JAPAN. 243 



plied to ufe. Another very cauftic fly is dcfcribeJ by Kaemp- 

 fer *, reckoned by the Japanefe poifonous : it is of a bhie and 

 gold color, enriched with fcarlet fpots and lines. 



'Japan is rich in minerals. Gold is found in various parts of Gold. 

 the iflandj.fometimes in grains wafhed out of the fand ; in other 

 places it is extracted by fufion, from its matrix, or the ores of 

 copper. All the mines of this metal are claimed by the emperor, 

 and none dare work without his permiflion ; when this is obtained, 

 two thirds of the produce are the portion of the emperor, the pro- 

 prietor of the land receives one third for his expences. 



Silver mines abound. Copper is the moft common of all 

 the metals, and the greateft article of commerce wdth the 'Dutch silver 

 TacSlors. All the ore is melted at Saccai or Qjacca^ and there only, Copper. 

 where it is caft into cylinders, about a fpan and a half long, and 

 a finger thick. The fineft ore is dug at Seriiga^ from which the 

 Japanefe feparate and refine a quantity of gold. The coin of 

 Japan is made either of gold, filver, or copper ; thofe of the q^^^ 

 two former are generally of an oblong fliape, rounded at the 

 ends, and infcribed with letters, and the arms of the mint maf- 

 ter, or the emperor, or Dairo. The form of the coins is given 

 by Kaetnpfcr, i. tab. 19. and by I'avernier, part ii. p. 9. tab. 9. 

 p. 10. tab. 10. ; ia the iaft, the fdver coins are irregular at their 

 edges. As to the copper coins, they are round, and perforated 

 in the middle, in order to ftring them for conveniency of car- 

 riage. Som^^ of the gold coins weigh an ounce and fix drams ; 

 and of the filver fevcn ounces. Several of the filver Japanefe 



• Kacmpfer, i. 132. tab. x. fig. 7. 



1 i 2 coin 



IKS. 



