have completed their sales to the natives, they
are glad to part with the remainder of their commodities to the Dutch,
at a cheap rate. Thus, the Dutch East-India Company are able to send
home vast quantities of the commodities of China, and purchased on
very advantageous terms, without trading directly to China, either
from Holland or from Batavia.

SECTION XV.

_Of the Dutch Trade with Japan._

A Dutch chief resides at Japan, who is always a principal merchant,
and is assisted by some writers in the Company's service. The profit
formerly made of this establishment by the Dutch East-India Company,
frequently amounted to 80 and even 100 per cent. but has fallen off
to such a degree, that they rarely make now, 1721, above eight or ten.
This has been chiefly occasioned by the Chinese, who for some time
past have purchased every kind of goods at Canton that are in demand
in Japan, and it is even said that they have contracted with the
Japanese to furnish them with all kinds of merchandize at as low
prices as the Dutch. Another cause of the low profits is, that the
Japanese fix the prices of all the goods they buy, and if their offer
is not accepted, they desire the merchants to take them home again.
This may possibly have been suggested to them by the Chinese, who
used formerly to be treated in the same manner at Batavia. There is no
place in all India where the Dutch have so little authority, or where
their establishments are of so little consequence, as in Japan. They
are allowed a small island to themselves, where they have warehouses
for their goods, and a few ordinary houses for the members of the
factory; but this island is a prison, in which they are completely
shut up as long as they remain in Japan, not being permitted to pass
the bridge that joins this island to the city of Naugasaque. The only
shadow of liberty that is allowed them is, that their chief, with two
or three attendants, goes once a-year as ambassador to the emperor.
One great reason of this is said to have been occasioned by their
using too great familiarities with the Japanese women; but the true
reason is, that the Dutch have more than once given strong indications
of an inclination to establish themselves in the country by force.

A French gentleman, Monsieur Carron, who was for some time at the head
of their factory in Japan, and who, in several journeys to the
court, had ingratiated himself into the favour of the emperor,
by entertaini