Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 4.djvu/200

 seventy tons, and further imposed a method of construction which effectually prevented distant voyages. An interesting conception of the methods of naval architecture followed in his time may be gathered from a coast-defence vessel called the, which he caused to be placed in Yedo Bay. She measured one hundred and eighty-six feet in length; had three decks, the uppermost carrying a species of conning tower and surrounded with pennons and streamers; was without sails or sculls of her own, the intention being to tow her with row-boats, and on the whole showed singular ignorance of the requirements of a fighting machine. Proving quite unmanageable, she had to be broken up ultimately. It is inconceivable that the Japanese, who for years have been navigating distant seas and had acquired some knowledge of foreign ship-building from the British pilot, should have been unable to construct a more serviceable war-vessel. Probably the Ataka Maru should be regarded as a freak of some naval constructor rather than as a type of the best battle-ship of her time. But she had no successors. After her destruction the Tokugawa remained without any pretence of a navy. The trading junk of the era, as modified in obedience to official instructions, was as little capable of navigating the high seas as the Ataka Maru was of fighting. Her stern, standing high out of the water, carried a kind of pavilion; her bow supported an open cabin accom-