— 
1860.] ‘New and intersfting Fatis relative to ‘Fapan, by M1. Titfnzh. 22% 
Of the manner ef preparing it Titsinca 
either could not, or would not, give any 
information; neither did he know, whe- 
ther the horn of the fea-unicorn be as 
effeGival an antidote againft the effet&ts of 
the intoxicating liquors ufually drunken 
in Europe. If no other ingredient be 
ufed in the compofition of the powder, ex- 
periments might cafily be made to clear 
up all doubt relative to this circum- 
fance. 
Only one or two gold mines are worked 
in Japan; but then thele are very rich and 
productive, yielding pieces of pure gold 
of the fize of a‘horie’s head. In this ftate 
the gold is dug out of the ground, and 
without undergoing any further procefs or 
purification, tranfported to a firosg caffle, 
where it is preferved in fubterrancous 
vaults, till troublefome times render the 
coining of it neceflary. TitsiNcu pof- 
feffes io complete 2 colleftion of Japancfe 
coins, that they reach back to the com- 
mencement of the prefent epoch, 3. e. Eco 
years before the birth of Chrift. He pot- 
feffes fome, which he believes to be ftill 
more ancient: they are all of gold or 
copper; for filver is in Japan confidered 
only as an article of commerce. The 
jargeft coin im his collection is of an oval 
form, about 6 inches long, 33 broad, and 
2 lines m thicknefs, and milled on the 
edges like our European coins. It con- 
fifts of the purefi gold, and Titsincx 
eftimates its intrinfic value at about 300 
francs. -There are other more ancient 
coins in Japan of fo great rarity, that they 
are purchaled by amateurs 2t the high 
price of from 4 to sco kopans. Tirt- 
SINGH poiefics feveral of thefe, and like- 
wife another curiofity relative-hereto, wix. 
a large Japanefe book, in which all the 
coins from the time of the fir Dairz are 
reprefented. In his copy a Dutch tranifla- 
ticn and feverai interefting remarks, very 
beautifully written by the hand cf the 
father-in-law of the emperor himfclf, are 
adjoined to each article. 
Titsineu’s colletticn of Japanefe cu- 
Fiofities may ferve to give us an idea of 
the degree of perfection which arts and 
{ciences have attained in Japan. To this 
collection, among others; belongs 2 bota- 
nical work in two large volumes, excel- 
ently bound, ornamented on the covers 
with mother-of pearl and torto:fe theil, 
and inclofed im a cale of precious wood. 
Fach Jeat (of the moit beautiful Hik-paper) 
contains the figures of feveral plants of 
different kinds, coloured after nature. 
Stalks, Zowers, irwit, roots, and, in hort, 
every thing to the minute fibres, are 
painted with fuch fkill and fo natarail 
reprefented, that one is tempted to touch 
thems to prove, whether the piasts them- 
felves be not cemented tothe paper. Under 
each plant is an infcription beautifulle 
written, indicating its name and procer- 
ties. The whole was executed by 2 jan 
panefe lady, the wife of the emperer’s 
fir phyfician, who made a prefent of iz 
to the prefent pofleflor. The plants, how- 
€ver, are not arranged according to any 
fyfiem we are acquainted with; and the 
parts of fractification of all are not repre- 
fented, but only of fuch where the pofition 
of the plants rendered them apparen:: but 
there aze no reprefentations and magnified 
ficures of the teparate fexual parts. 
_ Another of his curiofities is a very large 
map of the threz Japaneleifiands, which, 
and elpecially the fecond, are cf greater 
extent than we wiually affen to them, and 
whofe coafis have not quite the fame di- 
re&iion as on ous maps. I 
£ the iflands are laid down accordine te 
and of the chief places, are iferted beiow, 
with numbers referring to the man and to 
a cucumftantial defcription, which is like- 
5 
wife in the pofiefion of Tizsincu. This 
mmi2p was drawn by natives of Japan. - 
A third curiofity is a plan of the city of 
: FE ies : ot wees 
Nengafazi and its environs, £ well Is 
‘Tirsises Lkewife poffefs an illu. 
mined repreientation of a volcano, by. 
whote laf eruption more than three hun- 
Gred thoufand human beings loft their lives. 
The picture of the eruption has been very 
happily executed by the Japanefe artif, 
Between the fames on the middle deck 
vity-of the mountaim a c2fl< is feen, which 
has fuffered as little as its immediately ad- 
joining vicinity, which is fill covered with 
green trees. 
Even admittins that the 
favor he enjoyed at-the emperor's court, 
and his long refidence in the country, may, 
perhaps, have too much prepoficfied Trr- 
SINGH in favour of Janan; yet, the 2p- 
pearance of his work cannot but be ex: 
pxcted with impatience. Criticfm wilh 
then feparate irom it whatever cannot Gand 
the tet, and the intellicest will ficd in it 
frefi materials-to remove obicurity 
which ftill envelopes empire, our 
Knowledge of waich is fill fo limited. 
fer: 
diftinouithed 
imp 42iene 
tece 
tic 
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