S66 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 166q. 



pears, and particularly pippins, bon-chretien pears. Besides these, there is an 

 infinity of other fruit ; but hardly any but what are also found in some part or 

 other of India. Silver is there in its highest perfection, but not used in trade; 

 in which is seen nothing but gold, and some small coin of brass; which latter 

 they spoil by refining it too much. Steel also is there very good. The temper 

 of their metals was formerly better than it is now; but yet they make cutlasses, 

 or short swords, exceeding good. The great mountain of Japan is higher than 

 the Peak of Tenerifl^, since being above 1 8 leagues distant from the sea side, it 

 may be seen above 40 leagues off at sea. There are 8 volcanoes or fire spitting 

 mountains in Japan ; and you cannot go into the champagne, but you discover 

 some of them. There are many medicinal waters and hot springs there, which 

 the inhabitants use in their distempers. They have particular medicines ; but 

 they let no blood. They make much use of caustics, by applying upon some 

 nerve or other the powder of Artemisia or Mugwort, and cotton, which they 

 set on fire. They always drink their liquors warm. There is so great a store 

 of venison in Japan, that they care little for cattle, though there be no want of 

 them. They employ most oxen for ploughing; and they make no butter nor 

 cheese, nor are they lovers of milk. They have great plenty of corn and rice. 

 The Japanese are proper enough of stature, and not uncomely in features ; they 

 have somewhat prominent bellies. They are exceeding active, and want no 

 judgment ; they are also military and valiant. No arts are to be met with 

 among them, that are not known in Europe, except that of making lacca, of 

 which there is some so fine and curious, that whereas in this country one may 

 buy an ordinary small box for 3 or 4 crowns, one of the same size, when made 

 in Japan of exquisite lacca, will sell for more than 80 crowns. The colours 

 with which they dye their stuffs never fade. I have seen one of them which 

 our vermilion and couleur-de-feu come not near to. It is extracted out of a 

 flower like saffron, and one pound of it costs an incredible price. To try whe- 

 ther the colour will not change by lixivium or lye, they apply a hot iron to it ; 

 and if there it holds, they assure themselves of the durableness of the colour. 

 They have mathematicians among them, and believe judiciary astrology, inso- 

 much that the grandees undertake nothing without preconsulting those that 

 make profession of that art. Japan yields divers sorts of good merchantable 

 commodities ; but chiefly all sorts of silken stuffs, unwrought silk, amber, pre- 

 cious stones, musk, copper, steel, lackwork. The country is very well peopled, 

 and exceeding rich, being well stored with gold mines; and I have seen some 

 of the gold ore, of which 10 ounces yielded 8 of the highest fineness, and pieces 

 of the weight of 120 marks. Their buildings are very good and commodious. 

 The apartments are all below on the ground, separated from one another by 



