94 SCIENTIFIC AND LITERARY NOTES. 
would have been transported out of this Ophir to Macao, and there would have 
been sucha plenty and flow of gold and silver in that town, as sacred writ 
mentions there was at Jerusalem in the time of Solomon. At a later period, the 
Dutch carried on this same traffic to so great an extent that a native political 
economist, writing in 1708 on the subject, computes the annual exportation of 
gold at about 150,000 cobaugs, so that in ten years the empire was drained of 
1,500,000 eobaugs, or about two millions and a half sterling. 
The gold is found in various localities. That procured from Sado has the 
reputation of being the finest, and it is stated that the ore will yield from one to 
two oz. of fine metal per 1$1b. The copper mines in Garonga are stated to be 
very rich, the copper ore raised also being impregnated with gold. The ore from 
Satsuma yields from 4 to 6 oz. per 141b. These are the principal mines. Gold 
dust is found in some of the streams. Copper is superabundant, as is evident 
from the lavish use made of it for ornamental purposes. 
For a long period the Dutch received at Nagasaki (in exchange for their merchan- 
dize) Japan copper. This however, as well as the sale of gold, has been stopped 
for many years. The Government allows no more copper to be produced new 
than is absolutely necessary for home consumption, which is comparatively very 
small. It will be for us to develope more fully one of the most important elements 
in the wealth of this vast empire. 
By the treaty recently concluded, gold and silver eoins may be exported from 
Japan, but not as cargo; the exportation of copper coin, as well as copper in bars, 
is prohibited, but the government engages to sell from time to time at public 
auction, any surplus quantity of copper that may be produced. 
Iron abounds in various parts of Japan. The mines of iron are extensively 
worked, much more so at present than those of copper. Judging from articles of cast- 
ing of their own construction, the ores must be of excellent quanlity. Specimens 
of wrought iron, cast and blister steel, have been examined with very satisfactory 
results. The wrought iron is usually hammered, and in smalljflat bars varying 
from 12 to 20 lbs. each. This is probably to be attributed to a want of proper 
machinery for heavier bars, and its being suited to their purposes. The steel of 
which the swords were composed which we procured at Yedo, was of admirable 
temper and quality. 
Ihave already alluded to the coal mines which exist in the Island of Kinsiu— 
one of them is distant only seven miles from Nagasaki. They are a Government 
monopoly. Hitherto the coal brought for sale since the opening of trade at Nag- 
asaki has been surface eoal, and consequently inferior in quality; it is described 
assmall. It burns slaty, leaving considerable ash, and is very light. There ean 
be little doubt that good coalis to be found in the island, when the minea begin to 
be properly worked. By the treaty of Yedo, coals, zinc, lead, and tin, are to be 
exported, at a duty of five per cent. 
The vegetable productions of Japan, which are most probably destined to be- 
come articles of commerce, are camphor, vegetable tallow, rice, wheat, drugs, 
seaweed, &c. Among manufactured articles we may mention, lacquer ware 
and poréelain, but it is almost impossible at this early stage of our commercial re- 
lations to predict either their character or extent. Immediately on our retura 
