Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 6.djvu/228

 Ordinary creditors, too, might make things unendurable for their debtors, by purchasing the services of "sitting duns" who planted themselves in a debtor's house immovably until he discharged his obligation; or of "aids" who resorted to threats and even physical violence in the interests of their employers. The records show that, in 1718, no fewer than 33,037 suits to recover money lent were instituted in Yedo.

In Tokugawa times the demoralising effects of the "benevolent system" which had been so frequently abused by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, were evidently understood, for the custom of periodically drawing the pen through all debts was not adopted. Once, however, at the close of the eighteenth century, the usurious practices of merchants entrusted with the duty of selling "salary rice" had culminated in such distress among the samurai that an official decree annulled all debts which had been outstanding for more than six years, and provided that, in the case of other debts, liability for interest should cease and the principal might be paid off by instalments. Another notable enactment with regard to debt was that of 1843. It provided that in the case of clearly proved obligations eighty days should be allowed for discharging a loan not exceeding £48; one hundred and twenty days for a loan not exceeding £80, and so on up to loans of from £960 to £1,600, for which the period of grace was put at six hundred and fifty days. On the