The History of Japan

Front matter

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auxTOC|title=Volumes|comment= |*Volume 1

Volume 1

An Account of the ancient and preſent and of that ;

Its Temples, Palaces, Caſtles and other Buildings;

Its Metals, Minerals, Trees, Plants, Animals, Birds and Fiſhes;

The Chronology and Succeſſion of the , Eccleſiaſtical and Secular;

The Original Deſcent, Religions, Cuſtoms, and Manufactures of the Natives, and of their Trade and Commerce with the Dutch and Chineſe.

Together with a Deſcription of the Kingdom of Siam.

Written in High-Dutch by , M.D. Phyſician to the Dutch Embaſſy to the Emperor’s Court; and tranſlated from his Original Manuſcript, never before printed, by

J. G. Scheuchzer, F. R. S. and a Member of the College of Phyſicians, London.

With the Life of the Author, and an Introduction.

with many .

I.

Printed for the , MDCCXXVII.

April

Imprimatur,

Hans Sloane, Præs. Soc. Reg.

May it pleaſe Your ,

Your gracious Condeſcenſion to approve of my Deſign of publiſhing this Hiſtory of Japan emboldens me, with the moſt profound Reſpect and Humility to lay it at Your Feet.

It gives an Account of a mighty and powerful Empire, which owes its Greatneſs to itſelf, and the flouriſhing Condition it is in, to its being debarr’d all Communication with other Nations: It unfolds the Rules and Maxims of a Government, where the mutual checks, jealouſies and miſtruſts of Perſsons inveſted with Power are thought the moſt effectual Means to oblige them to a faithful diſcharge of their reſpective Duties: It ſhews a long Series of Eccleſiaſtical Emperors, all deſcended of one Family, who ſway’d the Scepter of Japan for upwards of two thouſand Years, and ſtill keep up their Titles, Rank and Grandeur, tho’ diſpoſſeſs’d of the ſupreme Power by the Secular Monarchs: It deſcribes a valiant and invincible Nation, a polite, induſtrious and virtuous People, enrich’d by a mutual Commerce among themſelves, and poſſeſs’d of a Country, on which Nature hath laviſh’d her moſt valuable Treaſures.

Theſe, and many other remarkable particulars, relating to the Religions, Sects, and Natural Hiſtory of a County, of which we had hitherto but an imperfect Knowledge, give me ſome hope, that this Work will not prove unworthy of Your gracious Protection.

That Your Reign may be long and proſperous, and that there may never be wanted a Succeſſion of Princes of Your Royal Line to Grace the Britiſh Throne, are the hearty and ſincere Wiſhes of

May it pleaſe Your ,

Your

Names of the Subſcribers.

Thoſe, who have this Mark * prefix’d to their Names, ſubſcrib’d for the Large Paper.

A

His Grace Hugh, Lord Archbiſhop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland. Joſeph Andrews, Eſq; F. R. S. Mr. Henry l’ Apoſtre. Col. Archer. 2 Archer, Eſq;

B

The Right Honourable Charles Lord Bruce.

Montague Bacon, Eſq;

George Baily, Eſq;

Robert Baylis, Eſq; Alderman.

Mr. Sylvanus Bevan, F. R. S. Two Sets.

3 Billerbeck, Eſq;

The Honourable Pattee Bing, Eſq;

John Birkhead of Lincoln’s-Inn, Eſq;

Col. Martin Bladen.

3 Bonnel, Eſq;

Ralph Boutchier, M. D.

Sir Brook Bridges, Bart. F. R. S.

John Brown, Eſq.

Mr. John Brown, F. R. S.

John Burrard, Eſq;

Mr. Paul Buſſiere.

C

His Grace William, Lord Archbiſhop of Canterbury.

The Right Honourable John Lord Carteret.

The Right Honourable Charles Lord Cadogan.

Thomas Cartwright of Aynhoe, Eſq;

The Rev. Dr. George Carter.

