76
The art of building in stone, of brickmaking, or an appreciation of the properties of lime has been very much neglected by the Japanese. Perhaps it would be too much to expect that the genius of the ancient Romans, to whom civilization is indebted for its present knowledge of building operations, should find its counterpart in Japan. Still if we consider that this country lays claim to a history of upwards of two thousand years, during the whole of which time it has been inhabited by the same intelligent race which at present occupy it, and if we compare the evidences of constructive ability to be seen in Japan with what may be seen in almost any other part of the civilized word, it is impossible to resist the conclusion that the subject has never received that attention to which it is justly entitled, and that in consequence there has been an utter want of progress in Japan in the art of building. The liability of the country to periodical and violent earthquake disturbances may possibly have had an influence in deterring the people from the use of stone, but, if so, as I have already explained, I think it has been founded on false grounds.
The country is extremely well supplied with stone. Few districts of any extent are without it and even with the native means of conveyance stone might be procured in almost any town in Japan at a moderate price if the methods employed in quarrying it were more perfect. Along the whole course of the Inland Sea the formation is igneous and granitic and the stone of excellent quality. Many of the mountain ranges throughout the country are also composed of granite and excellent quarries exist at Mount Sekuba which is not more than 100 miles distant from Yedo and to which there is inland water communication the whole way. The other stones fit for building purposes consist principally of hard unstratified clay stones and stones of volcanic formation. These are found in various localities and especially at many points on the sea coast. There is a soft sandstone largely used in the neighbourhood of Yokohama, brought from the Provinces of Sagami and Boshu, which is evidently quite a recent formation
