of ground, planted with cabbages, where he supported, by this hazardous industry, a wife and several children.

The agriculture of China, in point of science and skill, cannot come into competition with that of Europe. There are no great farms; nothing is conducted on a large scale; there are no teams, no rotation of crops; little milk, and no butter, or cheese, is produced. Their instruments of tillage are extremely defective; and their common plough is composed of a single stick of crooked timber, and is dragged by a single buffalo. In many places the spade and hoe are the chief means of cultivation.

For an illustration of Chinese industry and dexterity, see Plate, No. 78.

Architecture and Buildings.

The Chinese architecture bears no resemblance to that of Europe; their style of building is inelegant in design, and clumsy in execution. Their houses have little that is remarkable in their external appearance, and their public edifices are distinguished rather by their extent than their magnificence. The external form and aspect of all the houses are very similar; and the habitation of a grandee in the capital is distinguished from that of a tradesman, chiefly, by being surrounded by a high wall, and by occupying a greater space of ground. The dwellings of the peasantry are, indeed, extremely wretched. The floors, in the houses of the wealthy, are of brick or clay; the ceiling is of bamboo laths, covered with plaster, or left bare. The walls are generally whitened with lime, made of shells, or covered with white paper. Instead of glass for windows, they use oiled paper, silk gauze, horn, or pearl shell, as a substitute.

The temples are constructed upon a similar plan to that of the houses, with the addition of a second, and sometimes of a

third story. The pagodas are frequently composed of five, seven, or nine rounds or roofs, but always an uneven number; but commonly very ill constructed. They are from 80 to 160 feet in height, and are the most striking objects in China.

VOL. II.

22

JAPAN.

Japan is an extensive and populous empire, consisting of a large number of islands in the North Pacific ocean, to the east of Tartary and China. The principal islands are Niphon, Ximo, and Xicoco. Their general aspect is irregular and rugged, bristling with mountains, hills, and rocks. Some of the mountains are so elevated as to be always covered with snow.

JEDDO.

Jeddo, the capital of Japan, is situated in the southeast part of the island of Niphon. It is a large and populous city, and has been supposed to contain about 1,000,000 inhabitants; but in 1812-13, the Japanese stated to Golowan, that it contained upwards of 10,000,000; that in the principal streets there were 280,000 houses, each containing from 30 to 40 persons; that in the city there were 36,000 blind men; and that a man could not walk from one extremity of it to the other in a day. In these statements there is probably much of oriental exaggeration.

The emperor's palace may be properly called a great fortified city. It is situated in the central part of the general city, and is said to be 15 miles in circuit. The outer part is composed of streets, containing many palaces belonging to the princes and public officers. The palace of the emperor, unlike all other Japanese structures, is built of freestone. It consists of only one high story, but is adorned with a square tower raised to the height of many stories.

INHABITANTS, MANNERS, AND CUSTOMS.

See Plate, No. 78.
Persons.

The Japanese are well made, and of yellowish complexion, some of them bordering on brown, and others on white ladies of rank, who seldom go out without being covered, are white. Like the Chinese, they are particularly distinguishable by the eyes, which are small, oblong, and sunk deep in the head, so that they have the appear

No. 78.-Sedans used by Japanese Ladies of Quality.

ance of being pink-eyed. The colour is dark or black. Their hair is black, thick, and rendered shining by the use of oil. The men pluck out their beards and shave their heads, leaving only a tuft round the crown; but the women preserve their hair, and tie it round their heads.

Character.

The Japanese resemble the Chinese in many of their customs, and in their progress in civilization. They cultivate their soil with singular care and industry; and they excel in the manufactures of silk and cotton. The japan varnish is well known as inimitable; but for this they are chiefly indebted to the vegetable from which it is made.

The government is jealous and despotic, like that of China, but the people possess more spirit and energy of character than the Chinese. They are among the most enlightened nations in the east; are very inquisitive, fond of reading, and pay considerable attention to education. They are gay and cheerful, but distrustful and vindictive; many of them show strength of intellect, generosity of sentiment, and benevolence of disposition; but, like other oriental nations, they are averse to foreigners. The laws of Japan are extremely severe, but crimes are not common.

Dress.

This cos

The dress consists chiefly of loose robes of silk or cotton, (or, among the poor, of coarse woollen stuffs,) resembling our night-gowns, which are worn by both sexes and all ranks, the only difference being in the greater or less degree of fineness. The upper garment is generally black; the under dress is of mixed colours. tume has continued the same for 2,000 years, and has the advantage of being put off and on with the greatest ease. They are very attentive to cleanliness, though they wear no linen. Their shoes, or rather sandals, made of straw or junk, are put off as soon as they enter the house, when their feet remain always bear. They go with the head uncovered, unless in travelling, when use is made of a conical straw hat, tied with a ribbon under the chin.