Three Japanese, Two Men And A Woman, Were Put To Death
For The Following Cause:
The woman, in the absence of her husband, had
made separate assignations with both the men.
He who was appointed
latest, not knowing of the other, and weary of waiting, came too soon,
and enraged at finding her engaged with another man, drew his cattan
and wounded both very severely, almost cutting the man's back in two.
Yet the wounded man, getting hold of his cattan, wounded the
aggressor. This fray alarming the street, word was sent to king Foyne
and to know his pleasure, who accordingly gave orders to cut off all
their heads. After their execution, all who thought proper, as many did,
came to try the temper of their weapons upon the dead bodies, which they
soon hewed in small pieces, which were left to be devoured by the
ravens.
The 10th three others were executed in the same way with the former,
being beheaded and afterwards cut in pieces, for stealing a woman long
since from Firando and selling her at Nangasaki. When any are to be
executed, they are led out of town in the following manner: First there
go two men, one having a mattock and the other a shovel, to dig the
grave, if that be allowed to the criminal. Then a third person carrying
a small table or board, on which is written the crime of the party,
which is afterwards affixed to a post on the grave in which he is
buried. Next comes the party to be executed, having his hands bound
behind him by a silken cord, and having a small paper banner, much like
one of our wind-vanes, on which the offence is written. The criminal is
followed by the executioner, having his cattan or Japanese sword by
his side, and holding in his hand the cord with which the hands of the
criminal are bound. On each hand of the executioner walks a soldier
armed with a pike, the head of which rests on the criminal's shoulder,
to intimidate him from attempting to escape. In this manner I saw one
man led out to execution, who went forwards with a most wonderful
resolution, and apparently without fear of death, such as I had never
seen the like in Europe. He was condemned for stealing a sack of rice
from a neighbour, whose house was burning.
The 11th there arrived three Chinese junks at Nangasaki, laden with
silks. The 19th the old king begged a piece of poldavy from me; and
though a king, and famed as the bravest soldier in Japan for his conduct
in the wars of Corea, he had it made into coats, which he wore next his
skin, some part of it being made into handkerchiefs. The 20th, a soma
or junk arrived at Nangasaki from Cochinchina, laden with silk and
benzoin, which last was exceedingly clear and good. The 29th Mr Adams
arrived at Firando, having been seventeen days in coming from Sorongo,
while we had waited no less than forty-eight days for his coming.[12]
After receiving him in a friendly manner, I conferred with him in the
presence of our merchants, as to our hopes of trade in this country.
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