W. Cheſelden, Surgeon, F. R. S.

Richard Chiſwell, Eſq;

George Clifford, Jun. Eſq;

Francis Clifton, M. D.

Anthony Collins, Eſq; Two Copies.

Sir Thomas Coke, Knight of the Bath.

Mr. Daniel Crellius.

Thomas Crowe, M. D.

D

His Grace William Duke of Devonshire.

The Right Reverend Richard, Lord Biſhop of St. David’s.

Gebhard Danteny Eſq; F. R. S. Two Copies,

John Jacob Dillenius, M. D. F. R. S.

John Diodate, M. D. F. R. S.

James Douglas, M. D. F. R. S.

Gerard Drake, Eſq;

E

Richard Ellis, Eſq;

Nathaniel Ellwick, Eſq;

3 Eyles, Eſq;

Kingſmill Eyre, Eſq; F. R. S.

F

The Right Honourable the Lady Mary Fielding.

Everard Fawkener, Eſq;

Charles de la Faye, Eſq; F. R. S.

Martin Folkes, Eſq; F. R. S.

Thomas Fothergill, Eſq;

Sir Richard Fowler, Bart.

John Freeman, Eſq.

John Friend, M. D. F. R. S.

John Fuller, Eſq; F. R. S.

G

The Right Honourable the Earl Grandisson.

Roger Gale, Eſq; F. R. S.

Patrick Garden of Lincoln’s-Inn, Eſq;

Mr. Ambroſe Godfrey, Chymiſt.

Mr. Edmund Godfrey.

The Rev. Dr. Gooch, Maſter of Gonvil and Cajus College in Cambridge.

Mr. George Graham, F. R. S.

Mr. Stephen Grainger, Merchant at Stockholm.

Thomas Green, Eſq;

George Grey, Eſq;

Richard Griffith, Surgeon.

John Frederick Gronovices, M. D.

H

John Hadley, Eſq; F. R. S.

Richard Hale, M. D. F. R. S.

Sir James Hallet.

Mr. Denham Hammond.

Henry Heathcote, Eſq; F. R. S.

William Heathcote, Eſq;

Charles Hedges, Eſq;

John James Heidegger, Eſq;

The Hon. Mrs. Herbert.

3 Horſeman, M. D.

Hugh Howard, Eſq; F. R. S.

Robert Hucks, Eſq; F.R.S.

Maurice Hunt, Eſq;

I

Theodore Jacobſon, Eſq;

Mr. Benjamin James.

The Rev. Dr. Richard Ibbetſon, D.D.

William Jones, Eſq; F. R. S.

Thomas Iſted, Eſq; F. R. S.

James Jurin, M. D. Sec. Reg. Soc.

K

The Right Reverend the Lord Biſhop of Kilmore.

Sir John Kaye, Bart.

L

Smart Lethieuiller, Eſq; F. R. S.

Col. George Liddel.

The Rev. Dr. Samuel Liſle, D. D.

Henry Lloyd, Eſq;

The Rev. Mr. Richard Lucas, F. R. S.

M

His Grace John Duke of Montagu.

Mr. John Martin, F. R. S.

John Maubray, M. D.

Richard Mead, M. D. F.R. S.

2 Mead, Eſq;

Mr. Montagu.

Francis Moſe, Eſq;

N

James Naſh, Eſq.

Sir Michael Newton, Knight of the Bath.

Col. Francis Nicholſon, F. R. S.

Mr. Richard Nicholſon jun.

O

The Right Honourable Charles Earl of Orrery.

Robert Ord, Eſq; F. R. S.

The Rev. Mr. Henry Ort, M. A.

Sir Adolphus Oughton, Bart.

P

The Right Honourable Thomas Earl of Pembroke.

Mr. John Padmore.

Sir Gregory Page, Bart.

Thomas Pellet, M. D. F. R. S.

Henry Plumtre, M. D. F. R. S.

2 Plumtre, Eſq.

His Excellency Mr. Stephen Poyntz, His Majeſty’s Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Court of Sweden.

