Japan and the Japanese

JAPAN. A. D. 1775 177C.
In striking fire a tinder is used made of the woolly part of the
leaves of the common wormwood. The famous moxa, spoken of
hereafter, is a finer preparation of the same root. Instead of soap
the meal of a species of bean is employed.
The bark of the Skimmi, or anise-tree (a near relation of the
mangolia tribe, and whose flowers and leaves are much employed in
religious ceremonies), is used as a time-measurer. A box, a foot
lon^, is filled with ashes, in which are marked furrows, in
O*
parallel
A
lines, strewed with fine powder of this bark. The lid being closed,
with only a small hole left to supply air, the powder is set on f.ro
at one end, and consumed very slowly, and the hours, marked be-
forehand on these furrows, are proclaimed in the day-time by strik-
ing the bells in the temples, and in the night by the watch striking
together two pieces of wood. Another method of measuring time
is by burning slow match, divided into knots to mark the hours.
The Japanese also have a clock, the mechanism of which is described
in a subsequent chapter.
" The first of January, according to custom," says Thunberg,
" most of the Japanese that had anything to do at the Dutch fac-
tory, came to wish us a happy new year. Dressed in their holiday
clothes, they paid their respects to the director, who invited them
to dine with him. The victuals were chiefly dressed after the Euro-
pean manner, and, consequently, but few of the dishes were tasted
by the Japanese. Of the soup they all partook, but of the other
dishes, such as roasted pigs, hams, salad, cakes, tarts, and other
pastries, they ate little or nothing, but put on a plate a little of
every dish, and, when it was full, sent it home, labelled Avith the
owner's name; and this was repeated several times. Salt beef, and
the like, which the Japanese do not eat, were set by, and used as a
medicine. The same may be said of the salt butter, of which I
conservatories, of which it soon became the pride, and was even found hardy
enough to bear the winter in the open air. Previous to 1806, a number of
varieties were imported from China ; many others were produced in Europe,
and already, by 18li5, these varieties had become very numerous (see Botm-
\cal Magazine, vols. XL. and LVI.). The Cammelia sasanqua is smaller,
with smaller leaves and flowers, very closely resembling the tea-plant ; and,
in packing their teas, the Chinese are in the habit of putting some of the
blossoms into the chests. It is extensively cultivated for its oil, in China a*
well as in Japan.