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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 March 2011
The following narrative is abridged from a Japanese book called “Nankai Kibun” (Notes of the Southern Ocean), which records the examination by the officials of Ohikuzen in Kiushiu, of a native of that province, named Magotarō, who had been cast away on an island near Mindanao, and, after a captivity of seven years, was ultimately brought back to Japan in a Dutch ship.
page 157 note 1 The roadstead of Yedo.
page 157 note 2 A Japanese junk has one large squaŕe sail, and the sheets, of which there are a number, fastened by rings to the deck, also serve the purpose of reeling-points. ‘ Slacking out the eheete’ is therefore equivalent to ‘shaking out a reef.’
page 160 note 1 A shō of rice weighs about 3⅓lbs. Half a shōis considered a fair allowance for one man per day.
page 163 note 1 The thumb in the gesture language of the Far East means ‘chief’ or ‘father.’
page 165 note 1 Sago.
page 174 note 1 So as to save him trouble in communicating with the Chinese authorities in Foochow.
page 179 note 1 About ⅕th of a gallon.
page 180 note 1 A sextant or an octant?
page 181 note 1 It subsequently appeared that this ship was not French, but Danish.
