492 
VOYAGE TO THE 
their vessels go to Fochien, which they call Wheit-yen, and sometimes 
to Pekin. Commerce between Japan and Loo Choo is conducted 
entirely in Japanese vessels, which bring hemp, iron, copper, pewter, 
cotton, culinary utensils, lacquered furniture, excellent hones, and 
occasionally rice ; though this article when wanted is generally supplied 
from an island to the northward belonging to Loo Choo, called Oo- 
shima; but this is only required in dry seasons. The exports of Loo 
Choo are salt, grain, tobacco, samshew spirit, rice, when sufficiently 
plentiful, grass hemp, of which their clothes are made, hemp and 
cotton. In return for these they bring from China different kinds of 
porcelain, glass, furniture, medicines, silver, iron, silks, nails, tiles, tools, 
and tea, as that grown upon Loo Choo is of an inferior quality. Several 
other articles of both export and import are mentioned by Supao-Koang, 
such as gold and silver from F ormosa, and iron from China ; among 
the former, mother of pearl, tortoise shell, bezoar stone and excellent 
hones. The last-mentioned articles, however, if found in Loo Choo, are 
certainly not very plentiful, as they are carried thither from Japan ; and 
An-yah denied there being any mother of pearl there. This trade is 
conducted in two junks belonging to Loo Choo, which go annually to 
China ; and they have besides these their tribute vessel. 
The trade with Japan appears formerly to have been limited at 
125 thails (tael of Canton), beyond which nothing was allowed to be 
sold. The goods carried to that country consisted of silks and other 
stuff's, with Chinese commodities, and the produce of their own country, 
such as corn, rice, pulse, fruits, spirits, mother of pearl, cowries, and 
large flat shells, which are so transparent that they are used in Jaj)an 
for windows instead of glass *. 
Their manufactures do not appear to be numerous, and are pro- 
bably only such as are necessary for their own convenience. I have 
spoken of the rude hand-looms in use, the spinning-wheel, and the 
mills worked by cattle ; these were the only machines we saw, though 
it may be inferred they have others. A short distance to the south- 
ward of Napa-kiang I was told there was a paper manufactory, and 
* Ksempfer’s History of Japan, p. 381. 
