Japan and the Japanese illustrated . ke -Japan, where the most precious of our European textiles growsto two yards in height. The workshops of the hosiers, mat-bordcrers, binders, and box-makers present apicturesque assemblage of workpeople of all ages and of both sexes. The coopers workin spacious enclosures behind bamboo palings. The shops of the box-makers contain an immense collection of coffers and casketsin wood of every kind, among which the camphor-wood of Kiousiou, which never losesits aromatic perfume, is particularly remarkable. An assortment of these boxes means 306 LUE IN JAPAN. h
Japan and the Japanese illustrated . ke -Japan, where the most precious of our European textiles growsto two yards in height. The workshops of the hosiers, mat-bordcrers, binders, and box-makers present apicturesque assemblage of workpeople of all ages and of both sexes. The coopers workin spacious enclosures behind bamboo palings. The shops of the box-makers contain an immense collection of coffers and casketsin wood of every kind, among which the camphor-wood of Kiousiou, which never losesits aromatic perfume, is particularly remarkable. An assortment of these boxes means 306 LUE IN JAPAN. half a dozen, which can be placed one within the other so as to be packed in a singleparcel. There is also an immense quantity of very strong boxes in lacquered paper; aninfinite variety of household utensils, and small articles of furniture, some lacquered, suchas rice bowls, others in white wood or in bamboo. The extreme scarcity of mechanical appliances at the disposal of the Japaneseartizans strikes the European visitor JefjcMHi-Jt. A BOWYKIl. Xear the sliops or warehouses of which I am speaking were four or five booths,which were assigned to as many different trades. I am convinced that all the tools ofthe five workshops put together were not worth five pounds. In the first booth a man was making dolls of papier-machd, which are especialfavourites in Japanese houses. Tliey consist of the luvid and the face only, wrappedin a scarlet mantle ; and it is said that in this form they perpetuate from generation togeneration the memory of a high priest of Buddha who had used up his legs completelyin the practice of his devotions. These dolls can be turned inside out, and are of alldimensions. TRADES. 3UV Further on were two workmen, each using a little hammer and chisel in carving
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookidjapanjapanes, bookyear1874
