lphur. Copper is very abundant, and of remarkably fine quality. All
kitchen utensils, tobacco-pipes, and fire-shovels, are made of it; and
so well made, that our author mentions his tea-kettle as having stood
on the fire, like all other Japanese kettles, day and night for
months, without burning into holes. This metal is likewise employed
for sheathing ships, and covering the joists and flat roofs of houses.
Iron is less abundant, and much that is used is obtained from the
Dutch. Nails alone, of which immense numbers are used in all
carpentry-work, consume a large quantity. Diamonds, cornelians,
jaspers, some very fine agates, and other precious stones, are found;
but the natives seem not well to understand polishing them. Pearls are
abundant; but not being considered ornamental, they are reserved for
the Chinese market.

Steel and porcelain are the manufactures in which the Japanese chiefly
excel, besides those in silk-stuffs and lacquered ware already
mentioned. Their porcelain is far superior to the Chinese, but it is
scarce and dear. With respect to steel manufactures, the sabres and
daggers of Japan yield only perhaps to those of Damascus; and Golownin
says their cabinet-makers' tools might almost be compared with the
English. In painting, engraving, and printing, they are far behind;
and they seem to have no knowledge of ship-building or navigation
beyond what suffices for coasting voyages, though they have
intelligent and enterprising sailors. There is an immense internal
traffic, for facilitating which there are good roads and bridges where
water-carriage is impracticable. These distant Orientals have likewise
bills of exchange and commercial gazettes. The emperor enjoys a
monopoly of the foreign commerce.

It is popularly said, that Japan has two emperors--one spiritual, and
the other temporal. The former, however, having no share in the
administration of the empire, and seldom even hearing of state
affairs, is no sovereign according to the ideas we attach to that
term. He seems to stand much in the same relation to the emperor that
the popes once did to the sovereigns of Europe. He governs Kioto as a
small independent state; receives the emperor to an interview once in
seven years; is consulted by him on extraordinary emergencies;
receives occasional embassies and presents from him, and bestows his
blessing in return. His dignity, unlike that of the Roman pontiffs, is
hereditary, and he is allowed twelve wiv