INTERCOLONIAL COMMERCE. 315 ginseiig root ; ivory, sugar, fine tea, tin, lead, and philosophical and theological books. * By this channel a small quantity of British woollens find their way to the distant market of Japan. The exports are copper, camphor, lacquered ware, and the bech de mevy or holoihuria. As an object of curiosity I shall exhibit a brief
- " As to these books, it happened, as I have taken no-
tice above, that some relating to the Christian religion, which were composed and printed by the Jesuits in China, slipt in among the rest. When this was first found out by the Japanese, they obliged the proprietor of the books to testify, in the most solemn manner, that he was not a Chris- tian himself, and that he did not bring over any of these books designedly, and knowing what they were ; then, to make him more circumspect for the future, they sent him back with his junk and whole cargo, without permitting him to dispose of any one part of it. Upon this, it was ordered for the future, that all books imported by the Chinese whatever should be first examined, and one of each kind read and censured, before they should have leave to sell them. This office of censors, with a competent yearly allowance, hath been given to two learned men of this town, one whereof is Father Prior of the Monastery, SiutoJais, who is to read and censure all the ecclesiastic books ; the other is a SJestos phi- losopher and physician to the Duiri, as he styles himself, who is to read and censure all the philosophical, -historical, and other books. This latter gentleman resides at Tattajnmma, and wears long hair, which he ties together behind his head, as the custom is among the philosophers, physicians and surgeons of the country." — Hlstori/ of Japan, Vol. I, p. 37y.
