Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-07-23
The ReSnurceS Of Japan.

Foremost among the resources Of Japan are the
fisheries. The sea and its productions, believe,
contribute fully as much to the sustenance Of the
natives as do the fruits ofhe earth rice perhaps
excepted One Of their productions has a value
which is not confined to the spot but extends 20
us-tO our enterprise, and to our trade-we mean
the whale or as they call it, kudSuTi. There IL
nothing OF which such extensive use Is made by
the Japanese, both tor the rich and poor. Ii l.
found ali around Japan, but particularly in the
sea Of keumano, which washes the southern coast
Of the island NiphOn, the most important territory
of the empire; and also prevails in the Islands Of
TsuSsima and GOtO, and upon the coast of Omura
and Mono. These whales not only afford oil IN
great abundance but their flesh, which Is consider
ed very wholesome and nutritious, is largely con-
sumed Indeed no part Of them is thrown away
all is made available TO some useful purpose or
another excepting only the large shoulder bone.
The skin, which Is generally black the flesh, which
is red aud looks like beet the intestines and all
tho inward parts besides the fat and blubbeF,
which is boiled into OIL and all the bone which is
converted into purposes Of profit. We have gone
into these few particulars respecting the whale, be-
cause IL Is that which has brought our eOuntrYmen
in contact with Japan. Many Of our ships have
for some considerable time past frequented thoSe
seas for capturing the whale, an occupation which,
it is found might be pursued with great advantage,
under a commercial treaty with tbs government OF
y
prevent any assistance being rendered TO ship
wrecked mariners, but exposes them to positive
maItreatment, and even to violent DEATH To OF
tain redress in this respect the primary object
Of Com. Perry expedition.
Japan aboun,Is in natural and artificial prOdac-
tjons of great value. It's mineral riches are en0r
nous and include metals OF various kinds, especI-
| ally goid. silver aud copper. sulphur and Eitre
are also found in large quantities there is 10
! - of roaI and there are precious stones Of al
most every variety; agates, sapPhires aspers, cor
uol;ons. and even diamonds while pearls are found
! IN Great plenty among the shells on the coast
Then the fertility of the soil is very great The
| mulberry tree grows extensively, and Chords food
for countess myriqds Of siIk-wOfaS The ktiISi or
papeI free serves innumeralle useful purposes 6n
Guiding the manufacture Of cloths, stuiEs and eo,
dage The eerusi, or varnishtTee is another valg.
able production Of the country, yielding large
quantities Of milky juice vhich the natives employ
to varniSh,-idpaR as we call it-varieHs ARTICLES
Then there are the baytree, the eamphor-tree, the
ig-tree, the cyPreSs-tree, with many more or less
valuable, and from ;ghich great variety Of use
fh articles are made and last, though not least,
there is the teashFub from the leaves Of which the
common drink OF the people is bFewei and IS capa-
BILE of yielding valuable artie!e Of commerce
Trees growing nuts Of various kinds are abundant
the maple is excellent and extensive bamboos are
very plentiful and Of great use they are every
where in the Indies they cultivate as mueh heints
and cotton as they can hnd room Tor 'n tner heids
I and rs 10 rice which Is the NAL lOot O' lhe ha-
| Tvs tbat grown in japan is considered ibe best
| III a 20 and can be produced M almost any
| ..s1s,;t, Their e0rns are OF several sorts; be-
| - ne ko1aI or rice, there are the OOnHggi, a
I;nJ of barley the kO0sUggi their native wnezt
md the daidsou, a species Of bean,-all OF which
abound with superior farina.