The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-24
THE DAILY UNION

THE RESOURCES JAPAs-Foremos among the resources
Of japan It's fisheries The and its productions
believe contribute fully much to the sustenance Of the
natives as do the fruits of the earthrce perhaps
ceped One Of their productions has value which il not
confined TO the spot but extends to enterprise
and our tradewe the whale or they call it, kd
surf There Is nothing Of which such extensive use is
made by the Japanese both for rich and poor IL is found
all around Japan but particularly Ia the Keumano
which washes the southern coast of the island Nphon the
most important territory OF the empire and ii also pre-
walls in the islands of Tsussma and Goo and upon the
Of 0mura and Mono These whales not only afford
oil in great abundance but their esh which considered
very wholesome and nutritious, Is largely consumed
No part Of them, indeed is thrown away-all is
made available to some useful purpose another
excepting only the large shoulder bone. The skin which
generally black the flesh which is red and looks like
beef the intesne and all the inward parts besides the
fat bubber, which is boiled into oil and the bone
which is converted into innumerabe uses-a 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 conntrymen into contact with
Japan Many Of ships have for considerable time
past requened those for capturing the whalen
eupaton which it is found might be pursued with great
advantage under commercial treaty with the government
of Japan whose nhuman laws at present only prevent
any assistance being rendered shipwrecked mariners
but expose them positive maltreament and vio-
lent death To obtain redress in this respect the pr
mary object of Commodore Perry's expedition
Japan abounds in natural and artificial productions of
great value Its mineral riches enormous and include
metals of various kinds especially gold silver and copper
Sulphur and nitre also found in large quantities
There is want of coal and there precious stones of
almost every varety-agates sapphires jaspers,
lans and diamonds while pearls found in great
plenty among the shells upon the coast Then the fertility
of the soil is very great The mulberry tree grows extern
svely and affords food for countless myriad Of silk
The hadsi paper tree, nnumerable useful pur
poses including the manufacture of CLOTH sn and cord
age The crus varnish tree is another valuable pro-
duction of the country Yielding large quantities of milky
juice which the natives employ to varnsh Tor japan as
we call it, various articles. Then there the bay
tree, the champhor-tree the fgree, the cypress-tree
with very many more, all more less valuable, and
from which great variety of useful things made and
last though not least there the eashrub from the leaves
of which the drink of the people is brewed, and
which is capable Of yielding valuable article Of
Trees growing various kinds abundan the maple
is extensive and excellent bamboos very PLENTIFUL and
of great use they everywhere in the Indies they
cultivate much hemp and cotton they find room
for in their fields and to rice which the main food Of
the natives that grown in Japan is considered the best in
all Asia and il be produced in almost any quantity.
Their of several sorsbesdes the homi rice,
there the oohaugg kind of barley the koomuggi their
native wheat and the daidsou species of beanall of
which abound with superior farna
The manufactures of japan have hitherto been confined
exclusively to their domestic wants but many of
them are nevertheless valuable articles Of export Our
adoption here and throughout Europe of the term japan
applied to certain kinds of vanished ware indicates
how well known has been their peculiar excellence in if
their invention Of that useful They make various
articles from the paper tree resembling apier-nace
which they paint and yarnh paper very highly; and
these might form objects Of considerable trade Their silks
muslns and cotton goods of them very SUPERIOR
and of them calculated to become highly recherche
and their carvings in wood ivory PEARL and fish bone
most ingenious and elegant These but few Of the
products Of their bandcra; but they sufficient 10
show taken in connexion with their natural productions
how varied and how valuable the of the Ja
panese.