R

His Grace Charles Duke of Richmond.

Edward Ratcliff, Eſq;

Richard Richardſon, M. D.

John Roberts, Eſq;

Tancred Robinſon, M. D. F. R. S.

Edward Rudge, Eſq; F. R. S.

S

The Right Honourable Talbot Earl of Sussex.

Jeremy Sambrooke, Eſq;

Iſaac de Sequeyra Samuda, M. L. F. R. S.

William Sherard, L. L. D: F. R. S.

Mr. Shipton, Surgeon.

Mr. Samuel Skinner, jun.

Sir Hans Sloane, Bart. P. S. R. & C. M.

William Sloane, ſen. Eſq;

William Sloane, jun. Eſg; F. R. S.

The Rev. Mr. Soley.

Thomas Spicer, Eſq; Secretary to the Preſentations.

Sir Conrad Sprengell, Knt. F, R. S.

Ferdinand Sprinall, of the Inner Temple, Eſq;

Oliver St. John, Eſq; F. R. S.

John Stanhope of Eccle’s-hill, Eſq;

George Stanley, Eſq; F.R. S.

3 Stanley, Eſq;

Temple Stanyan, Eſq; F. R. S.

John George Steigerthal, M. D. F. R. S.

Mr. John Stevans, Surgeon.

Sir Robert Sutton, Knight of the Bath.

T

George Lewis Teiſſier, M. D. F. R. S.

James Theobald, Eſq; F. R. S.

Peter Theobald, Eſq;

Joas Tillard, Eſq;

Mr. Nathaniel Torriano.

Mr. John Torriano.

Sigiſmond Trafford, Eſq;

The Honourable John Trevor, Eſq; F. R. S.

Abraham Tucker, Eſq;

W

Stephen Wadſworth, M. D.

John Wainewright of Lincoln’s-Inn, Eſq;

William Ward, L. L. D.

Mr. Thomas Watſon of Lothbury.

Mr. Thomas Watſon.

Sir Anthony Weſtcomb, Bart.

Mr. Thomas Weſton, Maſter of the Academy of Greenwich.

Mr. Samuel Windor, jun.

John Woodward, M. D. P. Greſh. F.R.S.

Francis Woolaſton, Eſq; F. R. S.

Z

Mr. Zinck.

Philip Henry Zolmann, Eſq;

Of the firſt Volume.

The of ,

I.

II.

Of the Political State of .

III.

Of the ſtate of Religion in .

IV.

Of Nagaſaki, the Place of Reſidence for Foreigners; of their Trade Accommodation, &c.

