346 On Smelting Copper in Japan. 



slag and hot coals are removed, an iron pole is used to take it out 

 by adhesion ; its appearance is that of broken tiles, and it is cal- 

 led awashe kane, or alloyed copper. Generally there are 8 parts 

 of copper and two of lead ; but the lead is according to the 

 quantity of silver, if there is much then more is added, if little 

 the lead is reduced. 



Sec. IX. Of separating the lead and copper. — "The alloy- 

 ed copper is put into a Namtnan furnace (so called because the 

 southern foreigners introduced it; it is built of earth), and coal 

 added by degrees as the bellows is worked. A crooked iron rod 

 is used to stir the metal about in the clay, but it must not be al- 

 lowed to become melted so as to run. When the lead is fused, 

 it will flow off, carrying the silver in combination with it. If the 

 zinc is also ready to run off, the workman with his iron rod stops 

 and turns it off so that it may not mix with the lead ; it usually 

 remains just between the lead and copper. When the lead has 

 all run off (i. e. that combined with the zinc), then scoop the 

 zinc up and take it out ; and when both the lead and zinc are 

 separated, sprinkle water and take out the copper; it is called 

 shibori do'd, pure (lit. wrung out) copper. The lead in the hollow 

 place cools and forms a round mass (called shiyuts shiyo, or ex- 

 tracted lead); it still combines silver with it, which does not 

 show itself. Truly this process of separation must be regarded 

 as very elegant ! 



Sec. X. Sinking the lead to extract the silver. — " The first 

 thing in cupellating the silver is to construct an ash-furnace; the 

 foundries of Tenkou and Kaimutsa call it an ash pool, it is made 

 of sifted ashes placed on the earth, having a depression about a 

 cubit wide, and a hollow place in its middle. When the lead is 

 in, coal and fire are put on, and a defense formed of wet ashes 

 like a wall or dyke is built around, leaving a hole in front to 

 work the bellows (as w r ell as to see the state of the fire), on the 

 top of which a cover of a broad tile is closely luted with wet 

 ashes. The bellows is then gradually blown until the fire attains 

 its strength, causing the lead to drop into the ashes, where it 

 forms a mass upon the bottom. The lead is called rvikasii, and 

 is afterwards purified from the ashes. The silver floats in the 

 middle as a small round cake, and is called haibuki gin or ash- 

 melted silver. Such are the rules for extracting the silver. 



Sec. XL Supplement of rinsing the scoria of the copper and 

 zinc — u The separated copper is of the same quality as the re- 

 smelted; it is melted and made into copper rods, and into ingots 

 for hammers and nippers. That cast into square sheets is used to 

 tile houses, the round is made into cups, the oblong pieces are 

 employed in constructing eave-troughs, and the long rods are for 

 making wire. If the lead and zinc are not completely separated 

 the copper will split and crack when hammered ; it is consequent- 



