PREFACE

in the mountains neighboring the city of Nagasaki, for the purpose of investigating herbs that would serve medical uses. The Governor, therefore, did not hesitate to grant me the aforementioned freedom, so that I might collect plants around the city and instruct the citizens in their use, which they themselves might test against encroaching diseases. But after the diary had been read more carefully, it was observed that the surgeon mentioned above The author refers to a predecessor whose records the Japanese officials were consulting had been of a lower rank; for which reason it seemed to them that the same freedom ought to be denied to me, seeing as I was a Chief Surgeon. Such a small matter is often of the greatest importance among the cautious Japanese. Nevertheless, I did not lose heart, but relying on the old proverb, persistent ingenuity conquers all original: "pertinax solertia vincit", I endeavored to teach the Japanese that there was no difference between a surgeon of a superior and inferior rank—that superior surgeons had previously been inferior ones, and that these men would be the successors to a Chief Surgeon upon his death. These and other arguments indeed opened the eyes of the Japanese, but three whole months nevertheless passed by before I could obtain the renewed permission of the Governor, and autumn was already well advanced before I could enjoy that permission during that time of year. Therefore, seeds rather than flowering vegetables The term "vegetabilia" here refers broadly to all plant life could be sought at that time; these, however, having been diligently collected, I sent away on the ships departing for Europe. In this year, 1775, right up until the end of autumn, I undertook one or more excursions every week, and likewise in the following year through the whole of summer and some part of autumn, until I was compelled to board the ship to leave this happy land.