[Footnote 7:  Xima, or sima, only means island.  Perhaps Mashama may be that named Kaba-sima in modern maps, and Amaxay may possibly be Amacusa, these islands being in the way towards Nangasaki.—­E.]

[Footnote 8:  This seems the same island called before Amaxay, or Amacusa.—­E.]

[Footnote 9:  Cochinotzu is the name of a town on the south-west peninsula of the island of Kiusiu; but Cochinoch in the text seems the sound leading to Nangasaki, and the straits of Arima appear to be the passage between the north side of Amacusa and Kiusiu.—­E.]

Sec.6. Arrival at Firando, and some Account of the Habits, Manners, and Customs of the Japanese.

We came to anchor about half a league short of Firando, about three p.m. of the 11th June, 1613, the tide being then so much spent that we could not get nearer.  I was soon afterwards visited by Foyne Sama, the old king of Firando, accompanied by his nephew, Tone Sama, who governed the island under the old king.[10] They were attended by forty boats or gallies, some having ten, and others fifteen oars of a side.  On coming near our ship, the king ordered all the boats to fall astern, except the two which carried him and his nephew, who only came on deck, both dressed in silk gowns, under which were linen shirts and breeches.  Each of them wore two cattans, or Japanese swords, one of which was half a yard long in the blade, and the other only a quarter of a yard.  They wore neither turbans nor hats, the fore part of their heads being shaven to the crowns, and the rest of their hair very long, and gathered into a knot behind.  The king seemed about seventy-two years of age, and his nephew, or grandchild, twenty-two, who governed under him, and each was attended by an officer, who commanded over their slaves as they directed.

[Footnote 10:  As the Portuguese, who first visited Japan, chose to designate the sovereign of that country by the title of emperor, they denominated all its provinces kingdoms, and their governors kings.—­E.]

Their manner of salutation was thus:  On coming into the presence of him they mean to salute, they put off their shoes, so that they are barefooted, for they wear no stockings.  Then putting their right hand within the left, they hold them down to their knees, bending their bodies, then wag or swing their joined hands a little to and fro, making some small steps to one side from the person they salute, and say augh! augh! I immediately led them into my cabin, where I had prepared a banquet for them, and entertained them with a good concert of music, to their great delight.  I then delivered the letters from our king to the king of Firando, which he received very joyfully, saying he would not open it till Ange came, who would interpret it. Ange, in their language, signifies a pilot, and by this name was meant one William Adams, an Englishman.  He had come this way in a Dutch ship from the South Seas, about twelve years ago; and, in consequence of a mutiny among the people, the ship was seized by the emperor, and Adams had remained in the country ever since.  After staying about an hour and a half, the king took his leave, bidding us welcome to the country, and promising me kind entertainment.