CHINA. 1751. 229 



inches : the bottom and the fides are likewife 

 of planks. On the ends, which fland out a 

 little, the boards are cut obliquely, and very 

 (harp on the outward edge. The coffins are 

 made fo clofe, that no fmell can come through. 



The Japanners have ready-made bureaux, 

 tea-boards, boxes, &c. befides the work that 

 is befpoken. Thefe men, as well as thofe 

 who work in mother of pearl, and the painters 

 of porcelane, have little boys who are very 

 diligent and a<ftive. That kind of varnifhed 

 work which comes from Japan is reckoned the 

 moft valuable. 



Kilong, or the blackifh-brown thick var- 

 nifh, which is fpread with a broad flifF brufh 

 upon boxes, and other fuch like things, is 

 very hurtful to the eyes. Duhalde fays* that 

 this varniih is made of rofm which exfudes out 

 of trees growing in Setchuen and Kiangfi ; the 

 cleared varnifh is faid to come from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Kanicbeciiy which is one of the 

 moil fouthern cities of Kiang-f. The rofm is 

 gathered as foon as the trees are feven years 

 old. They gather it in the fu miner nights ; 

 and to that purpofe they make incifions in the 

 tr ee, of which the lowed is feven inches from 

 R.3 the 



