Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-08-17


its fisheries. The sea ard its productions, we
believe contribute fully as much TO the susie
nance Of the natives, as do the fruits Of the
earth-rlce, perhaps, excepted One Of their
productions has value which is not confined
TO the spot, but extends 10 us-t0 our enter
prize, and our trade,--we mean The whale or
as they call il kudsuri. There is nothing or
which such extensive use y pade By the jan
anese, both for rich and poor. 1t is found All
around Japan, but particularly in the sea
keumano, which washes the southern coasts Of
the island Niphon, the most important territory
Of the Empire; and il also prevails in the
islands Tsussima and Goto, and upon the coasts
of Omura and Mono
These whales not only afford oil in great
abundance, but their flesh, which is considered
very wholesome and nutrous, is largely con-
sumed. No part Of them, indeed, is thrown
away-all is made available 10 some useful
purpose or anulher. excepting only the large
shonlder bone. The skin, which is generally
black, the flesh, which is red, and looks like
beef, the iniestlnes, and all the inward pats :;
besides the fat or blubber, which is boiled
into oil, and the bone, which Is converted ~
numerous uses all is made available 10 pur-
poses Of profit. We have gone into these few
particulars respecting the whale, because il is
that which has brought our counirymen into
contact with Japan. Many Of our ships have
|
for some considerable time past, frequenled
those seas, for the purpose Of capturing the
whale, an occupation which, it is found, nigh,
be Psrsned with great advantage, under com
mercIal treaty with the government Of Japan.
whose inhuman laws at present, not ony pre-
vent any assistance being rendered 10 ship
wrecked mariners, but expose them 10 positive
maltreatment, and even to violent death. TO
obtain redress in this respect, was the primary
object of Commodore Perry's expedition.
Japan abOunds in natural and artificial pro-
auctions o: great value. It's mineral riches are
enormous, and include metals of various kinds.
especially gold, silver, and copper. Sulpher
and nltre are also found in large quantities !;
there is no want Of coal, and there are precious
stores Of almost every variety; agates, sap
phires, jaspers comedians, and even dia-
monds; white pearls are found in great plenty
fertility OF the soil is very great The null
berry-tree grows extensively, and affords food
for countless myriads Of silk worms. The
hddSi, or paper-tree. serves innumerabIe pur-
poses, including the manufacture of cloth,
sIuhs, and cordage. The cerusi, or varnish-
tree, is another valuable production Of the
country, yielding large quantities Of milky
juice, which the natives employ to varnish, or
Japan, as we call it, various articles. Then
there are the bay-tree, the camphOr- the
fg-iree, the cYpress-tree, with very many more,
all more or less valuable, and from which
great variety of useful things are made and
last, though not least, there is the tea.shrub,
the people is brewed, aud which is capable of
yielding a valuable article of commerce. Trees
growing nuts Of various kinds are abundant :
the maple is very extensive and excellent !;
banboes are very plentiful, and Of great USE
as they are every where in the Indies. they
cultivate as much hemp and cotton as they can
find room for in their field, aud as 10 rice,
which is the main food Of the natives, that
grown in japan is considered the best in Asia,
and il can be produced in almost any quantity
Their corns are of several SORTS besides the
hOm', or rice, there are the OOmuggi, kind Of
barley: the koomuggi, their native wheat !;
and the ddidson, peces of bean, all Of which
abound with superior farina.
The manufacturers Of Japan have, hitherto
been confined almost exclusively TO their own
domestic wants (; but many Of them are, never
theess, valuable as articles of export Our
tenn japan as applied TO certain kinds Of warm
shed ware, Indicates how well known has
been their peculiar excellence in, If not their
invention Of. that useful art. They make vari-
ons articles from the paPer-iree resembling our
papier-mache, which they paint, and varnish,
on paper, very highly-and these might form
objects Of considerable trade. Their silks,
muslin and cotteD goods are most IF them very
superior, and some Of them are calculated to
become highly recherche ; and their carvings in
wood, ivory, pearl, and fish-bone, are most in
genious and elegant.
These are but few Of the products Of their
handcrait; but they are enough to show, taken
in connection with their natural productions
how varied and how valuable are the resources
Of the Japanese.
To establish then, commercial intercourse
with such country were surely most i'm
porlant object; and our heartest God-sPeed
will 60 along with every expedition for tha
purpose nor do We consider the difficulties
that will Of necessity have to be overcome a.
by any means insurmountable. of Com
Gas for Country use.
By a recent invention. peOple living in town.