. Narrative of the Earl of Elgin's mission to China and Japan in the years 1857, '58, '59 . arp-pointed, and elevated high out of the water. Someof these passenger-boats passed close to us for thepurpose of a closer inspection. Those within mani-fested no fear, but a good deal of interest and curi-osity ; numerous flags fluttered from small flag-staffsin the stern, each device having its appropriate sig-nification, unknown to us. The colours were generallyblack and white, and the form square or angular. Ablack circle on a white ground, or black and whitetriangles, were the commonest ; but ofte
. Narrative of the Earl of Elgin's mission to China and Japan in the years 1857, '58, '59 . arp-pointed, and elevated high out of the water. Someof these passenger-boats passed close to us for thepurpose of a closer inspection. Those within mani-fested no fear, but a good deal of interest and curi-osity ; numerous flags fluttered from small flag-staffsin the stern, each device having its appropriate sig-nification, unknown to us. The colours were generallyblack and white, and the form square or angular. Ablack circle on a white ground, or black and whitetriangles, were the commonest ; but often they werecomplicated, and presented to the uninitiated theappearance of an elaborate collection of the emblemsof freemasonry. PAPPENBERG. 5 Steaming gently on, we presently open the mouthof the long narrow harbour, with the conical woodedisland of Pappenberg guarding its entrance ; beyondwhich, formerly, foreign ships were not allowed topenetrate, and which must ever hold an unenviablenotoriety in the historical annals of Japan, as theTarpeian rock, down the precipitous sides of which. Thp Island of ParppnhprJ. hundreds of Christians, during the fierce persecutionwhich had for its object the utter exterminationof all who professed the creed, were hurled intothe deep-blue waters which eddy round it. Themoral of the sad story is written on the face of thesteep hills which enclose the bay : tiers of cannonrise one above another; battery succeeds battery, as 6 DUNGAREE FORTS. point after point is revealed to view. These guns arepointed not so much against the stranger as theChristian, who, while he is dreaded, is no less de-spised, and the principal result of whose intercoursewith the Japanese has been to furnish them with wea-pons by which they can the more effectually resisthis encroachments. Notwithstanding this, Japan isonce again open to the Christian : it will remain tobe proved how far the estimate which former expe-rience led the authorities of that Empire to form ofhis p
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookpublisheredinburghwblackwood, bookyear1859
