338 GENERAL PRODUCTS CHAP. XXVII. 



Kaempfer says, "Gold, the richest of all metals, 

 is dug up in several provinces of the Japan empire. 

 The Emperor claims the supreme jurisdiction over 

 all the mines in his dominions, and demands two- 

 thirds of all that is procured ; but of late, as I was 

 informed, the veins not only run scarcer, but they 

 yield not nearly the same quantity of gold they 

 did formerly 1 ." 



As from all accounts these mines have of late 

 become less productive, it may have arisen in part 

 from exhaustion, and in part from the large share 

 which the Emperor demands, which probably 

 leaves too little to the miners to pay the expense. 

 The whole quantity which Japan contributes to 

 the general commerce of mankind is probably 

 small, especially if the taste still prevails of apply- 

 ing large portions of it to the decoration of the 

 imperial palaces, and to articles of domestic fur- 

 niture. Though it might have appeared negligent 

 to have omitted all notice of Japan, it cannot be 

 thought, especially with our imperfect knowledge 

 of the country, to have any important bearing on 

 the subject of this inquiry. 



On a review of the whole product of Asia, 

 we should hardly estimate its annual amount, 

 making an allowance for Ava, China, and Japan, 

 at more than three hundred and eighty thousand 

 ounces of gold, and two hundred and sixty thou- 

 sand ounces of silver. If the former be valued at 



1 History of Japan, vol. i. p. 107- 