Preface

Germany was as yet not engaged in war with the Ottoman Porte and the moſt Chriſtian King, when the Swediſh Embaſſy, which I had the honour to attend as Secretary, was diſmiſs’d by the Perſian Court. It agreed beſt with my inclination to undertake a farther journey, and I choſe rather to lead the reſtleſs and troubleſome life of a Traveller, than by coming home to ſubject myſelf to a ſhare in that train of calamities my native Country was then involved in. Therefore I took my leave of the Ambaſſador, and his retinue, (who did me the honour to attend me a mile out of Iſpahan) with a firm reſolution to ſpend ſome years longer in ſeeing other Eaſtern Courts, Countries and Nations. I was never uſed to receive large ſupplies of money from home: ’Twas by my own induſtry I had till then ſupported myſelf, and the very ſame means maintain’d me afterwards, as long as I ſtaid abroad, and enabled me to ſerve the Dutch Eaſt-India Company, though in a leſs honourable employment. This off-ſpring of Japhet enjoys, more than any other European nation, the bleſſing of Noah, to live in the tents of Shem, and to have Canaan for their ſervant. God hath ſo bleſſed their valour and conduct, that they have enlarged their trade, conqueſts and poſſeſſions throughout Aſia, to the very extremities of the Eaſt, and there hath never been wanting among them a ſucceſſion of prudent and able men, who have promoted their intereſt and welfare to the utmoſt of their capacity. But to come to the point. It was by the gracious leave, and under the protection of this honourable Company, that I have often obtain’d my end in the Indies, and have had the ſatisfaction at laſt to ſee the remote Empire of Japan, and the Court of its powerful Monarch. ’Tis the preſent ſtate of this Court and Empire, which I herewith offer to the publick, before my other works, which I have lately promiſed in the Preface to my Amœnitates Exoticæ. I can aſſure the Reader, that both my deſcription and repreſentations of things, though perhaps leſs elegant and perfect, are yet ſtrictly agreeable to truth, and without embelliſhments, ſuch as they occurred to me. I muſt own, that as to the more private affairs of the Empire, I could not procure full and ample informations enough: It is known, how difficult a matter it is for a foreigner to do it in any Country, and I found by experience, that it is much more ſo in Japan. Ever ſince the Roman Catholick Religion hath been extirpated, the Dutch and Chineſe Merchants in a manner impriſon’d, and the whole Empire ſhut up to all Commerce and communication with foreign nations, the natives muſt be extreamly cautious and reſerved in their behaviour with regard to thoſe foreigners, who are permitted to trade and are tolerated among them. Thoſe in particular who are more immediately concerned with our affairs, are all obliged, by a ſolemn oath, not to diſcourſe with us, nor to diſcover any thing to us, of the condition of their Country, the Religions therein eſtabliſhed, the private tranſactions at Court and in the Empire, and other things, and they are ſo far neceſſitated to be upon their guard, as by the ſame oath they are tied down to watch and to betray one another. For a farther confirmation, this oath is renew’d to them every year. In ſo low a condition is at preſent the credit of foreigners in Japan: The Dutch, who are ſuffer’d to trade there, have found it by long experience, and are of opinion, that it is impoſſible for them to procure any information concerning the preſent condition of the Empire, foraſmuch as they have neither proper opportunities, nor liberty enough for it, as M. Cleyer, who was himſelf Diretor of our trade there, and our Ambaſſador to the Emperor’s Court, complains in a letter to the learned Scheffer. The diffi , I own, are great and conſiderable, but not altogether inſuperable. They may be overcome by proper management, even notwithſtanding all the precautions the Japaneſe government hath taken to the contrary. The Japaneſe, a prudent and valiant nation, are not ſo eaſily to be bound by an oath taken to ſuch Gods, or Spirits, as are not worſhip’d by many, and unknown to moſt: If they do comply with it, ’tis more for fear of the puniſhment, which would inevitably attend them, if betray’d. Beſides, their pride and warlike humour being ſet aſide, they are as civil, as polite and curious a nation as any in the world, naturally inclined to commerce and familiarity with foreigners, and deſirous, to exceſs, to be informed of their hiſtories, arts and ſciences. But as we are only merchants, whom they place in the loweſt claſs of mankind, and as the narrow inſpection, we are kept under, muſt naturally lead them to ſome jealouſy and miſtruſt, ſo there is no other way to gain their friendſhip, and to win them over to our intereſt, but a willingneſs to comply with their deſire, a liberality to pleaſe their avaricious inclinations, and a ſubmiſſive conduct to flatter their vanity. ’Twas by theſe means I work’d myſelf into ſuch a friendſhip and familiarity with our interpreters, and the officers of our iſland, who daily come over to us, as I believe none before me could boaſt of, ever ſince we have been put under ſuch narrow regulations. Liberally aſſiſting them, as I did, with my advice and medicines, with what information I was able to give them in Aſtronomy and Mathematicks, and with a cordial and plentiful ſupply of European liquors, I could alſo, in my turn, freely put to them what queſtions I pleaſed, about the affairs of their Country, whether relating to the government in Civil or Eccleſiaſtical affairs, to the cuſtoms of the natives, to the natural and political hiſtory, and there was none that ever refuſed to give me all the information he could, even when we were alone, in ſuch things, which they are otherwiſe ſtrictly charged to keep ſecret. Theſe private informations I procured from thoſe who came to viſit me, were of great uſe to me in collecting materials for my intended hiſtory of this Country, but yet they fell far ſhort of being altogether ſatisfatory, and I ſhould not perhaps have been able to compaſs that deſign, if I had not, by good luck, met with other opportunities, and in particular the aſſiſtance of a diſcreet young man, by whoſe means I was richly ſupplied with whatever notice I wanted, concerning the affairs of Japan. He was about twenty-four years of age, well vers’d in the Chineſe and Japaneſe languages, and very deſirous of improving himſelf. Upon my arrival, he was appointed to wait on me, as my ſervant, and at the ſame time to be by me inſtructed in Phyſick and Surgery. The Ottona, who is the chief officer of our iſland, having been by him, though under my inſpection, taken care of in a diſtemper of his, ſuffer’d him to continue in my ſervice during the whole time of my abode in the Country, which was two years, and to attend me in our two journeys to Court, conſequently four times almoſt from one end of the Empire to the other, a favour which is ſeldom granted to young men of his age, but was never done for ſo long a time. As I could not well have obtain’d my end without giving him a competent knowledge of the Dutch language, I inſtructed him therein with ſo much ſucceſs, that in a year’s time he could write and read it better than any of our interpreters: I alſo gave him all the information I could in Anatomy and Phyſick, and farther allow’d him a handſome yearly ſalary, to the beſt of my abilities. In return, I employ’d him to procure me as ample accounts, as poſſible, of the then ſtate and condition of the Country, its Government, the Imperial Court, the Religions eſtabliſh’d in the Empire, the Hiſtory of former ages, and remarkable daily Occurrences. There was not a Book I deſired to ſee, on theſe and other ſubjects, which he did not bring to me, and explain to me, out of it, whatever I wanted to know. And becauſe he was obliged, in ſeveral things, to enquire, to borrow, or to buy of other people, I never diſmiſs’d him without providing him with money for ſuch purpoſes, beſides his yearly allowance. So expenſive, ſo difficult a thing is it to foreigners, ever ſince the ſhutting up of the Japaneſe Empire, to procure any information about it: What I have been able to do, I freely communicate to the Publick in this preſent Hiſtory.

