_This Chapter doth treate of the Islands of Japon, and
of other thinges in that kingdome._
[Sidenote: Iapon is 300 leagues from China.]
The Ilands of Japon are many, and altogether make a mightie kingdome,
that is divided amongest many lords: it is distant from the firme land
of China, three hundred leagues, and in the middest betwixt both
kingdoms is the prouince of Lanquin, which is one of the fifteene afore
named; although going from Machao, a city of the Portingals, and ioyning
vnto Canton, which is of the Proper China, they do make it but two
hundred and fiftie leagues, trauelling towards the north, and commonly
they do account the same leagues from the Ilands of Luzon or
Philippinas, vnto the said Ilands of Japon: whereunto they may go by
Noua Hispania, for that it is better and surer nauigation, and shorter
voyage, for according vnto the reckoning of the pylots that do nauigate
those seas, they make it no more then 1750 leagues, which is not halfe
of that which the Portingalls make in their nauigation.
These ilands are many (as aforesaid), yet are they populared with much
people, who in their bodies and faces differ very little from the
Chinos, although not so politike: [by the which it seemed to be true,
that which is found written in the histories of the kingdom of China,
saying, that these Japones in old time were Chinas, and that they came
from that mightie kingdome vnto these ilands, whereas they do now dwell,
for this occasion following. A kinsman of a king of China, a man of
great countenance and valour, hauing conceiued within his brest for to
kill the king, and thereby to make himselfe lorde of the countrie, the
better to put this in execution, he gaue to vnderstand of his euill
intent vnto others of his friends, requesting their fauour to execute
the same, promising that he would do his best. This being done, and
hauing them alwaies for his especiall friends, unto whom it seemed no
difficult thing, and againe moued with ambition, they did promise him:
and for the better confirmation thereof, they began to prepare
souldiers, and to haue them readie against the day appointed. And for
that this their pretence could not be brought to effect with such
secrecie as the matter required, their treason came to be discouered
vnto the king, at such good oportunitie that he might very well seeke
remedie for his owne safegard at his pleasure, vnlooked for of his
kinsman and the rest of his followers, who were all taken with great
ease.
[Sidenote: The first inhabiting of the Iapon.]
Then was it determined by those of the royall councell, that all the
traitors should haue their throts cut according vnto the lawes of the
countrie: but when their sentence was carried vnto the king to be
confirmed (he vnderstanding that they much repented, and were sorie for
their sin and treason that they had pretended against him), he
determined to remedie the same with less damage, fearing what might
happen by their deaths, so that he comanded they should not die, but be
banished for euer out of the kingdome, with precise band, that they,
their wiues and children, and al that should come of them, should for
euer liue on those ilands that are now called Iapon, which were at that
time desert and without people. This sentence was executed, and the
offenders did accept the same for mercie. So they were caried to the
said ilands, wheras when they saw themselues out of their naturall
countrie, and without any possibility euer to returne againe, they
ordained their comon wealth as a thing to last for euer: directing all
their lawes which were for their conseruation and gouernment, contrarie
vnto the Chinos from whence they came. But in particular they made one,
wherin they did prohibite for euer their descendants to haue any
frindship with the Chinos, and did admonish them to do them all the
euill that was possible, which is obserued and kept vnto this day
inuiolable, shewing themselues their contraries in all they may, euen in
their apparell, speech, and customes: for the which there is no nation
so abhorred of the Chinos as is the Iapones, so that they are payd their
hatred with the like. And although at that time the said Iapones were
subiectes and tributaries vnto the king of China, and so continued long
time after, now at this day they are not, but do all harme that may be
vnto those of that kingdome.][86]
[86] The whole of the passage included in brackets is inserted from the
French of De la Porte.
[Sidenote: In the Iapones are 66 kingdomes.]
They haue much siluer, but not so fine as that is of our Indians,
likewise great abundance of rice and flesh, and in some parts wheate:
and although they haue all this, with many fruits, and hearbs, and other
things which be their ordinary victuals, yet are they not so well
prouided as are their confines or neighbors, and no default in the
lande, for that it is verie good and fruitefull. But that the naturall
people do giue themselues verie little vnto the tilling and sowing
thereof, for that they are more affectioned vnto the warres then vnto
that: and this is the reason that many times they do lack prouision and
victuals, which is the verie same reason that the naturall people and
others do report of them. There be in these ilandes three score and sixe
kingdoms or prouinces, and many kings, although it may be better said,
rulers or principals, such as the Spaniardes found in the Ilands of
Luzo: for which cause, although they be called kings, yet are they not,
neither in their contractation nor rent, for they haue verie little in
respect of the multitude of people. The king Nobunanga, who died in the
yeare 1583, was the most principall and greatest lord amongst them all,
as well of people as of riches: who was slaine by a captaine of his, and
punished by God by this meanes for his luciferine pride, for that it
did farre exceede that of Nebuchadonozor, and was come vnto that point
that he would haue beene worshipped for a god: for the which he
commanded to make a sumptuous temple, and to put in it thinges that did
well declare and showe his follie: of the which that you may see how
farre it did extend, I will declare here onely that which he did promise
vnto them that did visite his temple.
