Page:TASJ-1-3.djvu/98



The amount of silver smelted in Japan between the 15th and 17th centurycenturies [sic] was by no means small; the Portuguese and the Dutch in the first years only of their trade with Japan, exported large quantities of this precious metal. In the year 1671, the export of silver was prohibited by the Japanese Government. It is a well known fact that in later times very little silver has been found and smelted in Japan. Lead, which contains a small quantity of silver and blister copper (ara-do) or metal mixtures, obtained from grey copper-ore, from the mine material for the metallurgy of silver. Formerly the separation of silver from lead or copper was effected chiefly in the Government refinery at Osaka, but in latter times it has also been carried on in other places. The