The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-06-23
The sesnurces of gapam.

licve, contribute fully much 10 The sustenaEc
f Of the natives. do the fruits of The earth-rcf
perhaps, excepted. One Of their productions ia
a value which is not confined TO the spot, but eS
tends to us-to enterprise and our irade-w
mean The whale, or, as they call it, "kndsuri."-
There is nothing Of which such extensive use
made by the Japanese, both for rich and poor.
is found all around Japan, but particularly IN tn
sea OF Keumano, which washes the southern coas
of the Island Niphon the most important territory
of the Empire; and it also prevails in the Islands
Tsusma, and Goto, and upon the coasis OF Omurt
and Nomo These whales not only afford oil II
great abundance, but their flesh, which is consid
ercd very wholesome and nutritious, is largely
consumed. No part of them, indeed, is thrown
away-a is made available to some useful pur
pose another, excepting the large shoulder
hone. The skin, which is generally black, the
! flesh, which is red, and looks like beef, the intcs-
tines, and all the inward parts-besdes the fat or
blubber, which is boilt d into oil, and the bone
| hlch is converted 10 innumnrabe uses-all IS
made available TO purposes OF profit. We have
gone into these few particulars respecting tho
| whale, because it is that which has brought our
countrymen into contact with Japan. Many OF
our ships have for some considerable time past fre
quenIed those for capturing the whale, an oc
cupatlon which, il is found, might be pursued
with great advantage, under commercial treaty
with The Government Of Japan, whose inhuman
laws at present not only prevent any assistance
being rendered to shipwrecked mariners, but
pose them TO positive ma-trea:meant, and even 10
violent death. 70 obtain redress in this respect
was the primary Object OF Commodore Perry's ex-
pedi'ion.
Japan abounds in natural and artificial produc.
lions OF great value. lis mineral riches enor-
NOUS ana include metals of various kinds, especi-
ally gold, silver and copper. Sulphur and nitre
are also found in large quantities there is no
want OF coal, and there precious stones Of al
most every variety; agate, sapphres, jaspers, cor
neIians, and even diamonds; while pearls are
found in great plenty among the shells upon the
coasts. Then the fertility of Tie soil is very great.
The mulberry tree grows extensively, and affords !
food for countless nyrhds Of silk worms The |
kads or paper tree, innumerabie useful
purposes, including the manufacture of cloth, stuf1s ;
and cOrddge. The csTuS1, or varnish tree, is an
other valuable production Of the country, yielding
arge quantities of a milky juice which he natives
employ 10 varnish, or japan we call it, various
articles. Then there the bay-tree, the cam
'hor-rec, the fgtree, the cypress-tree, with very
many more, all more less valuable, and from
Which a great variety Of useful things made
md last, though not least. there is the shrub,
rom the leaves Of which the common drink Of the
'eoPle IS brewed, and which is capable OF yielding
valuable article OF commerce. Trees growing
uts OF various kinds abundant; the maple is
xtensve and excellent; bamboos are very plen-
u' and of great use, as they everywhere in
he Indies; they cultivate as much hemp md cot
On as they can find room for in their ields and
S TO rice: which is the main food Of the natives,
hat grown in Japan is considered the best in all
A$Ia, and 1t can be produced in almost any
uanlty. Their corns Of several sort; besides s
le E0ma, or rice, there are :he oomucoi, kind .
barley; the Ao0mueel, their native wheat; and I
'e @a'"son, species Of bean,-a Of which a. |
ound with superior farna. d
1 he manufactures Of Japan have, hitherto, been Il
onhned almost exclusively 10 their domes- 4
C wants; bat many of them are, nevertheless, Fl
nluabIe as articles Of export. Our adoption here a
nd throughout Europe of the term "japan'' as a
oplIcd 10 certain kinds Of varnished ware, indi- "
'ies how welIknown has been their peculiar * is
sIience IN, If not their invention Of that useful O
I. lhey make various articles from the paper 81
ee' resembling our ''Papier. mache,' which they o
I'M and VarnIsh, on paper, very highly, and ft
csc might form objects Of considerable trade a
he silks, muslins, and cotton goods are most Of W
EN- very superior, and some Of them arc caIcu d.
ted 10 become highly "recherchr;'' and their bt
rvIngs IN wood, ivory, pearl and fish bone are pc
ost ingenious and elegant. These are but few in
the products OF their handIcraf, bur they re suc r
lent 10 show, taken in connection with their ma.
ral productions, how varied and how valuable
E the resources Of The Japanese p,
10 establish, then, u CONNIE rcial intercourse ! sa
Ia such q country, were surely most impor.
1t object; and our hear: "God speed" will 90 az
'ng with every expedition for that purpose, nor r.
we consider the difficulties that viii Of necesity W
We TO be overcome, as by any means insurmount- ce
Of Commerce.. br
.~--..-~ ITS
Y UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CARoLINA.-Thc Com. fir
ncement of this institution on The Is, inst was TEL
naiIzen by the attendance Of Messrs Reid. in!
ain, Branch, Graham, Morehead and ManIv.- pc
p whom have filled the Guberna,nria chair OF We
rth Carolna-and Governor A. V. Brown of flu
nnessee. The latter gentleman delivered the oil
lual address,. Eighteen young gentlemen de- in,
m"d on "Wednesday morning and evening and pIa
the following day seventeen orations we're pro- me
lnced by members Of the Graduating class an
c degree OF l.. l.. d. conferred upon John the
ndoiPh Clay, Envoy To Peru; that of ID. ID COZ
N Albert Smrdes and Eli W. Caru,hers. of ra,
rth Carolina; Master OF Arrs upon nius Grad. the
es, and Bachelor of Aris upon sixty graduates TIM
arge number Of distinctions were awarded ia set
nbers oil The various cIass"s mil
----~. she
! HARD HIT.-Henry Ward Beecher saws be ant
ms to vote against the Nebraska bill. thoupb at
ballot-boX should be placed in the i,ws of the
II. till
o this the Wheeling Argus replies. that ever. flee
! has right TO vote in his precinct. mig
-onr., fire