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empire, and in order that they may be known to the people, an official list of their names is published periodically, at Yedo, the capital. The list gives the family name and genealogy of each, as well as the fullest particulars of his family, his wife, the names of his sons' wives, and his daughters' husbands, the number of his residences, the extent and value of his territorial and other property, the uniform of his retainers, the design of his coat of arms, the flag carried on his ships, and the shape and colour of the leather co- vering of his spears of state, carried before him on visits to the Mikado and the Tycoon. A list of Daimios published at Yedo in 1862, stated their number at 266, with incomes varying from 10,000 to 610,500 koban, or from about 15,000/. to 915,500/. The terri- tory of each Daimio forms a sovereignty within itself, governed, in the case of the more powerful magnates, by a Secretary of State, called Karo, and a number of assistant ministers going by the title of Byshing, who are often persons of high rank. It is reported that 'some Byshing are wealthier men than the majority of the Daimios, dwelling in splendid castles, and recognised by the Yedo government.' Each of the great territorial magnates called Daimios being absolute lord within his own territory, and having power of life and death over all his subjects and dependents, certain districts only are under the immediate control of the central Government, and their revenues are assigned to the maintenance of the sovereign rulers of the State, the Mikado and the Tycoon. The influence of the former rose greatly after a short civil war, which came to an end at the commencement of 1869, and the consequences of which to seem tend to the establishment of a monarchy in Japan.

Army and Population.

The armed force of Japan is composed of two distinct elements : — 1. The troops maintained by the Daimios, and destined for the de- fence of their domains. 2. The troops kept by the Tycoon, and constituting the imperial army. The number of Daimios who have troops in their service amounts to 200, and they together maintain an effective of 370,000 infantry, and 40,000 cavalry, forming the Federal army, and placed at the orders of the Tycoon when the independence of the country is threatened. The imperial army, placed under the command of the Tycoon, reaches the nominal figure of 100,000 in- fantry and 20,000 cavalry, but its actual force does not exceed half that amount. The late Tycoon reorganised the force in 1865-66, and it is said to comprise 80,000 men, infantry, cavalry, artillery, and engineers. The infantry is formed into regiments, manoeuvring like the French soldiers, and armed on the same model. A number

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