New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-27
A JAPANES Sc EARTHQUAKE ILLUSTRA-
TED.


A ou1oJs specimen Of Chinese illustrative Art may
b. ,een at the rooms of the Society Library, in the
slape Of drawing or painting in colors on Chinese
psper some thirty inches long and ten broad, intended
TO. represent the effect of the earthquake at Smod,
uton the Russian fga,e then at anchor in the hbor.
The artist appears to have taken for his guide de
-rip'ion OF that event published in little Chinese
serial entitled Fa ma 90 wa "Strng Of Pearls from
far and resr."
The prI cipa object is the frgate ITSELF represene
as under the influence of the shock. 1t occ1pes the
lef, htnd half of the drawing the fngates broad.
side with the guns run out lurchng toward the spec
tator, with the bows toward the right, from which run
two cf all cables tangled together, the anchors also
appearing on the surface of the water. Further on,
at the left hand margin OF the drawing, is represented
an isaId IN the harbor of Simoda. The figate shows
the stumus Of two mass and Of the bOwsprt, and on
tie deck are several figures from which and from the
Chinese c aracters placed beside them by way OF elu-
cdaticn, may be suspected that the craftsman was
something Of a wag. Toward the. stern ia fellow
dancing, as it were with both extended at full
length and his sword dying off from him horizontally
with The legend: "Cunningy devised method Of
keeping ones balance" Amidships stands the cap.
TAIN so the legend informs u.s. his legs wide apart, one
fyg in every direction, and bis cooked hat, specially
designated by another legend his, in the air some
twenty feet above his head In front of the captain
is another figure the pOi>t OF falling over back
ward, with the legend " He calls aloud to every one
TO be wary" About the foremast several figures,
making apparently great efforts to clasp it. Near the
bowsprit is a man who holds another by the hands,
that other being raised off his feet and thrown up into
the air horizontally, with repetition Of the legend
"Cuuninply devised method Of keeping ones balance
fellow clrgs fast to the bowsprit, with the legend
"The careful pilot who clasps the mast and vgilanty
regards all dangers. In front OF the frigate is the
legend-"The great war-ship whose steps are tho
sound Of thunder, breaks to pieces" On the water
-"The WAVES which beat against lie ship" and at
the ENLARGEMENT of the chains Thirty five twists in
&" the cable"
Above the anchors " The Storm King isrepre-
.ented in mid-air in full costume, with two long
feathers in his cap the two japanese swords at his
side and long speare, battle ak or something OF the
sort in bis hand. Next comes on the same level,
eutation of hills with four five houses topsy
turvy. and the legend" Simoda destroyed by the
opening of the EARTH In the right-hand corner Is
queer-looking fellow in the japanese costume, mouned
on a queer-looking horse with the legend: An ex-
"press goes up to the Emperor with the dire ineli-
gence on a horse swift as lightning. The horseman
L" is to ride and not tarry moment. In the corner
below IL what to be the imprint or card Of the
publisher: "Fwa Peng, six and Curiosty-shop, No.
" p Lower Bazaar."