INTRODUCTION. 57 



death, cannot be bent in any way. The Japanese to whom I made this observation tohl me 

 that they produced the result by means of a particular powder called Dosia, which they introduce 

 into the ears, nostrils, and mouth of the deceased, after M'hich, the limbs, all at once, acquire 

 astonishing flexibility. As they promised to perform the experiment in my presence, I could 

 not do otherwise than suspend my judgment, lest I should condemn, as an absurd fiction, a fact 

 wliich, indeed, surpasses our conceiitions, but may yet be susceptible of a plausible explanation, 

 especially by galvanism, the recently discovered effects of which also appeared at first to exceed 

 the bounds of credulity. The experiment accordingly took place in the month of October, 1783, 

 when the cold was pretty severe. A young Dutchman having died in our factory at Dezima, I 

 directed the physician to cause the body to be washed and left all night exposed to the air, on a 

 table placed near an open window, in order that it might become completely stiff. Next 

 morning, several Japanese, some of the officers of our factory, and myself, went to examine the 

 corpse, which was as hard as a piece of wood. One of the interpreters, named Zenby, drew from 

 his bosom a santock, or pocket-book, and took out of it an oblong paper, filled with a coarse 

 powder resembling sand. This was the famous Dosm powder. He put a pinch into the ears, 

 another pinch into the nostrils, and a third into the mouth ; and presently, whether from the 

 effect of this drug, or of some trick which I could not detect, the arms, which had before been 

 crossed over the breast, dropped of themselves, and in less than twenty minutes by the watch, 

 the body recovered all its flexibility. 



"I attributed this phenomenon to the action of some subtle poison, but was assured that the 

 Dosia powder, so far from being poisonous, was a most excellent medicine in child-bearing, for 

 diseases of the eyes, and for other maladies. An infusion of this powder, taken even in perfect 

 health, is said to have virtues which cause it to be in great request among the Japanese of all 

 classes. It cheers the spirits and refreshes- the body. It is carefully tied up in a white cloth 

 and dried, after being used, as it will serve a great number of times before losing its virtues. 



" The same infusion is given to people of quality when at the point of death ; if it does not 

 prolong life, it prevents rigidity of the limbs ; and the body is not exposed to the rude handling 

 of professional persons, a circumstance of some consequence in a country where resjiect for the 

 dead is carried to excess. I had the curiosity to procure some of this powder, for which I was 

 obliged to send to Kidjo, or the nine provinces, to the temples of the Sintoos, which enjoy the 

 exclusive sale of it, because they practice the doctrine of Kobou-Daysi, its inventor. The 

 quantity obtained in consequence of my first application was very small, and even this was a 

 special favor of the priests, who otherwise never part with more than a single pinch at a time." 



Titsingh, however, obtained a considerable quantity afterward, whicli he carried home with 

 him in 1784. It has the appearance of sand, and when it is fully perfected for use is as white 

 as snow. It is obtained on the mountain of Kongosen orKinbensen in the province of Yamatto, 

 where there are many mines of gold and silver. The process by which it is prepared is the 

 secret of the priests. Their knowledge is doubtless the result of accidental exjierience ; for 

 their acquaintance with chemistry is so slight that we may safely conclude they do not under- 

 stand the rationale of its preparation. 



Astronomy. — In this science they have made very considerable proficiency. They understand 



the use of European instnmients, and have caused many of them to be very successfully imitated 



by native workmen. Meylan says he saw good telescopes, chronometers, thermometers, and 



barometers, made by Japanese mechanics. They calculate eclipses accurately, and yearly 



8 J 



