A FAMOUS
P o w d e r .
C a t e c h u .
gout, but f believe with fuch little fuccefs, that the pradtice has
long fince been exploded.
"The Japanefe have another medicine, a powder to he taken
internally in colicky difeafes.' The inventor had the art to give
oat that it was communicated to him in a dream by Jakufi the
god o f phyfic, which ftamped fuch a veneration for this medicine,
that he enriched himfelf fo greatly as to build a temple with part
o f his gains, and the family, who keep thenojlrum to themfelves,
have eredted two or three more; the chief ingredient is fuppofed
to be the China root, great quantities o f which, and alfo of the
Ginfeng root, is imported into Japan for medical pürpofes.
B o t a n y is much ftudied by the phyficians o f the empire,
and many hooks are compofed on the fubjedt. Dr. Thunberg
met with two phyficians at Jedo who had great knowledge, not
only in their own profeffion, but in botany, mineralogy, and
zoology.
T h e famous 1’erra Japónica or Catechu is prepared chiefly
at Odowara; the principal ingredient is foreign, being an extra#
from the Mitnofa Catechu*, a fmall tree which grows in
great plenty on the mountains o f Hindoojlan, not the Areca
catechu, as had been long fuppofed; we werefirft favored with
this’ difcovery by Mr. Ker, aififtant furgeon in Bengal: Much is
m a n u fa d tu re d in the province o f Bahar; an ointment is com-
pofed from it o f general reputé throughout India, being found
a rnoft ufefvd aftringent in that hot climate, it has for a great
length of time kept its place in our difpenfotbry as an efficacious
medicine in weaknefs o f the bowels in general, and the con-
* Woodville’s Med. Bot vol. ii. p. 183. tab. 86.
fequential
!
fequential fluxes. It has alfo been ufed with much fuccefs as
an antifeptic, in cafes o f a putrid diflblved ftate of the blood, by
the great phyficians Huxham and Pringle. In Japan it is fold
perfumed, and made up in various forms for the ufe chiefly of
the ladies, who hold it in great efteem to fallen their teeth, and
give a fweetnefs to their breath.
T h e Japanefe are fond o f good paintings, and the rich will P a i n t i n g s .
give immenfe prices for pieces of merit. As to their own artifts
they are on a level with thofe o f the Chinefe, but excel us greatly
in the beauty o f their colors.
T h e ir cabinet-works, and the feveral things which go under J a p a n W o r k s .
the common name of Japan, are well known for the excellency o f
the varnifh, which furpailes that o f all the world. The black alfo
is moil intenfe, and the coloring or painting exquilite ; as to the
brafs furniture of the cabinets, it is very coarfe and clumfy.
But the Japanefe excel in iron manufadtures ; their metal is o f S t e e l .
the beft quality ; their arms are mufkets, bows and arrows, daggers,
and fcymitars. The lait of a moil remarkable temper ; it
is cuilomary to try the edge on the bodies o f executed malefactors,
which they cut to pieces by way o f experiment.
W h e n I am on the fubjedt o f arms, I may mention the mi- A r m t .
litary of the empire. It is computed that the Handing army conflits
o f a hundred thoufand foot and twenty thoufand horfe. In
a kingdom which can have no foreign wars, nor fears inteiline
tumults, this is furprifing ; but iince the confpiracy o f the Por-
tuguefe, and the extirpation o f Chriftianity, the emperors have
been in confiant fears o f plots and invafions from the European
powers.