Extracts from Barrow's Travels in China. 



paper manufactories in China, where they are prepared so 

 large as to cover a whole floor. Many old persons and 

 children earn their livelihood, by washing the ink from written 

 paper, which being afterwards beaten and boiled to a paste, 

 is re-manufactured into new sheets, and the ink also is 

 saved from the water, and preserved for future use. 



As to the art of Printing-, there can be little doubt of its 

 great antiquity in China, yet they have never proceeded 

 beyond a wooden block. The nature indeed of the charac- 

 ter is such, that moveable types would scarcely be practica- 

 ble. It is true the component parts of the characters are 

 sufficiently simple and few in number; but the difficulty of 

 putting them together upon the frame, into the multitude 

 of forms of which they are capable, is perhaps not to be 

 surmounted. The power of the pulley is understood by 

 them, but only in the single state, at least I never observed 

 a block with more than one wheel in it. The principle of 

 the lever should also seem to be well known, as all their 

 valuable wares, even silver and gold are weighed with a 

 steel-yard, and the tooth and pin iron wheels are set in 

 motion by a water wheel. But none of the mechanical 

 powers are applied on the great scale to facilitate or to 

 expedite labour. Simplicity is the leading feature in their 

 contrivances for the arts, and each tool answers several 

 different ends. Thus the bellows of the Black-smith is nothing 

 more than a cylinder of wood with a valvular piston, which 

 besides blowing the fire, serves for a seat when set on an end, 

 and as a box to contain the rest of his tools. The Barber's 

 Bamboo basket contains his shaving apparatus, and serves 

 when turned down as a seat for his customers. The Joiner's 

 rule being strong, serves as a walking stick, the chest 

 which holds his tools serves him to work on as a bench. 

 The Pedlar's box and large umbrella serve to exhibit all 

 his wares, and to form his little shop. 



