The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-17

enoJGke III IUuI lltat ms. k.e nArbOr, Atnnu%l
iDcrnvs nienf and insecure ia constantly filed wit,
Japai .ss ysssek, iTsoipg To ever, part 81 the esI
piie. u has . population OF sb,ut SO 600, AMI may
~ considere the most important town ia this ex-
tn NIFTY ot Asia. The place 10 veil fortified an gN-
sBed; guas do are constantly kept up the c0sst.
10 observe narrowly everything that passe. II
bsA the small bays of kowlYaA On the east,
aud Otube TO the west vi the town. bofore
IL hes the little island Of Bssiute. Tais -
considered az holy ProuLd by the Japanese, Tor
which reason they have b alt temple upon It. To
the south east of the twn lies 1sv%ka1s saki, toe
most southern promontory of the island, aud east.
wand of il are Two convenient barbors for Small
ships.
BRoUGHTos's DIRECTIONS FOR ERrKaIS0 THE POET
or AATShAI
Matsmai Bay 10 about four miles In extent the
two points fOrmisg bear north 70 deg. vest, and
south 10 deg. east from eacn other. At tn wort
extreme il very sInaii isiasd, contested 9TH the
shsrs by q reef of rocks A small huildiHg Oh Il
tei yes 40 . lockout hoasa during the day, and .
lighthouse by night Tue snundiUgs are regular,
with six tathsNs close ~. Latitude Al deg. - min.
Dorth, the points u the bay east deg north 70 IS
NGhoa extreme south Is deg. east TO south 81 deg.
cast leagues. The t0~n u Of considerable mag
nitude, ext DdiDg along the margin u the beaoh,
and asoeniDg gradually aaa Instance up toe rising
gpOunes, Inter speised with trees and gardens.
The extreme of Nph0n, which the Japanese cab
sslguroo, projects nom some bald, rocky land, and
makes In bamM0cks Ut distance, Inc extreme being
highst and failing abruptly into the sea. It beam
south, southeast from Aussmai about leagues.
To The scutbwsrd Of Aatsmay, At the entrance Of
the strait Of baugar, are two small isiandS-Oos
bm2 and kosslns. Both islands are steep, rugged,
aLo o, volcanic origin. b. Island OF Up 's,nl iies
to tie eattwsid ii ftsso and nortn o. O0s-aams, IN
latitude AZ deg. 9 min., and longitude 1879 deg. "A
min. fast, and IL considerably larger than either OF
the Others, being ii miles l0rg and five broad Cape
Saugar lies in latitude Al deg l6 min. 80 Sec NORTH
and longitude 2l9 deg Az min. west The western
fku0 xfrrvf ia
only miles vice.
Chsk, dade The second town in magnitude on the
i-laDd, II also situated On the strait OF Sangar,
southeast Of Matsmay, on the decIiyity Of high
circular bill, VIII Oh riees above the peninsula there
foimed. 1t is washed on the south by the bay Of
Saga and on the north and west by the bay OF
ChakOdade, which N very convenient for receiving
large feet. TIE peninsuls forms its Junction on
the eat by strip Of hand; 30 that there Is
Ut once y view Of the open aea and the low
grounds.
On the northern side Of the bay spacious val
ley extends circuit of fifteen or twenty miles,
bounced three Of its sides by hills In the CEN
ire Of tbis valley lies the village OF Orno the iDhabi-
tanis OF which are chiefly occupied In agriculture.
The other villages which are situated tue coast
are for the most part inhabited by fishermen. The
MILL vt The loot OF which the town built serves a.
an excellent landmark for ships entering the bay,
~ it il easily recognized at distance by its circu
lar f0Im is detsched from every other elevated
object. On the western side this hill Ia formed Of
hugh masses Of rock, In one Of which there u Q ca
witty perccptibe from tue sea. The depth Of water
cote IN land II very considerable on Che southern
and western sides Of the peninsuar but as there
neither sand banks rocks to be apprehended,
the coast may be approached without danger. There
ale, however, numerous sand banks on the northern
side, and consequently only small vessels can get
up to the t0Gn. From the projecting cape opposite
the town. q sand bank of unequal depth extends
one third Of the breadth of the bay. On the north.
ana eastern sides Of the bay the depth OF water
gradually diminishss towards the shore.
