Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-21
The resources Of Japan.

leve, contribute fully as much to the sustenance
of the natives as do the fruits of the earth-rce,
perhaps, excepted One of their productions has |
value which is not confined to, the spot, but ex-
tends to us-to our enterprise, and puE trade
we mean the whale, or as they call j, krdsusi,.
There is nothing Of which such extensive useis
made by the Japanese, both for rich and poor
1t is found all round Japan, but particularly in the
sea Keumano which washes the southern coasts
of the Island Nphon, the most important territory
OF the empire; and it also prevails in the Islands
Tsussima. and Goto, and upon the coasts of Omurr
and Mono. Those whales not only afford OiLin
great abundance, but their flesh, which is very
wholesome and nutritious, is largely consumed.
No part of them, indeed; is thrown away-aA 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, and looks like beef; the irtestines, and oil
the inward parts; besides the fat or budder, (which
is boiled into OIL and the bone (which is convert
ed into innumerable uses-all is made available
to purposes of profit. We have gone into these
few particulars respecting the whale, because it
is that which has brought our countrymen into
, 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 advan-
tage, under commercial treaty with the govern
f ment of Japan, whose inhuman laws at present
not only prevent any assistance being rendered to
g shipwrecked mariners but expose them to positive
, maltreatment, and even to violent death. To OBJ
tain redress in this respect was the primary object
Of Commodore Perry's expedition. .a ,FU 7.a-
: Japan abounds in natural and artificial produc-
. tions of great value. Its mineral riches are enor-
O nous, and include metals Of various kinds, es-
n pecially gold, silver, and copper. Sulphur and
nitre are also found in large quantities.; there is
q no want ofcoal, and there are precious stones of
almost every variety; agates, sapphires. jaspers,
o comedians. and even diamonds, while pearls are
d found in great plenty among the shell upon the
coast. Then the fertility, Of the soil is very
1. great. The muberry-tree grows extensively,
s and affords food for countless myriads of silk
ID worms The Kadsi, or papcr-treee, serves innu-
|. merable useful purposes, including the manulac-
., ture Of cloth. stuAs, and cordage. The cerusi
~ country, yielding large quantities of milky juice
which the natives employ to varnish, or japan as
10 we call it, various articles. Then there are the
bay-trce, the cumphortree, the tig-tree, the cy
~ presstrec, with very many more, all more or less
- valuable, and from which great variety of use
full things are made; and last though not least
i, there is the tea-shrub, from the leaves of which
t,o nh of tho -,
n which is capable of yielding a..valuable article o
"a commerce. Trees growing nuts Of various kind
ID are abundant; the maple is extensive and excel
nd lent; bamboos are very plentiful, and of grea
r. use, as they are everywhere in the Indies; the
cultivate much hemp and cotton as they cal
be find room for in their fields; and as to rice, whic
ot is the main food of the natives that grown in ia
,s pan is considered the best in all Asia, and it
e. be produced in almost any quantity. Their corn
or are of several sorts; besides the komi or ric,
i'm there are the comuggi, kind Of barley; the kot
his muggi, their native wheat; and the dadson,
species of been-all of which abound with super
or FARMS.
The manufactures of Japan have, hthert
e been confined almost exclusively to their own d.
-. mestic wants; but many of tlcm are, neverth
~: less, valuable as articles Of exports. Our ado
;no ton here and Throughout Europe Of the term
ov, pan US applied to certain kinds of vanished war
,a indicates how we'll known has been their pecu
iar excellence, if not their invention Of that US
full art. They make various articles from the P
ho per-tree, resembling our papier machie, viii
~ they paint and varnish on paper, very highl
and these might form objects of considerable trad
,, Their silks, muslins and cotton goods are most
them very superior, and some of them are calc
-. lated to become highly recherche; and their cal
49,. ings in wood, ivory, pearl and ish-bone, are mi
). ingenious and elegant. These are but few
~, the products of their handicraf; but they are S
fcient to show, taken in connection with tn
!. -. natural productions, how varied and how va
:. r. able are the resources of the Japanese. .,
80. To establish, then, Il commercial intercon
- 80: with object, and our heartiest "God-speed" v
pov p go along with every expedition for that purpo
= nor do we consider the difficulties that will of
~" cessity have to be overcome, as by any means
..,. surmountable.--N. Y. Journal of Commerce.
SALT YOUR CH1MNEYs.--In building cf
con- ney, puta quantity Of salt into the mortar v
ue'- which the 7intercourses of brick are to be lal
The effect will be that there never will be-
'ele'y accumulation of SCOT In that chimney. The
le So losophy is thus stated The salt in the por
that of mortar which is exposed absorbs mois
aus from the atmosphere every damp day. The
pro- thus becoming damp; falls down to the fire p
audi rb;s onne,rs 10 he an English discovery. 4
'ortex used with success in Canada. agac1o Z
they - - ~ TT -----.-sc +
iniiu' The following is given as an infal
siaVe cure for hydrophoba; 1 .tru aEstt-
llenge .Tate Of the root Of allacampane, one .
ne for and half cut it fine; then boil il in pi