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AMONG THE PORCELAIN-MAKERS. 1 77
As he was speaking, a middle-aged Japanese, wearing a silk
kimono, came to the gate of the enclosure, and, bowing, said,
"Are you the honorable Dr. Nambo?"
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I am that insignificant person," answered Oto.
The man bowed very low, sucked in his breath, and said,
" I have just received a telegram from your honorable father.
Please come into this miserable place and I will show you
everything we have. My soul is filled with regret
cannot exhibit something worth looking at."
that we
Oto introduced his mother and friends, and, referring to
Sallie, said, "This young lady is very much interested in our
keramic art. Will you kindly show her everything from the
beginning. What kind of ware do you make? "
The manufacturer bowed, smiled, and blandly replied,
" Everything. Whatever our customers order. I make
Satsuma, Ilizen, Seto, Karatsu, Shigaraki, Itsumo, Kiyoto,
Raku, Awata, Kaga, Banko, Arita, Okawaji, and Ota," add-
ing, with a knowing air, "We keep pace with the times."
Sallie, who had listened to his
amazement, exclaimed,
speech with undisguised
" How can you make Satsuma and
here in Shiba?"
Kaga,
" I will show you," he answered, smiling like a school-boy.
" Some years ago our foreign customers were obliged to
send to Satsuma for that ware. You know how impatient
your countrymen are. Our slow method of transportation did
not suit them, so in order to supply the demand, we imported
Satsuma potters and brought the clay here infune (junks)."
He led the way into a long shed, containing several hun-
dred bales and tubs, wrapped in rice matting.
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"
This building," he said, contains clay from fifty different
places. When I receive an order fora fine piece of old Hizen,
I tell my potter to take so much Hizen-clay, and, as soon as the