Butte record., 1853-11-12
OPENING OF THE PORTS OF JAPAN.

That evermore shall last.
OPENING OF THE PORTS OF JAPAN. 4
In connection with the recent expedi-
tion of Commodore Perry to Japan, and
the anticipated opening Of the ports of
that almost unknown country to the COM
lnerce of the world, it may not prove un-
interesting to our readers to lay before
them portion of an article upon that ex-
itraordinary country, published short
slime ago in Chambers Edinburgh Jour-
nal, compiled from the memoirs of Capt
,ssolownin, Russian Naval officer, who
'aas kept in confinement in Japan in the
Year 1911. We extract from the S. +.
Herald Omitting the personal narra-
tive, which is too long for our columns, it
is only necessary to state that the Cap
tain was kept in close confinement, but
with good treatment; and a young man
named Teske was sent to him to learn the
Russian language, so as to be able to act
as an interpreter. From this point we
shall commence our extract from Cham
bers;
esolownin, on his part, endcavored to
elicit all the information he could gain
with respect to the numbers, resources,
Government, and religion of this singu-
lar people He found it impossible TO
ascertain the amount ef the population
indeed, it seems it would be very difficult
for the Government itselfto obtain CEN
sus, for millions Of the poor live abroad
in the streets, fields or woods, having no
spot which they can call home. Teske
showed il map of the Empire, having ev-
cry town and village marked OH it; and
though on very large scale it was
thickly covered. He pointed out on it Z
desert, which is considered immense, be-
cause htters take whole day to traverse
it, and meet with only one village during
the journey 1t is perhaps fifteen miles
across. The city OF Yedo was usually
set down by Europeans as containing
100000 Inhabitants but Golownir
was informed that it bad in its principal
streets 2S0,000 houses, each containing
from 80 to 40 persons, besides all the
small houses and huts. This would give
in the whole a population of above lO,-
100000 souls about fourth part of
the estimated population of the country !
The incorporated society of the blind is
alone affirmed to include 36, coo.
The country, though lying under the
same latitude as Spain and Italy, is yet
very different from them in climate At
Matsmai, for instance, which is on the
same parallel as Leghorn, SNOW falls as
abundantly as at St. Petersburgh, and
hes in the valleys from November till
April. Severe frost is uncommon, but
cold fogs are exceedingly prevalent
The climate, however, is uncommonly
diversified, and consequently so are the
productions, exhibiting in some places
the vegetation of the frigid zone, and in
others that of the tropics.
Rice is the staple production of the
soil 1t is nearly the only article issued
instead of bread, and the only one from
which strong liquor is distilled, while its
straw serves for many domestic purposes.
Besides radishes, there is an extensive
cultivation of various other esculent roots
and vegetables. There is no coast with
out fisheries, and there is no marine ami
NAL that is not used for food, save those
which are absolutely poisonous. But
an uncommonly small quantity sufices
for each individual. Ifa Japanese has
4 handful of rice and single mouthful of
fish, he makes savory dish, with roots,
herbs, Or molusca. and it sufiees for
day. support.
Japan produces both black and green
tea f; the former is very inferior, and used
only for quenching thirst; whereas the
latter is esteemed a luxury, and is pre-
sented to company. The best grows in
the principality of Kioto, where it is
carefully cultivated for the use both of
the temporal and spiritual courts. To-
bacco, which was first introduced by the
European missionaries, has spread aston
ishingly, and is so well manufactured
fltat o,,r anti bor cr,ol-oJ - ,r,+l , ILL