[Sidenote: A luciferine pride.]
First, the rich men that came vnto the saide temple, and did worshippe
his picture, should be more richer: and those that were poore, should
obtaine great riches: and both the one and the other, that had no
successors to inherite their goods, should also obtaine them, and also
long life for to enioy the same, with great peace and quietnesse.
The second, that their life should be prolonged to eighty yeares.
The third, that they should bee hole of all their infirmities and
diseases, and shall obtaine full accomplishment of all their desires
with health and tranquillitie. And the last he commanded that euery
month they should celebrate a feast for his birth day, and therein to
visite his temple, with certification that all those that did beleeue in
him, and in that which hee promised, should without all doubt see it
accomplished, and those which in this life were faultie and did not doo
in effect his commaundement, in the other they should goe the way to
perdition. And the better to accomplish this his will, he commaunded to
be put in this temple, al the idols in his kingdomes that were most
worshipped, such as to whom frequented most pilgrimes: the which being
done, he presently forbad that not one of them all should be worshipped,
but he onely that was the true Fotoque and vniuersall god, the author
and creator of nature.
[This foolishnesse did this proud king a little before his miserable
death, and many other more, that I do leaue out, for feare that I should
be too tedious in this itinerario. There did succeed this proude king in
the kingdome his sonne, called Vozequixama, who for that he is very
yong, at this day it is gouerned by a worthy captaine called
Faxiuandono.][87]
[87] The whole of this paragraph included in brackets, is inserted by
the translator from the French of De la Porte.
All men that are borne in this land are naturally inclined to warres and
robberies, and it is vsed ordinarily amongst themselues, alwayes he that
hath most power and strength doth carry away the best part; and yet he
doth enioy it with little securitie, for that as the prouerbe saith "he
findeth a last for his shoo, or the length of his foote is found," and
another commeth (when he thinketh least off) and carrieth away their
spoile with victorie, reuenging iniuries the one for the other, without
being requested thereunto: which is the occasion that they are neuer
without ciuill warres, and that seemeth to bee the influence of the
clime of that land. This, and the continual exercise in armes and in
robberies, hath giuen them the name of warriers, and do terrifie all
their borderers and neighbors.
They vse many weapons, but especially hargabusses, swords, and lances,
and are very expert in them. On the firme land of China they haue done
many suddaine robberies and thefts, and haue gone thorough therewith at
their pleasure: and would haue done the like at the Ilands of Luzon, and
vsed for the same all meanes possible, but yet it fell out contrary vnto
their meanings, and returned their backes full euill against their wils,
with their hands vpon their owne heads.
On a time they came vnto the Illocos, who with the fauour of the
Spaniards (whose vassals they are) did defende themselues worthily: that
the Iapones thought it best to returne vnto their houses and to leaue
their begun pretence, with determination neuer to put themselues in the
like perill, for that they had lost many of their companie. Not many
yeares since there happened vnto them the like disgrace in China: there
went tenne thousande of them to robbe and steale, and at their going on
lande, they did sacke a cittie with little hurt and smal resistance, who
with the content of that pray, forgot themselues and did not preuent the
harme that might chance vnto them: the Chinos being offended did
compasse them about in such sort, that when the Iapones remembred
themselues, they were in that case that they were constrained to yielde
vnto their enimies, who at their willes did repay themselues very well
of the iniurie receiued, and a very good warning vnto all those that
shall heare thereof, to flie from putting themselues into the like
trance: so the Chinos were very wel reuenged of the iniury by them
receiued.
The faith of Christ is very well planted in some of these ilands, by the
good diligence and trauell of the fathers and Iesuites, but in
particular by that which was doone by Master Francisco Xabier, one of
the tenne companions of the father Ignacio de Loyola, a founder of the
saide religion: hee trauelled with great zeale in the conuerting of the
saide Ilands, and that which was a great helpe vnto the same was his
holy doctrine and apostolike life, as vnto this day the Iapones doo
confesse, attributing vnto him (next vnto God) the goodnesse that hath
come vnto them by receiuing the baptisme, whome the fathers of that
companie haue followed in all pointes, such as remained after his death,
as also such as haue gone thither since that time.
