A Few Facts About Japan [pp. 459-464]

A FEW FACTS ABOUT 7APAN.
among her hills, and nowhere else can cy-a sort of pasteboard token-which
there be found such a splendid assort- is easily counterfeited. These moneyment of conifers. The finest specimens tokens range in value from six cents to
of wood-work ever produced are known $5oo. They are neither numbered nor
to have been made in Japan, and some registered, and confusion worse conof the finest grained timber in the world founded reigns supreme in the finances
is to-daygrowing on the mountain slopes of the country. The genuine currenof this, as yet, little known country. cy amounts to upward of $30,ooo000,000.
Japan is poor in the precious metals, How much counterfeit money there is
never having recovered from the almost in circulation can not be told, but cerentire depletion of gold she suffered im- tainly a very large amount, which ultimediately after her ports were thrown mately the poor people must lose. A1open to Western commerce, when tons together, Japan, at present, may be conupon tons of the yellow precious metal sidered close on the verge of financial
was sent out of the country, before the ruin; and it is fervently hoped, by the
simple people knew that it was worth friends of this struggling empire, that the
more than silver. During her long iso- late visit of the Japanese Finance Comlation of near three hundred years from mission to our rulers at Washington may
all the outside world, Japan had forgot- result in some scheme whereby the evil
ten-if she ever knew-the value of day may be indefinitely postponed.
gold, and prized silver above it. To- Of the origin of this curious people,
day she is suffering terribly from her we know but little; in fact, nothing, save
ignorance, having been almost ruined by that they are a branch of the Mongol,
the craft and cupidity of her fair-skinned or copper-colored race, and that they
cousins, whom she was forced to admit have correct records of their own couninto her household by threats at the can- try dating back four thousand years.
non's mouth. She is, however, rich in Of one thing, however, we may be cermines, and may yet recuperate. Gold, tain: the Japanese are an entire and
silver, copper, tin, lead, and iron abound distinct people from the Chinese, and
within her borders. It is not at all im- from any other people of whom we have
probable that the purest and most exten- any knowledge. They resemble very
sive copper mines in the world exist here. much the Chinese in two respects only:
Evidences of the abundance of the ore that of living almost wholly on rice, and
may be seen everywhere, in its use, when- the use of the chop-sticks at their meals.
ever it can be made to serve the place of In regard to language, laws, customs,
iron. The huge and massive gates of habits, dress, usages, and religion, and
the Emperor's castle are hung on copper even in the small acts and amenities that
hinges, as are similar gates to the hun- go to make up every-day life, the Japandreds of Daimios'yaskies; and acres of ese are wholly different from the people
sheathing of the same material can be of the "Flowery Kingdom." So oppofound inside, all of the more prominent site are they in their customs, that even
gates, posts, doors, etc., being overlaid the mechanics handle their tools in a
with copper. The export of gold is pro- manner entirely different. The Japanhibited by law; likewise, crude copper. ese carpenter draws his plane and saw
The Mexican dollar is the basis of the toward him, while the Chinese carpencirculating medium. ter, more after our Western style, push The immense export of gold, followed es his saw and plane from him.
by a ruinous civil war, forced the Japan- The Japanese are warm-hearted, friendese Government to issue a paper curren- ly, and obliging; the Chinese, cold, snaky,
462
[Nov.'