Excerpt from Travels in Europe, Africa, and Asia, made between the years 1770 and 1779, vol. 4. London, 1795-96. 63.

Excerpt from Travels in Europe, Africa, and Asia, made between the years 1770 and 1779, vol. 4. London, 1795-96. 63.

Japan, emigration, Tokugawa, Edo, sakoku, national closing

Transcription: No Japanese is allowed to leave his native land and visit foreign countries; this being prohibited, under penalty of death. So that the long voyages which the people of this nation formerly undertook in their own vessels to Coræa, China, Java, Formosa, and other places, can be no longer performed, and the art of navigation must of course be upon the decline. This, however, does not prevent them from making short Voyages between the rocks, with an inconceivable number of trading vessels, of different sizes, as likewise with fishing-smacks. They seldom venture out far enough at sea to lose sight of land, and always take care to have it in their power to run every evening into some port, or else to some other place of safety, in case of sudden storms. Yet they are provided with a compass[...]

Carl Peter Thunberg

Carl Peter Thunberg, Travels in Europe, Africa, and Asia, made between the years 1770 and 1779, vol. 4. London, 1795-96.

1795-96

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Call #: 1795 Th v4