The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-27
Visit 10 a japanese Family.

The Commodore and his officers were conducted to
the house of the Mayor or chief magistrate Of the town.
This dignitary, with great cordially, met and welcomed
them to the hespitalities of his establishment. The in
terror. was quite unpretending, consisting of a huge
room, spread with soft mats, lighted with oil paper win
dows' hung with rudely executed cartoons, and furnished
with the usual red colored benches. The wife and sister
of the town official soon entered with refreshments, and
smiied a timid wef"ome to the visitors. These women
we're dressed barefooted and bare-legged, and were
dressed nearly alike, in dark colored robes, with much
of the undress look of night gowns, secured by a broAd
band passing round the waist. Their fingers were fat
and dumpy, or at any rate appeared SO, in their ungrace'
full drapery, but their faces were not wanting in express
sion, for which they were very much indebted to their
glis,ening eyes, which were black as we'll as their hair
this was dressed at the top of their head like that of the
men, although not shaved in front. As their ruby lips
parted in smiling graciously, they displayed a row of
black teeth, set in horribly corroded gums. The mar
ried women Of Japan enjoy the exclusive privilege of
gradients, including filings Of iron and sakee, termed
Oho CUR or Camri. This compound, as might naturally
be inferred from it's composition, is neither pleasantly
perfumed nor very wholesome. 1t is so corrosive, that
in applying it to the teeth, it is necessary to protect the
more delicate structure Of the gums and lips, for the
mere touch of the odious stuff to the flesh, burns it at
once into a purple gangrenous spot. n spite OF the
utmost care, the gums become tainted, and loose their
ruddy color and vitality. I'VE should think the practice
was hardly conducive to connubial felicity, and it would
naturally be inferred that all kissing must be expended
in the ecstacy Of counting. This compensation, how
ever, is occasionally lost to the prospective bridegroom,
for it is not uncommon for some young ladies to inau-
gurate the habit of backing their teeth upon the pop
ping of the question.
The effects of this disgusting habit are more apparent
from another practice which prevails with the Japanese,
as with our would-be civilized danes, that of painting
the lips with rouge. The rudy glow Of the mouth
brings out in greater contrast the blackness of the gums
and teeth. The rouge of the japanese toilet, called
bling, is made of the tincho, sous, and is prepared in cups
of porcelain. When a light coat is applied, it gives a
lively red color; but when it is put on thick, a deep
violet hue, which is the most priced, is the result.
The worthy mayor had some refreshments prepared
for his guests, consisting of tea, cakes, confectionery,
and the ever present saki. With the latter was served
a kind of hot waffle, made apparently of rich -four: The
civic. dignitary himself was very active in dispensing
these offerings, and he was ably seconded by his wife
and sister, who always remain on their knees in the
presence of strangers. This position did not seem to
Interfere with their activity, for they kept running
about very briskly with the silver saki kettle, the ser
vices of which,, in consequence Of tie smallness Of the
cups, we're in constant requisition The two ladies were
uncommonly courteous, and kept bowling their heads
like a bohhiug toy mandarin. The smiles with which
they perseveringiy greeted their guests mighthave been
dispensed with, as every NOV sment Of their lips exposed
their horrid black teeth and decayed gums. The may
Dress was ucommonly polite, and was good natured
enough to bring in her baby, which the guests felt