The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-23
THE JAPANESE EMPIRE.
Productions Of the Country-Trade and
Com

IVA or sAIr-NArvRAL PRODUCTS; COTTON, SILK,
COPPER, IRON, TIMER, TEA, TOBACCO, HORSES, |
CATTLE, HEMP, LIZA D, TIN, ETC; PEARLS MARBLES, |
PRINTS VEGETABLES BTC.-DONEsTiC ANNALS |
PouLTRy-wILD ANrMALs-BrRDs-FIsu, ETC
STATE OF THE FINE ARTs-FoREIGN TRADE
0psToM nousES--shrGGLIN0 REGULATIONS
CoINs-PArER CURRRNcY--TRADE WITH rHE CHI
MISE AND DUTCH.
iTrom Memoirs Of a Captivity in Japan, by Captain
Golownin, Of the Russian Navy,l
Though the Japanese possessions extend through
only few degrees Of latitude, the climate Of the
country is uncommonly diversified. The cause Of
this is TO be attributed to the situation of the
country. This diversity Of the climate causes
great variety in the productions of the soil The
principaIities of Tzyngaru, Nambu, and the island
Of Matsmai, with other northern possessions whore
the ground is covered with snow about hve months
together, produce many plants that belong to the
figid zone; and in the southern possessions OK
Japan, the fruits Of the tropical climates are found
to flourish.
As had no opportunity to visit the principal
islands belonging TO Japan, cannot speak OF their
productions as an eyewitness, but only repeat
what have heard from the japanese, and describe
what could infer from their way OF life, and what
] of the articles imported into the island OF
Matsmai.
have already mentioned the causes why the
reader cannot expect from any complete descrip-
ton Of the japanese empire; still less can satisfy
the curiosity of naturalist who might wish, per-
hars, that should describe every shell found in
japan Besides the want Of opportunities to ex-
ANIME things myself did not possess the requisite
knowledge 10 observe with the eye Of a naturalist.
The reader will therefore not take it amss If
make my short remarks on the productions of Japan
not according to classes, or systematic arrange
ment for instance, according TO the kingdoms of
nature but enumerate them in succession, according
10 the greater smaller advantage which the in
habitants derive from them. The chief and most
useful productions Of Japan the following: =
Rice. fish, radshes, salt, cotton, silk, copper. lron
timber, tea, tobacco, horses, oxen, hemp and tree
which they call kad2y, gold and silver, lead, quick
silver, and sulphur.
doubt whether there is book in which so many
difleront things are brought under ose head, and
treated in such order however, this does not deter
me, ard consider this order not wholly I'M
natural. Rice is the chief production, and nearly
the only thing the Japanese for bcead it is to
them what rye is to US; nay, il is even more i'm
portant; for there arc many persons IN Russia who
eat rye bread; in Japan, on the contrary, every
body from the monarch to the beggar, lives On
ROE. Besides in all Japan, they make of the straw,
shoes. hats. floor mats in the houses mats for sacks,
and for packing UP goods kind OF writing paper,
and many other things OF less consequence, but use-
ful for domestic purposes. such az baskets brooms,
&c The japanese also extract from rice a kind of
brandy or wine. and the weak liquor called sagi
Fish in Japan what meat is in Europe, and
much more because eat many kinds Of meat and
also FISH, whereas, in Japan. but few people eat
meat, except the priests; and all, without excep-
tion, eat fish Besides, they light their houses
with fsh oil, which is made in great quantities
IN the northern parts Of Japan Only the rich burn
candies
The radsh supplies the place of our cabbage
and is used in soup in various ways; sailed radish
them also instead OF salt, to all their food.
Whole fields are sown with radishes; they are SO
ased 10 radish soup, that scarcity OF this plant
would be very distressing 10 them.
Salt is not only Indispensable for their daily use,
but also for the curing of fish, for their chief
fisheries the coasts of the kurile islands and
Sagaleen, whence many hundred ships annually
bring them to ports of the kingdom of Japan. Two
used to preserve fish, sailing and drying:
but the large fish cannot be so dried MS to remain
long fit TO cat in the warm climate.
Silk and cotton. besides the uses to which they
arc generally applied, supply also the place of
wool, hemp fax, down. feathers, and ftlrs; for
whatever is worn in japan is made OF these two
articles. They likewise make of cotton stuff ira
Yelling coaks, for arms and other things, and
tobacco pouches, which are vanished in such
manner that they may be taken for leather
Copper and iron are as necessary IN Japan as IN
Europe Besides the ordinary uses to which we
apply it, the japanese cover the roofs of their
houses, which they desire particularly to preserve
with corJer, and also cover the outward joints Of
the buildings with the same metal, that the rain
water may not penetrate. Tobacco pipes are also
made of it. a very large quantity of iron is used
for nails for The japanese houses consist OF boards
nailed, within and without, with iron nails, to
upright pillars which are joined by cross beams I:
every little box, too, however uncomfortable, is
fastened together with nails
In Sc populous a country Japan when the fire.
quant and violent earthquakes render it dangerous
erect buildings Of stone, timber may be reckoned
among the chief necessaries of the people.
Tea and tobacco, ii should seem, might be easily
dispensed with; but custom and fashion often opc-
rate strongly nature: next TO food, tea and
tobacco are. above everything, necessary to the
japanese. He smokes his pipe continually, and
sips tea with it, His little pipe is filled every five
minutes, and after a few pufs laid down. Even
during the night, the japanese get up for 4 few
minutes to smoke tobacco and drink cup OF tea,
which to quench their thirst, instead Of beer,
water. and kroSS.
III Ia Zach If al
cattle for food, because they have aversion to
it; but they keep some, well az horses, to draw
burdens.
They manufacture Of hemp the coarse cloth for
woTkmens dresses and for the sails OF their ships;
but they make their cables and ropes OF the bark OF
the tree called kadzy, without using tar or any
other resinoUs matter. Hence their ropes are not
compai able either for strength or durability, with
those made of hemp; but they are good enough
for their limited voyages, In which they are not
exposed to any great storm Besides, the cheapness
OF the materials allows them to have new ropes more
frequently. OF this bark they often make also
thread lamp wicks. kind OF cheap cloth, writing
paper, ard paper for japanese pocke-handkerchiefs
Gold and silver, so FAR as they serve for mag
pifcence and luxury. cannot, indeed, be reckoned
among the necessares of life; but if we consider
the advantage and the means which they afford as
money, for the procuring of neeessaries and the
exchange OF home productions. they must certainly
be reckoned among the chief necessaries Of an en-
Ightened nation, and on this account mention
them here.
Lead tin and quicksilver may also be reckoned
rs chief neeessaries, because they are required in
the refining of gold and silver, and also in the
manufacture of arms, which are used by every
ton that values its independence. For the latter
reason, birthstone comes under the same head.
Rice grows in such great abundance in the middle
part Of the island Of Niphon. that the japanese,
notwithstanding the extraordinary population Of
the country, do not want TO import it. Ii is true
they receive rice from China, bu, only out Of pre-
caution, lest, in case Of scarcity, the Chinese
government should make difficulty to permit
the expectation Of it. and exclude it from the
number Of goods which form the usual articles Of
trade between the two kingdoms The northern
provinces Of japan viz the princT alilies Of Nam
bu and Tzyngaiu, poor in rice, and receive 1t,
for the most part, from other countries; it IS not
cultivated in Matsnai. SachaliR and the Kurile
Islands because it viii not grow account Of the
cold climate. We saw, indeed, pieces Of land sown
with rice in Matsmai in a valley near Chakodade,
but our guards told that il only done for