed. Volume II (pp. 215) completed.
+Volume III (in progress).</p>
+
+<p class="hangwide"><b>ZOOLOGY.</b>—W. E. Ritter, Editor. Price per volume $3.50. Volume I
+completed. Volume II completed. Volume III (in progress).</p>
+
+<p class="hangwide"><b>UNIVERSITY CHRONICLE.</b>—An official record of University life, issued quarterly,
+edited by a committee of the faculty. Price, $1.00 per year. Current
+volume No. VIII.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>Address all orders, or requests for information concerning the above publications
+(except Astronomy) to <b>The University Press, Berkeley, California</b>.</p>
+</div>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter transnote">
+<h3>Transcriber’s Note:</h3>
+
+<p>The list of University Publications was consolidated at the end of
+the book. Footnotes were renumbered sequentially. Obvious printing
+errors, such as partially printed letters and punctuation, were
+corrected. Words may have inconsistent hyphenation in the text. Three
+misspelled words were corrected.</p>
+</div>
+
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77632 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
+
+
diff --git a/77632-h/images/cover.jpg b/77632-h/images/cover.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..286cafb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/77632-h/images/cover.jpg
Binary files differ