JAPAN is now attracting so much interest among us, that we purpose giving some account of that country over which so great a change is stealing. Japan, comprised within the 30th and 42d degrees of north latitude, and the 129th and 143d degrees of longitude east from Greenwich, is an archipelago, of which the principal islands are those of Niphon, Kewsew, and Sikokf. In different respects it may be compared to the British isles, being much in the same manner, though in a more eminent degree, divided and broken through by corners and forelands, arms of the sea, great bays and inlets running deep into the country, and forming several islands, peninsulas, gulfs, and harbours. Besides, as the Queen of Great Britain is sovereign of three countries, England, Scotland, and Ireland, so the Japanese Emperor has the supreme jurisdiction over three separate large islands. The largest of these islands has given its name, Japan, or, according to the native pronunciation, Niphon, to the whole country. This name is of Chinese origin, and is derived from the words, Jeih pun, "Origin of the sun;" and hence Japan is sometimes called the country of the rising sun, or, literally, the country of the origin of the sun. The divisions of Japan, which have been caused by civil wars, or made for the purpose of government, are numerous, and have been frequently changed. In the first, or happiest ages of the Japanese monarchy, every prince, it is said, enjoyed the government of a province, with which he was entrusted by the emperor, and ruled its inhabitants in peace and tranquillity. The miseries of the ensuing times, the frequent quarrels and contentions which arose among the chief branches of the imperial family respecting the succession to the throne, by degrees involved the whole empire in bloodshed and confusion. Its princes formed parties, collected armies, and every one endeavoured to maintain himself in the possession of those lands, the government of which had been entrusted to him by imperial bounty; and those who had not been taken care of by the emperor, took care to provide for themselves. The princes divided their dominions among their sons, who, inheriting only a part of their father's state, would not be behind them in the grandeur and magnificence of their courts. No wonder, then, if the number of princedoms and dominions went on continually increasing. The empire is divided into eight grand divisions, denominated do, or "ways." These are subdivided into sixty-eight kokfs, or departments, which again consist of 622 kohori, or districts. The nations of Christendom once maintained an extensive intercourse with the inhabitants of Japan. The Portuguese, the first Europeans who visited that country, were driven thither in a storm, when on their way to China, in 1542. For nearly a century from that time, they carried on a lucrative trade. The Spanish, Dutch, and English shared in the same thrifty commerce. The Japanese also, having long since emerged from a state of barbarism, had numerous fleets; and their merchantmen, like those of the Chinese in early times, visited neighbouring countries, and even those as far distant as Bengal. The nation had advanced to a high point in civilization-as far perhaps as it ever could without the peaceful, vivifying, and restraining influences of true Christianity. At this favourable junc 24 JAPAN. [FEB. ture, Romanism came in; but it came only to hasten the sad reverses that were coming on the state. Internal discord arose: foreign merchants became jealous, and strove to supplant each other; and the Jesuits, accused of forming designs against the state, were proscribed. The English abandoned the country in 1623, the Spaniards were expelled in 1625, and the Portuguese in 1641. The Dutch, while fattening on the good of the land, dug a pit for themselves; and notwithstanding their utmost endeavours, they were soon confined to the little island of Desima, "the prison which was built for the Portuguese." In the mean time all natives were prohibited from visiting foreign countries, and allowed only to make coasting voyages, or to proceed to the isles dependent on the Japanese. Naugasaki remained the only port open to foreigners, and even that but to three nations, and under severe restric tions. The Chinese and the Coreans were each allowed to trade thither with ten junks annually, and the Dutch with one large and two small vessels. Such has been the state of affairs for nearly two centuries; and both the Japanese and their country have gone into oblivion, like the kingdoms and people of former times. Various efforts have been made to re-establish free intercourse; and now and then a successful interloper has visited the forbidden ground. Such a case occurred in 1797-98, when an English vessel, commanded by an Englishman, carrying American colours, with an American pass, actually visited Japan. That vessel was sent thither by the Dutch authorities of Batavia. Europeans who are best acquainted with Japan are of opinion that the difficulties of opening a free intercourse with that nation will be far less than are generally apprehended. Of the advantages of such a measure, contemplated in whatever light we please, there can be, we think, but one opinion. Japan is a mountainous and hilly country, and traversed in its whole length by a chain almost of uniform elevation, and in many places crowned with peaks covered with perpetual snow. This chain divides the streams which flow to the south and east, and which fall into the Pacific Ocean, from those which pursue a northerly course to the Sea of Japan. Very many of the mountains of the country are volcanic On the great island of Kewsew, in the department of Firen, and southeast from Naugasaki, is the Ounzengada, or "high mountain of warm springs," which has several craters. In the early part of the year 1793, the summit of the mountain sunk entirely down: torrents of boiling water issued from all parts of the deep cavity which was thus formed, and the vapour arose like thick smoke. Three weeks afterwards there was an eruption of the volcano Bivo-no-kubi, about half a league from the summit: the flames arose to a vast height; the lava which flowed out extended itself with great rapidity; and in a few days the whole country was in flames for several miles round. A month after this there was a terrible earthquake throughout the whole islands, which was principally felt in the district of Simbara: the shocks were repeated several times, and the whole ended by a terrible eruption. In the interior of Figo is the volcano of Aso, which emits stones and flames, the latter of a blue, yellow, and red colour. (To be continued.) THE MUSGU PEOPLE OF CENTRAL AFRICA. It is the Lord's purpose that the command which He gave to His church should be carried out into practical execution, and His Gospel preached to every creature. It shall