INTRODUCTION. 51 



exceedingly beautiful, and of wliicli specimens may from time to time be seen in Europe and in 

 this country. It is, said, however, that the best samples never are sent out of the Kingdom. 



Glass. — They know how to make this article, and can manufacture it now for any purpose, 

 both colored and uncolored. Formerly they did not know how to make the flat pane for window 

 glass ; and probably what they make is an inferior article, as they still purchase thick mirror 

 glass from the Dutch to grind into lenses. 



Porcelain. — This they make, and some say in greater perfection than the Chinese can. At 

 any rate, specimens we have seen of Japanese porcelain are very delicate and beautiful ; though 

 some writers tell us, that, owing to the exhaustion of the best clay, they cannot now manufac- 

 ture such as they once could. 



Paper. — Of this they make an abundance, as well for writing and printing, as for tapestry, 

 handkerchiefs, packing cloths for goods, &c. It is of different qualities, and some of it is as 

 soft and flexible as our cotton cloth. Indeed, that used for handkerchiefs might be mistaken for 

 cloth, so far as toughness and flexibility are concerned. The material of which it is made is 

 the bark of the mulberry, (morus papyri/era,) and the process is described as follows : In 

 December, after the tree has shed its leaves, they cut ofi"the branches about three feet in length, 

 and tie them up in bundles. They are then boiled in a ley of ashes in a covered kettle till the 

 bark is so shrunk that half an iuch of the wood may be seen projecting at either end of the 

 branch. When they have become cool, the bark is stripped off and soaked in water three or 

 four hours until it becomes soft, when the fine black skin is scraped off with a knife. The 

 coarse bark is then separated from the fine ; the new branches make the finest paper. The 

 bark is then boiled again in fresh ley, continually stirred with a stick, and fi-esh water from 

 time to time is added. It is then put in a sieve and taken to a brook, and here the bark is 

 incessantly stirred until it becomes a fine pulp. It is then thrown into water and sej^arates in 

 the form of meal. This is put into a small vessel with a decoction of rice and a species of 

 Hibiscus, and stirred until it has attained a tolerable consistence. It is then poured into a larger 

 vessel, from whence it is taken and put in the form of sheets on mats or layers of grass straw ; 

 these sheets are laid one upon another with straw between, and pressed to force the water out. 

 After this they are spread upon boards in the sun, dried, cut, and gathered into bundles for sale. 

 This paper will better endure folding, and last longer than ours. 



Woven fabrics. — Tliey make silk, the best of which is superior to that of China. The best 

 silks are woven by criminals of high rank, who are confined upon a small, rocky, unproductive 

 island, deprived of their j)i'operty, and made to support themselves by their labor. The 

 exportation of these silks, it is said, is prohibited. 



They have but small skill in producing cotton fabrics, though such are made. For many 

 purposes to which we apply cloth of cotton, they use the coarse spongy paper to which we have 

 alluded. They require woollen cloths, for the winters are cold ; but, we believe, they make 

 none. Indeed, they have no sheeii or goats, and therefore lack materials from whicli to make 

 woollen cloths. 



Leather. — They convert the skins of certain animals into this article ; but, as we have stated 

 on a previous page, all those who have anything to do with the making or vending of leather 

 are outcasts from all the rest of the population and universally proscribed. They never apply 

 the article, as we do, to making shoes, or other coverings for the feet. They hardly ever wear 

 shoes or slippers that are not made of plaited straw. Thunberg says the shoes are always the 