Life of the Author

By the .

Engelbert Kæmpfer was born on the 16th of September 1651, at Lemgow, a ſmall town in the Circle of Weſtphalia, belonging to the Count de Lippe. His Father John Kæmpfer was Miniſter of the Church of S. Nicholas in that town, and his Mother Chriſtiana Dreppers, a Daughter of Joachim Drepper, formerly Miniſter of the ſame Church. He had, ſo far as his Father’s circumſtances would permit, a very liberal education, and becoming the profeſſion he was deſign’d for, which was that of Phyſick. He begun his ſtudies at the ſchool of Hameln, in the Dutchy of Brunſwick, and was ſent from thence to Lunebourgh, Hambourgh and Lubeck, at all which places he diſtinguiſhed himſelf by an induſtrious application and ready progreſs in the learned languages, Hiſtory, Geography, and Muſick both vocal and inſtrumental. He made ſome ſtay at Dantzick, where he gave the firſt publick ſpecimen of his proficiency, by a Diſſertation De Majeſtatis Diviſione, defended in 1673, and then went to Thorn. He ſtaid three years at the Univerſity of Cracow in Poland, ſtudying Philoſophy and foreign languages, and having took his degree of Doctor in Philoſophy at that place, he repair’d to Konigsberg in Pruſſia, where he ſpent four years in cloſe application to the ſtudy of Phyſick and Natural Hiſtory, his Fa deſign, and his own genius and inclinations, happily concurring to bend his thoughts that way. ’Twas here he laid the foundation of thoſe many excellent and uſeful diſcoveries and obſervations, which he had afterwards frequent opportunities to make in the long courſe of his travels.

