Having Got
This Explanation, We Sent Our Hawsers To The Japanese Boats, On Which
They Fell Stiffly To Work, And Towed Us Into The Harbour.
In the mean
time, the king breakfasted with me, and when I proposed rewarding his
people for towing me in, after we were at anchor, he would not allow
them to accept of any thing.
We now anchored in five fathoms, on soft ooze, so near the shore that we
could have talked with the people in their houses. We saluted the town
with nine guns, but had no return, as there are no cannon at this place,
neither any fortifications, except barricades for small arms. Several
nobles came off to bid me welcome, two of whom were men of high rank,
named Nobusane and Simmadone. I entertained them well, and, at
their departing, they used extraordinary state, one remaining on board till
the other was landed, their children and chief followers using the like
ceremony. There came continually such numbers of people on board, both
men and women, that we were not able to go about the decks. The ship
likewise was quite surrounded by boats full of people, greatly admiring
her head and stern. I permitted several women of the better sort to come
into my cabin, where the picture of Venus and Cupid was hung, rather
wantonly executed. Some of these ladies, thinking it to be Our Lady and
her blessed Son, fell down to worship with appearance of much devotion,
whispering our men, so that their companions might not hear, that they
were Christians, having been converted by the Portuguese jesuits.
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