The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1859-01-29
TIE NORTH CAROLINIAN.
FAYETTEVILLE. N. G..
Japanese Questions.

article on the Japanese from which we make
the following extracts
The middle classes in Japan are all well
educated and highly intelligent, and inspired
WITH "a thirst after knowledge, equally respecta-
bie and admirable in a nation so long debarred
from all opportunities of self development
From their old friends, the Dutch, they have
already learned great deal how anxious they
are TO learn more, is proved by the endless
series of questions they are always propoun-
ding to those from whom they fancy they can
obtain information.
In order to prove what we say by more than
mere assertion. ne u1nscribe here. from q
manuscript placed IN our hands by Dutch
gentleman, many years the chief of the Dutch
factory, some of the queries addressed to him
at different times by Japanese residents of
Nangasak, or other places.
They mostly written-cr rather painted,
as the japanese, like the Chinese, always use
the brush-in bold, clerk-like hand, on Ja-
panese paper, in always Ineligible, and often
tolerably correct Dutch
QUERIES ON DIVERS SUBJECTS
What is the weight of the earth? Can it be
ascertained
Are tie United States Of North America
likely to increase in power aud extent
What are the revenues of England and
Russia
1t is said that Turkey holds no maritime in
tercourse with other nations. What are the
means of subsistence of that nation !?
Is there any land near the Sonth Pole
Can one learn astronomy thoroughly without
going to sea ?
What difference is there in the rigging of
merchant-vessel and mau-of- war?
What sum is requisite for the building of
l;ne-of-battle ship, a frigate, corvette. brig,
a bark, a soop?
What countries make use of steamers at
present !?
&l,.A
helmets
Have they not yet cut through the Isthmus
of Panama
The English are said to have attacked Den
mark and Turkey in 1907, and to have fired
nine thousand shots from their mortars How
many ships and how many mortars had they !?
What was the calibre of their mortars?
How do you obtain food in Europe when
the crops fail ?
The North Americans asserted to be
very Industrious i'll cultivating their soil do
they introduce foreign plants, or only cultivate
Indigenous ones :?
What wars have been waged in Europe since
those of the Emperor Napoleon
What means are best employed for closing
the mouth of harbor against hostile ships j?
Who are the best soldiers, the English or
French
What land has the best system for the de-
fense of its coasts and ports? Explain that
system.
l have been told that they have in Europe
the means of preventing (the effects of thun-
der and lightning what are they2
We are informed that all Europeans trade
with foreign countries, and that they proclaim
honesty, integrity, justice, &C., the duty of
man towards his fellow creatures. Neverthe-
less, they introduce opium, which is univer-
and the trade scenes likely to be profitable.
What is the reason of their so doing Do
they care so much for the commercial interests
of their own nation, that they do not object to
prejudicing other people for their own advan-
tage
Demands, too, were constantly made for
scientific works of all sorts, from Dutch and
English grammars and dictionaries mp to the
more abstruse branches of astronomy and
chemistry. Indeed, the latter, and all the
exact sciences, seem favorite topics with these
intelligent Asiatcs and well-read and clever
foreigners, capable of and willing to afford
them instruction, may be certain of a kind re-
ception among all the better classes in Japan.
This is proved by the personal experience of all
who have resided among them for any length
of time as we'll by their real attachment to all
Europeans whom they have learned to respect.
The ARCTIC F1RMAMENr.-The intense beau
ty of the Arctic armament can hardly be inn
agined. 1t looked close above our heads, with
its stars magnfed in glory, and the very plan
cts twinkling so much as to battle the observa.
tIons of the astronomer. have trodden the
deck whe,: the light Of earth seemed suspended
its movements, its sounds. its colorlngs, its
companionships and as looked on the radiant
hemisphere circling above me- as if rendering
worship to the unseen Centre Of Light, have
CALCULATED in humility of spirit, Lord, what
is man that thou art mindful Of him 2" And
when l tho't of the kindly world We had left.
with its revolving sunlight and shadows, and
the other stars that gladden. it in their chan
ges and the hearts that warmed to US there,
till lost myself in memories of those who are
not. and they bore US back to the stars again
DR.. Kane.
BLACK MAN ELECTED TO A CANADIAN
CouNcIL-The Detroit Tribune says that at a
recent election for councilmen in the township
of Raleigh, Kent County, near Chatham, G.
W., colored man named Shadd was elected,
beating his opponent, a white man, by hand
some majority. Shadd is 6 as black as the acc
of Spades" and figured prominently in recent
slave case as the harborer of the fugitive.
A THREATENED CUBA MAssACRE.-The Hav-
ana correspondent of the Charleston Mercury
saws that the slaves, as usual at the close of
the New Year Holidays, took possession of
the town, and there were rumors that they
intended to close their jubilee by general
massacre of every white person they found on
the streets. The Captain General. however,
had the city police and military patrols instruc-
ted resulting in the arrest of some two hundred