He went from Pruſſia into Sweden, where his learning and diſcreet behaviour quickly brought him into great reputation, both at the Univerſity of Upſal, and at the Court of Charles XI. a munificent Patron of men of learning, inſomuch that very advantageous offers were made him towards an eſtabliſhment in that Kingdom, which he thought fit to decline, deſirous as he always was of ſeeing foreign Countries, and choſe to prefer the place of Secretary of the Embaſſy, which the Court of Sweden was then ſending to the King of Perſia. The main deſign of this Embaſſy was to ſettle a Commerce between the Kingdoms of Sweden and Perſia, though at the inſtances of the Emperor Leopold, the Ambaſſador, Luis Fabritius, had orders, by a ſeparate article, to engage, if poſſible, the King of Perſia a rupture with the Ottoman Porte. As the firſt and chief, the ſettling of a Commerce, could not well be effected, unleſs their Czarian Majeſties (Iwan and Peter, who then jointly governed the Ruſſian Empire) would conſent to give paſſage to the European as well as Perſian Commodities, through their dominions, upon reaſonable terms, the Ambaſſador was order’d firſt of all to repair to the Court of Moſcow, and there to make an agreement concerning that matter. It is foreign to my preſent purpoſe, to enter either into the deſign or ſucceſs of M. Fabritius his negotiations, any farther than it will lead me to follow Dr. Kæmpfer through Muſcovy into Perſia.

He ſet out from Stockholm, with the preſents for the King of Perſia, on the 20th of March 1683, O.S. and went through Aaland, Finland, and Ingermanland to Narva, where he met the Ambaſſador with a retinue of thirty perſons. A miſtake in the Ambaſſadors Credentials, where the name of the King of Perſia was through inadvertency put before that of their Czarian Majeſties, and the unwillingneſs of the Waywode of Novogorod, to furniſh the neceſſary expences to conduct and defray him, with his retinue, purſuant to the tenour of the Treaties ſubſiſting between the two Crowns, detain’d them upon the borders of Ruſſia a conſiderable time: But theſe difficulties having been at laſt amicably adjuſted, M. Fabritius purſued his journey through Novogorod to Moſcow, where he made his publick entry on the 7th of July, and was admitted to an audience of their Czarian Majeſties on the 11th.

M. Fabritius having finiſh’d his Negotiations at the Ruſſian Court in ſomething leſs than two months, ſet out from Moſcow on his way to Perſia, falling down the Rivers Moſco, Occa and Wolga, to Caſan and Aſtracan, two conſiderable towns, and the Capitals of two powerful Kingdoms, which were conquer’d and annex’d to the Ruſſian Empire by that heroick Prince Iwan Baſilowitz. After a dangerous paſſage over the Caſpian Sea, where they were like to have been loſt, through the violence of an unexpected ſtorm, and the unskilfulneſs of their Pilots, (the ſhip having two Rudders, and conſequently two Pilots, who did not underſtand each other’s language) they got ſafe to the Coaſts of Perſia, and landed at Niſabad, where they ſtaid for ſome time, living under tents after the manner of the natives. Two other Ambaſſadors to the Perſian Court, one from the King of Poland, and another from their Czarian Majeſties, having landed at Niſabad much about the ſame time, they proceeded jointly to Siamachi, the Capital of the Province of Schirwan, in the Media of the Ancients, or, as it is now call’d, Georgia, where they arrived about the middle of December, and ſtaid till the Governor of that Town and Province had ſent notice of their arrival to the Perſian Court, and received orders from thence after what manner they were to be treated, and which way to be ſent to Court. Dr. Kæmpfer, in the mean time, did not ſit idle, but went all about the neighbourhood of Siamachi, herborizing and obſerving what was remarkable in nature and art, ſo far as otherwiſe his affairs, and a ſucceſsful and not improfitable practice of Phyſick, which the reputation of his being an European Phyſician quickly brought him into in that populous place, would permit. We ſhould be ſtill wanting that curious and accurate account, which he hath given us in his Amœnitates Exoticæ, of the origin and fountains of the Naphta in the Peninſula Okeſra, if he had not been at the pains to go and view them upon the ſpot. Few are ſenſible what a pleaſure a Natural Hiſtorian receives, when ſome new and ſingular Phænomenon in nature offers in places unfrequented. Dr. Kæmpfer had the ſatisfaction of finding in that Median Peninſula even more than he look’d for, and inſtead of one he went to ſee, to meet, as he ſaith, with no leſs than ſeven wonders: The town of Baku on the Caſpian Sea, the remaining monuments of Antiquity in the neighbourhood thereof, the fountains of Naphta, the burning field, boiling lake, a mountain which threw out a fine potters-earth, and ſome other ſingularities, truly many for ſo ſmall a compaſs of ground, made him abundant amends for the trouble, and even the hazard of his excurſion thither.

