The situation of the Company servants in Japan or China was in sharp contrast with that in India. In Japan the Dutch were isolated on the island of Deshima, in the harbour of Nagasaki, that they were not allowed to leave apart from the annual courtesy visit to Edo, which was made by the chief officer and his following. For the rest they were dependent on the small circle of interpreters. Japanese were not allowed to stay in Deshima either, although there was one exception to this, namely for ladies of pleasure, who the servants could 'order' via the interpreters. Sometimes long-lasting relationships grew up with Japanese women, but children from such a relationship were not allowed to leave Japan and had to remain with their mother.
p. 78
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