Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

White among the Japanese is the mark of mourning, and black that of joy. They mount their horses on the right side. They salute neither with the head nor the hand, but with the foot. In the house they wear their finest clothes, and lay them aside when they go abroad. A Japanese nobleman, when accused and convicted of any crime, would think he disgraced himself did he beg for a pardon, he only endeavours to obtain permission to destroy himself, or to make some one of his friends who is a gentleman, like himself, form the part of executioner.