the capital town or city of the islands of Japan, where the emperor resides. It is open on all sides, having neither walls nor ramparts; and the houses... houses are built with earth, and boarded on the outside to prevent the rain from destroying the walls. In every street there is an iron gate, which is shut up in the night; and a kind of customhouse or magazine, to put merchandise in. It is a large place, and has been said to contain a million of inhabitants, but this is undoubtedly an exaggeration. A fire happened in 1658, which, in the space of 48 hours, burnt down many thousand houses, and in which a vast number of inhabitants perished. The emperor's palace and all the rest were reduced to ashes; but they are all rebuilt again. The royal palace is in the middle of the town; and is defended with walls, ditches, towers, and bastions. Where the emperor resides, there are three towers nine stories high, each covered with plates of gold; and the hall of audience is said to be supported by pillars of massy gold. Near the palace are several others, where the relations of the emperor live. The empress has a palace of her own, and there are 20 small ones for the concubines. Besides, all the vassal kings have each a palace in the city, with a handsome garden, and stables. The houses of the common sort are nothing but a ground floor, and the rooms are parted by folding skreens; so that they can make the rooms larger or smaller at pleasure. It is seated in an agreeable plain, at the bottom of a fine bay; and the river which crosses it, is divided into several canals. E. Long. 139. 40. N. Lat. 35. 45.