JAPAN.VIXG. 257 



\\hite of a great clearness of other colours is in 

 question, should be itself white ; whereas the 

 browner sorts of polishing-dust, as being cheaper, 

 and doing their business with greater dispatch, 

 may be used in otlier cases. The pieces of work 

 to be varnished should be placed near a fire, or in 

 a room w here there is a stove, and made perfectly 

 dry ; and then the varnish may be rubbed over 

 them by the proper brushes made for that pur- 

 pose, beginning in the middle, and passing the 

 brush to one end, and then with another stroke 

 from the middle, passing it to the other. But 

 no part should be crossed, or twice passed over, 

 in forming one coat, where it can be possibly 

 avoided. When one coat is dry, another must be 

 laid over it ; ^nd this must be continued at least 

 five or six times, or more, if, on trial, there be not 

 sufficient thickness of varnish to bear the polish, 

 without laying bare the painting or ground colour 

 underneath. 



When a sufficient number of coats is thus laid 

 on, the work is fit to be polished ; which must be 

 done, in common cases, by rubbing it w^th a rag, 

 dipped in tripoli, or rotten-stone, finely powdered ; 

 but, towards the end of the rubbing, a little oil of 

 any kind should be used along with the powder ; 

 and when the v/ork appears sufficiently bright and 

 glossy, it should be well rubbed with the oil alone, 

 to clean it from the powder, and give it a still 

 brighter lustre. 



In case of white grounds, instead of tripoli, or 

 rotten-stone, fine putty, or whiting must be used ; 

 both of which should be washed over, to prevent 

 the danger of damaging the work, from any sand 

 or gritty matter that may happen to be mixed 

 with them. 



VOL, lu s 



