318 INTERCOLONIAL COMMERCE. When their laws permitted them to quit their own country, the Japanese were the most adventurous of the nations of the east. They settled in every part of the Indian Archipelago, and in many of the neighbouring countries, and such was their re- lity of revenging so heinous an affront offered him by Nanbani, that is, southern people, (a contemptible name which they give to foreigners, and particularly the Dutch,) whereupon his guards addressed him in the following man- ner : " We will no longer, Sir," said they, " guard your person if 3'ou will not give us leave to revenge your honour and reputation. Nothing but the offender's blood shall wash off this spot. Command, and we will cut off that wicked head, or bring him alive into j^our presence to be punished by you as you shall desire and he deserves. Seven of us will be enough. Neither the danger of the voyage, nor the strength of his castle, nor the number of his guards, shall preserve him from our wrath. They are Nanbaiii, we of divine extraction." {Nifon-jfin, that is, Japanese, or, in the literal sense, inhabitants of the subcelestial world.) They would not desist from their demand till leave was granted them. The attempt indeed was bold, but carried on with no less prudence than courage and success. After a happy voyage they came safely to Formosa, and, being admitted to an audience of the governor, they all drew their swords, seized upon his person, and carried him off prisoner to their vessel in the middle of the day, amidst all his guards and domestics, none of which durst offer to stir in his defence, or to rescue him from his bold conductors, who, with their swords drawn, threatened to stab him the moment the least opposition should be made." — IHsi. qfJapmi, Vol. II. p. 57. Appendix.
