Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-07-01


ing establishments, the machinery Of which
Was sometimes moved by water, and some
times by steam, of all of which they wcro
totally ignorant. They we're told the hills
and mountains were as we'll adapted to sheep
as goats, if they preferred the sheep. and that
great advantages to all classes Of people were
sure to accrue from their introduction The
Interpreter who made the inquiries was the
highest in Office, and having daily intercourse
with the Governor, was certain, as knew,
to report whatever was said in the school /;
indeed, he had doubtless been directed by
the Governor himself 10 make the inquiries
Nothing more was said, and the subject
was dismissed from my thoughts, as ] sup
posed nothing would be done, or indeed could
be done, till an indefinite future. What,
then, was my surprise as well as qualification,
when the Governor sent a request TO the pur-
ser of our ship, with the money, just as we
were leaving 20 purchase one hundred sheep
for him in Shanghai, and forward them to
Nagasaki The purser cheeriully undertook
the commission. and succeeded in purchasing
the full number, all fine, large animals for
So per head. An American vessel being
about TO sail for Nagasak, the first American
herchantman which ever entered that port,
the flock was Immediately sent on to the Cow
ernor. who did not. however, buy them for
his own benefit, but for his country. How
he reasoned it out that the sheep was prefer
able to the goat could never ascertain but
the fact shows that good common sense, and
cool. deliberate judgment Of the Japanese, on
which have before remarked.
Thus. the introduction of sheep into Japan
is altogether an American operation. from the
suggestion to the cnusummatiun and ID he
deserves well of his country who makes two
blades of grass grow where only one grew
before, he also may be allowed some satis-
faction who introduces the sheep into an en-
pire of 40,000,000 of people to feed down
the luxuriant grass which has grown uselessly
and for untold ages, upon thousand noun
tains and ten thousand hills. So much for a
talk upon sheep in my schooi-room in the
Russian Bazaars in Nagasaki, the results o.
which, in the comfort. the habits, and general
improved condition of The people, can hardly
be over estimated when it is remembered
that not one man in dfty, as ! was told, cats
or ever tasted of animal food. except wild
game and fish, and when % fabric suitable for
winter clothing for the masses is not to be
found.
/ of writing exercises in English, as the best
method Of mastering the language, instead
of merely conversational smat:ering in it.
Great labor was required in teaching the
proper arrangement of words in the construc-
tion of sentence so different is the japanese
collocation from our own, while much patient
drilling was needed in punctuation, Of which
they seemed 60 have no knowledge The
] 4 L L.. Ill 49,
in writing their exercises. aud India ink in
stead of our own, while the paper was made
from the bark of a tree called the paper tree,
a species Of mulberry; but SO soft and spongy
was the paper that common pen could not
be made to move over it without blotting or
tearing it in pieces. SILL resting the hand
on the rist, and holding the pencil nearly per-
! pendicular. they not only write with great
rapidty. but in a round, manly, and even
graceful hand, so perfect that one would think
they had never written any but the Roman
characters. There was not poor hand in
/ the whole number.
These exercises have so much interest,
both as curiosities, being the first compost
ton in the English language ever attempted
by the Japanese. and also as illustrations of
Japanese talent in the rapid progress made
by the students, that selection from them
shall be sent to the journal of Commerce. in
every particular however minute, just as they
came from the hands of the young men.
AS before intimated, the great object in
taking upon me so severe a labor was to as
certain the state of the japanese mind towards
Christianity, and by these gratuitous services,
make, if possible, an impression on the young
men and the Japanese officials favorable to
the attempts certain to be made and soon to
be made, to re-introduce Christianity 1t
was not wise to introduce the subject of
| Christianity at once and bluntly.
The Japanese are remarkable for their
courtesy and regard 10 others feelings and
they would have been disgusted if not exas-
perated by anything bearing the appearance
of rudeness. ! waited, therefore, till | had
secured the confidence of the Governor, and
the confidence and | may add, the affection
Of the young men, nor even then did | make
an onslaught. but as before remarked, waited
for incidents or inquiries which should make
the religious turn Of the instruction natural
and inevitable, and throw the responsibility,
ii anywhere, upon the Japanese themselves.
Soon an opportunity was presented by the
questions asked by one Of the students, when
the words church, pulpit organ and choir oc-
Cured in one Of the reading lessons. This
led to an explanation of the form Of church
ediice, the Sabbath, public worship, the sing
ing in the church, the construction of an or
gan, and the manner Of playing it, the preach
er and what he preached and the happy eff
fects of preaching upon those who heard and
obeyed it.
Thus Christianity in all its doctrines and
duties was expounded at their own request,
and to which they listened with undivided
aud untring attention. Having stated what
there was in the church. it was natural to re-
mark what there was not in it. There were
no idols, as in the Japanese temples so thick
around us God is a spirit. God is like the
mind or the soul, in man, which lhas power,
/ thinks, and feels, but which cannot see, or
! touch, or hear. No statue or picture, there
4 fore, can represent God. | asked them Just
I to look at their idols how ugly, how stupid
I they are. which know nothing and do nothing
and instead Of helping those who worship
| them, cannot even help themselves. For
they can be kicked they can be thrown into
the streets and be broken in pieces, and yet
cannot prevent it or even resist it! How alb
/ surd, then to make them, and more absurd to
worship them.
The students listened attentively, and ev-
IDENTIFY were convinced for as | have before