Upon the return of the expreſſes ſent to the Court of Perſia, M. Fabritius ſet out on his journey thither about the middle of January 1684, as did alſo the Poliſh and Ruſſian Ambaſſadors with their retinues: but being order’d to travel different ways, the Swediſh Embaſſy reach’d Iſpahan, the Capital of Perſia, ſome time before the others.

Schah Solyman, King of Perſia, a Prince of a tender and ſickly conſtitution, was then, by the advice of his Aſtrologers, under a ſort of a voluntary confinement to his Palace. Apprehenſive of the fatal conſequences of a malignant conſtellation, they would not permit him to go abroad, and to appear in publick, till the 30th of July, on which day he treated his whole Court with the utmoſt ſplendor and magnificence. There were at that time ſeveral foreign Ambaſſadors at Iſpahan, from the Kings of Sweden, Poland and Siam, the Czars of Muſcovy, ſeveral Arabian and Tartarian Princes, and ſome alſo with Letters Credentials from the Pope, the Emperor of Germany, and the King of France, who were ſeverally admitted to audience on the ſame day, it being the cuſtom of the Perſian Kings not to let the Ambaſſadors of foreign Powers appear in their Royal Preſence, but on ſome ſuch ſolemn occaſion as this was, in a full aſſembly of their numerous Court, and in the moſt pompous manner poſſible. M. Fabritius had the honour of being introduced to his audience before the reſt, and indeed during the whole time of his abode at Iſpahan, which was near two years, he had very particular and diſtinguiſhing honours ſhewn him, whereby it appear’d, that neither his perſon, nor buſineſs, had been diſagreeable to the Perſian Court. Dr. Kæmpfer, whoſe curious and inquiſitive diſpoſition ſuffer’d nothing to eſcape unobſerved, made all poſſible advantages of ſo long a ſtay in the Capital of the Perſian Empire. His main and favourite enquiries indeed, here and every where in his travels, tended chiefly to the improvement of Phyſick and Natural Hiſtory in their ſeveral branches, and he hath abundantly ſhewn, by his Amœnitates Exoticæ, that his endeavours that way have not been unſucceſsful. But he did not abſolutely confine himſelf to this ſubject, though large and extenſive enough: The Political Hiſtory of a Country, the ſucceſſion and remarkable actions of its Princes, the ſtate of their Court and Government, their perſonal qualities, vices or vertues, the cuſtoms, manners, inclinations of the natives, their way of life, trade, commerce, the remains of antiquity, the modern buildings, whether ſacred or civil, the flouriſhing or low condition of arts and ſciences, and many other things of the like kind, equally exerciſed his induſtry and attention. As to the Perſian affairs in particular, he was not a little aſſiſted in his reſearches by the Rev. F. du Mans, Prior of the Convent of Capuchins at Iſpahan; who had ſerved the Court of Perſia, in quality of Interpreter, for thirty years and upwards, and had acquired, beyond any European before him, a thorough knowledge of the Perſian language, government and cuſtoms, and a deeper inſight into the ſtate of that Court and Kingdom. And certainly, Dr. Kæmpfer’s account of Perſia, (as deliver’d in his Amœnitates) for accuracy and preciſeneſs may vye with the moſt conſiderable before or ſince.

