458 



EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



various manufactures. The people seemed, however, to be unacquainted with woollen tissues, 

 and exhibited great curiosity in examining the cloth dresses of the Americans. Cotton is much 

 worn by the lower classes, and is generally coarsely woven, being ordinarily made in private 

 looms at home. Every Japanese woman is more or less an adept at handling the wheel, the 

 spindle, and shuttle, and they were often seen busy in preparing the threads and weaving the 

 rude fabric of which the garments of the poorer classes are commonly made. 



Their cottons are occasionally printed with colors, forming neat calico patterns, but their tints 

 readily fade and will not bear washing. The width of the calico pieces, like that of the silks 

 and crapes, is uniformly eighteen inches. This is not suited to an American or European 

 market. Their silks are rich and heavy, and somewhat like our brocade in texture, but stouter 



*%'^w'<Wft-S'^" ''■'''■ 



Spinning and Weaving. 



and less flexible. They are often of very elaborate figured patterns, interwoven with golden 

 threads and exceedingly beautiful. These are mostly used for the state robes of the high 

 officials and dignitaries of the land. A very high price was generally demanded for these silks, 

 though, in one instance, one of the officers, from some cause or other, purchased a piece at 

 Hakodadi at thirteen cents per yard. The various colored crapes are some of them very flimsy, 

 and are an essential part of Japanese upholstery, being often seen as coverings to divans or 

 seats, and hangings to apartments. Other pieces are superior to Chinese crapes. 



The lacquered ware has all the lightness, neatness of cabinet-work structure, and exquisite 

 polish, tliat seems possible in work of that description, aud the porcelain is equal to the 