So that vnto them may be attributed the thankes for the mollifying of
such adamantine hearts, as are those of the natural people of these
ilandes, whose wittes (although they be good and subtil) are naturally
knowne to be inclined vnto warres, robberies, and doing of euill: and at
this day, being Christians, they do followe their euill inclinations,
yet notwithstanding, by the good doctrine and ensample of the saide
fathers, they are much better Christians then those of the Orientall or
East Indians.
I do not set downe here the number of those that are baptised in these
ilands, for that there are therein diuers opinions, as also for that the
fathers of the name of Iesus or Iesuits doo distinctly declare in their
letters. The Portugals say that in respect of the number of people that
are to bee conuerted, the number that are baptised are very fewe, and
that there are many that are not, for lacke of ministers and preachers;
the which may easily be remedied, in commaunding to go thither more
religious men of other orders, for to aide and helpe the saide Iesuites,
the which shoulde be vnto them a particular content and comfort as I doo
beleeue, as hath beene seene by experience in all partes of the Indians,
whereas haue come religious men vnto places of their doctrine, for that
the quantitie of people is so great that are in these ilandes, that
although there shoulde go thither many laborers of the gospell, and all
the orders of religious men, the one should not be a let or hindrance
vnto the other, and they shoulde all of them finde enough to occupie
themselues, especially if that the successor of Nobunanga were conuerted
with his subjectes. All the men of these ilands are well set and well
proportioned, and go well apparelled, although not in so good order as
those of China: they liue verie healthfully and long, by reason that
they doo vse verie few diuersities of meates: they doo not suffer
amongst them any phisitians, and doo not cure themselues but with
simples.
[Sidenote: Many witches.]
They haue amongst them many priests of their idols, whom they do call
Bonsos, of the which there be great couents. Likewise they haue amongst
them great witches, who do ordinarily talke with the diuell, and are not
a small impediment for them to receiue the lawe of God in that kingdome.
The women or wiues of these Iapones do keepe themselues very close, and
very seldome go forth of their houses, in the which they do resemble
those of China much (as hath beene said), yet haue they many wiues, for
that by their lawes it is lawfull for them to haue as they please and
can sustaine; yet are they so prudent, that they do restraine
themselues, and liue in great peace. Both men-seruants and
women-seruants do serue their masters, as though they were slaues, and
they may kill them at their pleasure without incurring any penalty of
their lawes, a thing far different from any good policie. Many other
things more could I declare of this kingdome, the which I do let passe,
for the reason aforesaid: and again, for that the fathers of the company
of Iesus haue intreated thereof at large and vere truely.
[Sidenote: Ilands of Amazones.]
Not farre from these Ilands of Iapon, they haue discouered of late
certaine ilandes which are called of the Amazones, for that they are all
inhabited by women, whose ordinary weapons are bowes and arrowes, and
are very expert in the same: they haue their right brest drie, the
better to exercise their bow. Unto these ilands, in certaine monethes
euery yeare, goeth certaine shippes from Iapones with merchandice, and
they bring from thence such as they haue there: in the which time the
men do deale with the Amazones as with their own proper wiues, and for
to auoide dangers that might happen amongst themselues they deale in
this order following.
[Sidenote: A strange custome.]
After that their shippes are aryued, there goeth on shore two messengers
for to giue aduice vnto the queene of their arriuall, and of the number
of men that are in their shippes, who dooth appoint a day when they
shall all come on shoare: the which day shee doth carrie to the waters
side the like number of women, as they bee of men, but the saide women
doo first come thither before the men doo disembarke themselues, and
euery one of them dooth carry in their hande a paire of shooes, or a
paire of slippers, and on them their own seuerall marke, and do leaue
them on the sands at the waters side, without any consort or order, and
presently departe from thence. Then the men come on shoare, and euery
one take the first paire of shooes that he commeth vnto, and put them
on: then presently the women come forth, and euery one of them carryeth
with her him who hath fallen vnto her by lot, to put on her shoes, and
maketh him her guest, without any other particularitie, although it
chanceth unto the most vilest of them all to meete with the queenes
shooes, or otherwise to the contrarie.
So when the monethes are expired set downe by the queene, in the which
are permitted the men aforesaid, they doo depart, euerie one leauing
with his hostis his name, and the towne where hee dwelleth, for that if
it so fall out that they bee with child, and be deliuered of a sonne,
that hee may bee carried the yeare following vnto his father, but the
daughters do remaine with them.
This is very doubtfull to bee beleeued, although I haue bin certified by
religious men, that haue talked with persons that within these two
yeares haue beene at the saide ilands, and haue seene the said women;
and that which causeth me more to stand in doubt, is for that the
fathers of the companie that dwell at the Iapones, haue not in their
letters made any particular mention of them: therefore let euery one
giue credite to this as liketh him best.