M. Fabritius having brought his negotiations at the Perſian Court to a concluſion, towards the latter end of 1685, and preparing to return into Europe, Dr. Kæmpfer, for the reaſons alledged in his Preface to this Hiſtory of Japan, did not think fit to go back with him. He was indeed offer’d the place of chief Phyſician to a Georgian Prince, with conſiderable appointments, but his inclination to travelling being not yet abated led him farther into the Eaſt, and the advice of Father du Mans, with whom he had contracted a particular amity, during his ſtay at Iſpahan, with the recommendations he obtain’d of M. Fabritius, prevail’d upon him to enter into the ſervice of the Dutch Eaſt-India Company, in quality of chief Surgeon to the Fleet, which was then cruizing in the Perſian Gulph, a place, as he expreſſes himſelf in one of his letters, leſs honourable indeed, but more adapted to the deſign of his travels.

He left Iſpahan, on his journey to Gamron, or Benderabaſſi, a celebrated trading town on the Perſian Gulph, in November 1685, and was honourably attended a mile out of town by the Ambaſſador’s retinue. He made ſome ſtay at Sijras, both to make the neceſſary enquiries concerning the celebrated Perſian wines, which owe their name to that town, and to viſit the boaſted remains of the ancient Perſepolis, and the Royal Palace of Darius, that noble ſtructure, which fell a ſacrifice to wine and wantonneſs, and whole ſcattered ruins are a ſtill ſubſiſting undeniable monument of its former ſplendor and greatneſs.

The unhealthineſs of Gamron, for the ſultry heat of the air, and the want of water, is ſuch, that few Europeans can live there any conſiderable time, without great prejudice to their health; and even the natives are obliged, in the hot ſeaſon, to retire up into the mountains. Dr. Kæmpfer felt the effect of it ſoon after his arrival, falling into a malignant fever, of which he lay delirious for ſome days; however it pleaſed Providence to ſpare him: His fever abating, flung him into a dropſy, and that into a quartan ague, and ’twas by theſe dangerous and unuſual ſteps he recovered his health, but not his former ſtrength and vigour. As ſoon as he found himſelf in a condition to remove, he retired into the Country, for the change of air and the recovery of his his ſtrength, as well as in queſt of new diſcoveries and obſervations, chiefly on thoſe things which for the unhealthineſs of the Climate, and other difficulties, had not been before throughly and ſo accurately enquired into.

To theſe his Summer expeditions, and retirement from Gamron, are owing: His account of the mountain Benna in the Province Laar, on the Gulph of Perſia, of its plants and animals, of the precious Bezoar, and the animal in whoſe ſtomach it is found, of the ſingular hot baths, a native balſam, and other curioſities obſerved on that mountain, and in the neighbourhood thereof: His deſcription of the Native Mummy, that moſt precious balſam, which ſweats out of a rock, in the Province Daar, and is gathered once a year with great pomp and ceremony, for the ſole uſe of the Perſian King: His obſervations on the Aſa Fœtida, of the Plant yielding that ſubſtance, which grows only in Perſia, and on the manner of gathering and preparing it: His obſervations of the Vena Medinenſis of Arabian writers, or Dracunculus, as he calls it, a ſingular worm bred between the interſtices of the muſcles, in ſeveral parts of the human body: His account of the Sanguis Draconis, I mean the true Eaſtern one, which he aſcertains to be obtain’d from the fruit of a Coniferous Palm: His curious and accurate Hiſtory of the Palma Dactylifera, growing in Perſia, its differing ſpecies, male and female, its culture, growth, preparation and uſes, far beyond whatever was known of this ſingular Tree: With many other obſervations, equally curious and uſeful, which may perhaps one time or other be communicated to the publick.