ij6 OSBECK'S VOYAGE. 



they are unable to pronounce all the Swedijh- 

 letters, but pronounce b, d, r, x, z, like p, 

 t > U ft /'■> tne y c ^° not fp ea k alike, and pro- 

 nounce a great many of their words with a 

 ilnging tone. When they are heard fpeaking 

 to each other, one would frequently be induc- 

 ed to believe they were quarrelling, in parti- 

 cular when they fhake their heads, and when 

 they fpeak very loud, which is the cafe on 

 fliip board, and in other great companies; 

 where they far exceed the clamour of our 

 poor eft pot-houfes. 



Paper is made of the inner bark of bam- 

 boo (Arundo bambos) ; it is not at all like our 

 paper, except in colour. Their meets are as 

 large as four of ours. On one fide it is as 

 fmooth as glafs, but not on the other; and 

 for this reafon they always lay their leaves 

 double, and always write or paint on one fide 

 only, and from the right to the left, from top 

 to bottom. The printing paper is as thin as an 

 egg's ikin, for which reafon the letters (how 

 through it. The fine paper which comes to 

 Europe with rhe tea is common enough. A 

 fort of writing paper ftronger than the com- 

 mon writing paper, and which is bought by 

 the name of Macao paper, is to. be had here ; 



it 