be so. It is the great remedy which the nations need. It was provided for universal use, and in the good pro 26 THE MUSGU PEOPLE OF CENTRAL AFRICA. [MARCH, vidence of God, and in His own time it shall be made known throughout the whole earth. And it is remarkable in our own day how a path is being opened through the wilderness, and countries and races of men brought to our knowledge, of which we had previously known nothing. The engraving annexed to this Number of our periodical refers to one of these newly-discovered regions, and one, too, of a very remarkable character. In the beginning of January 1852, Dr. Barth, the great African traveller, was at Kukawa, the capital of the kingdom of Bornu, on the borders of Lake Tshad; his great desire was to penetrate into the countries to the south and south-east in the direction of the great unknown regions of Central Africa, and he was therefore led to accompany the army of the Sheikh of Bornu, which was setting forth at that time on an expedition against the Musgu country. It was in truth a plundering expedition on a large scale, the chief booty sought being that of slaves. The whole proceeding was marked by mingled cruelty and cowardice. They were as ready to fly when they met a stout resistance, as they were to slay without mercy when they succeeded in surprising any of the villagers. To have accompanied such an expedition, and to have witnessed the manner in which the country was wasted, growing and ripening crops trodden down, or plucked up and used by the hungry soldiery, the poor inhabitants obliged to leave their homes and fly for their lives, leaving some behind who were either slaughtered or sold as slaves, must have been most painful. But a new country was visited, and a most remarkable one it was: not mountainous, as has been sometimes thought, but level, intersected by numerous water-courses, dense forests, and open grounds alternately, the latter often well cultivated, tobacco being grown to a great extent. So careful was the cultivation, that in some places manure had been laid on the fields in a regular manner, being spread over the ground to a great extent, a process which Dr. Barth had not before met with in Central Africa. Over the rich fields the villages were scattered, shaded by large wide-spreading trees, and presenting a cheerful and comfortable scene. Sometimes the huts were built in court-yards, containing from three to six huts, according to the number of the owner's wives, the walls being built of clay, the roofs thatched with great care, and exhibiting traces of various styles. One of the most curious objects in each dwelling was the granary, generally from twelve to fifteen feet high, with an arched roof, likewise of clay, there being an opening at the top, protected by a small cover of thatching. Broad, well-trodden paths, lined by the thick fences of a bush called "Mágara" in the language of Bornu, might be seen winding along through the fields in every direction. The engraving presents the interior of the palace of a Musgu chief. It is sketched, as it might be supposed to have been, while yet in security; as Dr. Barth found it, it was waste and desolate. It presented "an empty court-yard of a tolerably round shape and of large circumference, surrounded by huts more or less destroyed, and adorned at the four corners, if we may speak of corners in buildings of almost round shape, by buildings of a very peculiar and remarkable character," and exhibiting a degree of order and even of art which could scarcely have been expected in such rude tribes. They were small round rooms, about eight feet in diameter, and twelve feet high to the top of a cupola, the 1859.] AGRA DURING THE MUTINY. 27 clay walls of which were very neatly polished; a projecting portal, six feet high, four feet deep, and not more than fourteen inches wide, formed the portal. The outside, to the very top, was ornamented by regular lines of projecting ribs running round the building. These rooms were intended to serve as granaries; or perhaps, in the cold season, as bedrooms or sleeping-rooms. At the north-east corner adjoining the granary stood another remarkable apartment. It was round and uncovered, about 24 feet across, surrounded by a clay wall about 7 feet high, a foot thick, and carefully polished at the corners. On entering the door-way, which was about 4 feet high by 2 feet wide, there appeared on the left a bank of clay running parallel with a wall, and enclosing a space about 23 feet in breadth. It was about a foot and a quarter high, and one foot broad, and ran round more than half the circumference of the room. Between the bank and the wall was probably the place where cattle or goats were kept, the clay bank serving as a hut. The centre of the apartment was covered in by a shed, about 8 feet by 6, consisting of a roof of reeds and grass, supported by four stakes. On the right of this was the cooking-place or kitchen. The plundering expedition of the Sheikh of Bornu inflicted on these unhappy countries and people a great amount of wanton mischief, villages being consumed, trees cut down, and crops destroyed. About 10,000 head of cattle were carried away to Bornu, and about 3000 slaves, mostly aged women and children under eight years of age, who were not able to run quick enough. All the full-grown population had escaped, with the exception of about 300 men, who were taken prisoners, and, a few excepted, put to death. Truly, the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty, and the earth may well long for the coming of Him, of whom it is said "He shall judge the poor of the people, He shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor." AGRA DURING THE MUTINY. IN our last Number we described the mixed multitude which in the season of danger had sought refuge within the fort of Agra. We are reminded of the true refuge-" We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks." Would that men were as sensible of the danger to which sin has exposed them! Then would Christ no longer be neglected. Many of them had lost all-every thing that was valuable on earth. They had met Job's afflictions; sons and daughters were gone, nay, wife, sister, all had lost their property. The things that were saved were such as were of little value in a besieged state. Millinery or perfumery might be bought; not cheese, beer, wine, or tobacco. Still, although there was discomfort and privation, there was no real hardship. In September, Delhi was taken; many of the mutineers were slain, and many more escaped. The authorities were informed that an attack on Agra by one of the most formidable of the rebel armies, the Gwalior contingent, was intended. An express was sent to hasten a column that was coming from Delhi, under the command of Colonel Greathead, for the relief of Agra. It consisted of Sikhs, Lancers, three batteries of |