The boy travellers in the Far East : adventures of two youths ... - Library

" Japan abounds in sul-
phur, and tho supply is said
to be inexhaustible. The
copper used at the mint for
making the Japanese small
coins is of native produc-
tion, and so is most of the
silver; but occasionally the
supply of the latter metal
runs short, and then Amer-
ican silver comes into play.
Last year nearly half a mill-
ion trade-dollars were melt-
ed at the mint at Osaka, to
be made into Japanese yens,
and this 3'ear a large num-
ber have met a similar fate.
The American trade -dollar
USE OF TRADE-DOLLARS IN JAPAN. 281
IMPERIAL CKIiST FOR PALACK AFFAIRS.
has not yet become a popular coin for circulation in Japan and China,
but is in good demand for the melting-pot. But I suppose we do not
care what they do with our silver money so long as they p&y for it; and
the more they melt up, the better we shall be pleased."
Having finished their in-
IMPERIAL CREST ON THE NEW COINS.
spection of the mint, our
friends thanked tiie polite
director for his kindness
and attention, and bade hini
good -day. They returned
to the hotel, where their
lunch was waiting for them,
and sat down on the bal-
cony, where they had feast-
ed and studied the river
scenery the day before.
Their morning's excursion
naturally led tiiem to talk
about the money of Japan,
and on this subject the Doc-
tor was ready with his usual
fund of information.