to French by the interpreter, and of which,
before we left the place, a beautiful copy was given me, I then read
my salutation, on which our minister, van Stoetwegen, said a few
words, and got some words in reply. After leaving the imperial
chamber, we were entertained in the anteroom with Japanese tea and
cigars. The two princes who had taken part in the entertainment of
the 15th came and talked a little with us, as did the minister of
foreign affairs. The Emperor MUTSUHITO, in whose name reforms have
been carried out in Japan to an extent to which history can scarcely
show anything equal, was born the 3rd November, 1850. He is
considered the 121st Mikado of the race of Jimmu Tenno, the members
of which have reigned uninterruptedly in Japan for nearly two
thousand years, with varying fates and with varying power--now as
wise lawgivers and mighty warriors, now for long periods as weak and
effeminate rulers, emperors only in seeming, to whom almost divine
homage was paid, but who were carefully freed from the burden of
government and from all actual power. In comparison with this race,
whose first ancestor lived during the first century after the
foundation of Rome, all the royal houses now reigning in Europe are
children of yesterday. Its present representative does not look to
be very strong. During the whole audience he stood so motionless
that he might have been taken for a wax figure, if he had not
himself read his speech. Prince Kita-Shira-Kava has the appearance
of a young lieutenant of hussars. Most of the ministers have sharply
marked features,[373] which remind one of the many furious storms
they have survived, and the many personal dangers to which they have
been exposed, partly in honourable conflict, partly through
murderers' plots. For, unfortunately, a political murder is not yet
considered in Japan an infamous crime, but the murderer openly
acknowledges his deed and takes the consequences. Repeated murderous
attempts have been made against the men of the new time. In order to
protect themselves from these, ministers, when they go out,
generally have their carriages surrounded by an armed guard on
horseback.

[Illustration: THE FIRST MEDAL WHICH WAS STRUCK AS A MEMORIAL OF THE
VOYAGE OF THE "VEGA." Size of the original. ]

[Illustration: THE FIRST MEDAL WHICH WAS STRUCK AS A MEMORIAL OF THE
VOYAGE OF THE "VEGA." Size of the original. ]

On the 18th September several of the members of the _Vega_
expedi