J A P A N. 243 



" its fouth eaftern fide, into which the waters rolled with an awful 

 " and tremendous noife. In regarding this ftupendons rock, 

 " which ftood alone in an immenfe ocean, we could not but con- 

 " fider it as an obje6l which had been able to refill one of thofe 

 *< great convulfions of nature, that change the very form of thofe 

 *' parts of the globe which they are permitted to defolate." 



Some- tin is found in 'Japan of exquifite finenefs, almoft Tin. 

 equal to filver, but it is a metal very little ufed. 



Iron abounds in the Japanefe empire ; that likewife is fufed ^ron. 

 into cylindrical forms; it is as dear as copper; moft forts of in- 

 ftruments are compofed of that metal and of brafs ; but they 

 are wife enough to make their culinary velTcls of a compofition 

 of iron. 



Coals abound in 'Japan., but notwithflanding the feverity of Coals. 

 the weather in winter, the inhabitants chiefly ufe charcoal, placed 

 on aflies in a great pot, fo prepared as to prevent any noxious 

 effedl from the fumes. 



That ufeful article, fait, is made from the fea- water, filtrated Salt,- 

 through fand, and then boiled to a proper confidence, and cal^- 

 cined.in earthen pots. 



Naptha is frequent in one part of Japan, The natives collect Naptha. 

 and burn it in their lamps inftead of oil. 



Sulphur abounds in an ifiand called Iivogafima or Sulphur ijle. Sulphur, 

 near the province of Satzuina, Kaempfer gives a curious ac- 

 count of the place. " It is, fays he, not above a hundred years 

 *' fince they firft ventured thither. It was thought before that 

 " time to be wholly inacceflible, and by reafon of the thick, 



* Kaempfer, i. 109. 



*' fmoke 



