berries of the wax-tree are crushed in a press; and the exuding matter, which is intermediate in appearance between wax and tallow, is warmed, purified, and made into candles. It is known in commerce as "Japan wax," and the tree producing it must not be confounded with the famous tallow-tree of China (Stillingia sebicifera Euphorbiaceæ). The berries of the lacquer-tree are sometimes utilised in the same way as those of the vegetable wax-tree.
Book recommended. The Preparation of Vegetable Wax, by Henry Gribble, in Vol. III. Part I. of the "Asiatic Transactions."
Volcanoes. See Earthquakes and Geography.
Weights and Measures. With a few notable exceptions, the Japanese weights and measures are decimal. The most useful are:—
| (Approximate Equivalent) |
(Exact Equivalent) | |||||
| Distance. | 1 bu | line | 1.4317 | line. | ||
| 10 | bu | = | 1 sun | inch | 1.1931 | inch. |
| 10 | sun | = | 1 shaku | foot | 11.9305 | inches |
| 6 | shaku | = | 1 ken | double yard | 1.9984 | yard. |
| 10 | shaku | = | 1 jō | 10 feet | 3.3140 | yards |
| 60 | ken | = | 1 chō | 120 yards | 119.3040 | " |
| 36 | chō | = | 1 ri | 2½ miles | 2.4403 | miles |
It may be of practical service to remember that 15 chō make almost exactly 1 English mile. The English mile and chain (80 chains=1 mile) are the measure employed on all railways throughout the empire, and the sea mile (English Admiralty "knot") obtains for maritime distances. Otherwise the ri and chō are universally employed. The hiro, or "fathom," of about 6 feet, is identical with the ken, except that it is used more loosely for measuring such things as rope and depths at sea.
| Cloth Measure. | 1 sun | inch | 1.4913 | inch | ||
| 10 | sun | = | 1 shaku | foot | 14.9130 | inches |
| 1 | tan (piece) varies from 24 to 30 shaku. | |||||
| 1 | hiki (double piece) = 2 tan. | |||||
