COAL IN JAPAN. 

 FORMOSA COAL. 



483 



JAPAN COAL. 



"The Formo.sa coal burns freely, leaving but a small amount of ashes and scoria. 

 " The Japan coal produces considerable scoria and ashes. The sample of this coal was taken 

 from the out-croppings of the vein, and will, undoubtedly yield a much superior quality at a 

 greater depth. 



"JESSE GAY, Chief Engineer. 

 " WILLIAM E. EVERETT, Chief Engineer. 

 " Captain Abraham Bigelow, 



'• ' Commandant Navij Yard, New York. ' ' 



Whether the shrewd Japanese supplied an inferior quality to deceive their visitor.?, or 

 whether from ignorance of the article and want of mining skill they innocently brought 

 that which was inferior, cannot be certainly decided ; but as good coal certainly exists in 

 Japan, and as the natives not only use it^ but, according to Von Siebold, know very well how 

 to mine it, the probabilities are that they purposely furni.shed the poorest samples. When the 

 Preble was at Naga.saki, and they saw the armorer on board at work at his forge, they 

 pretended that they did not know what coal was, and actually took a piece on shore as a 



