306 INTERCOLONIAL COMMERCE. change which reduced it to a more unfiivourable condition than ever. In l685, the quantity of goods which they w^ere allowed to import was re- stricted to 300,000 tahils, or L. 10.), 000 Sterling. In the year 1685, the exportation of copper was li- mited to 25,000 piculs. In the year 1710, the number of ships, before unlimited, and which usu- ally amounted to six or seven, was limited to four. In lyi'J'j the exportation of copper was limited to 15,000 piculs, and finally, in 17^3, the trade was reduced to its present miserable extent, the ship- ping being limited to one vessel, and the exporta- tion of copper to 7500 piculs. The Dutch are literally imprisoned, or at least placed under a rigorous surveillance, which, for the degradation of the details, has no parallel. The ships no sooner arrive than their rudders are unshipped, their guns dismantled, their arms and ammunition removed, a military guard put on board, and row-boats appointed to watch them. Their cargos are landed by, and placed in charge of, the officers of the Japanese government, and the Dutch have neither control over, nor access to them, except through solicitation* The island of Desima, to which they are confined, is an arti- ficial structure of stone, raised upon the rocks of the harbour, measuring in its greatest length 'il36 paces, by a breadth of 82. It communicates with the town of Nangasaki, by a bridge and gate, and