The Japanese towns and villages on the island
large, have regular streets, and the houses, on
account Of earthquakes are oil neatly built OF wood.
Every house has a kitchen garden, and many are
with orchards. The cleanliness which
prevails in the streets and honses Is truly asonsh
ing. " The mhabitants," says Golownin, i" are en-
Lemely lively, and content and cheerfuineSs are
painted On every countenance." The boundary be-
tween the japanese aud Yes0to villages " about
che hundred miles from Caakodade.
The principal bays ON the southeastern coast Of
the islands, are Volcano bay, In latitude AZ deg.
10 min., ~ sec. north, and longitude l4l deg,
nin., SO east, secure and spaci0ns, having tie
inner and well sheltered harbor Vi Edernio the bay
VI Good HOPE, an0 A,kis bay, now much ireqdented
by our whaers. Tue Uest harbors on the n0sthwest
coast Gre in Loukhtaleu bay aud Strogonov bay.
Near the centre Of tie island ia lake called
Oonoma, about fifteen miles long, ana nearly IS
broad, having it's outlet in the river lskar very
rapid stream, watch falls into Strogonov bay.
The aspect Of the island, particularly in the
southern provinces, ID wild and mountainous, A
rugged chain tfaverses IL IRON northwest 70 south.
east. Active and extinct volcanoes are visible.
The northwestern provinces are said TO be more fer
tile than the southern, producing everything neces-
sary to support life, and are well cultivated BY
japanese emgrants.
The timber forests consist of oak, pine, birch,
elm, ecrnted cypress, and other valuable woods;
ginseng and various medicinal plants are found;
deer, elk, bears, wolves, Wild g00ts, sables, foxes
and other wild animals, are numerous the bears
10 fsvr md of mon Qe Y
ot0er animals. Among the birds are three species
Of falcons and lammergeyors; and in SUMMER geese,
swans and ducks, salmon, Cod, herring, mackerel,
ana other varieties Of fsh sud shell fish, tripang,
beavers sec Offers, seals moores, sword FISH whales
&c, are very plentiful ON the coast; and Rensiiee
Sebdai ia bis description Of those islands, aver
tbat an enormous sea monster, called BY the natives
oklme, Resembling, by all accounts, the kraken o.
Ytfo.
The Ysseites are generally tail and strongly
mace, very active ana Tar more handsome and
manly han the Russ,an Kuriliaus. They appear p
b. distinct ace Of people IRON the inhsbtaats 81
tbe other islsBds and have q language OF their own
Which, though IL contains many huriie wo. ds IN
common use, is totally un!n!eligiDle 70 the othai
Hui lies.
The principal occupation Of the natives is hunting
ieElng timber, and burning charcoal, fishing, and
ggtbeIiDg koutie, which is found IN great abun
dance Along she whole south western AIDE OF TIE
Island. IL ~ spiead ont on the laAd 70 dry; thay
teen collect IL tegether IN heapa rsembuny hay
cocks and cover Il with mating until the time
arrives tor loading tie vessels, which, carry Il to the
ports cf Tire southern Islands D! japan. Everything
troaUced b. the tea Is considered eatib!e by he ia
pabefe--hrh, maine animals Of every description
sea plants snd weeds, all made to contribute tc
htir support
Tie iisheree in the bays and on the coast OF this
isano, aBd ci thtir settefuenis on Arriya bay, nj
the southern extremity OF the Island OF Tarapay
are vety productive, and furnish the provinces VI
Jap % proper with salmon Coz, herring, mackerel
stler varieties OF hsh and stel ish. win h ars
very plentiful the cuasta OF those ieands Whale,
ore highly prized; every Psrt--the hes,, the skin
the ihtesiines, even the rsrtlAges Of tue bones-E
boil. d, roasted, tied aud eaten. From These oortn
era oep, hcencle. the japanese also supplied
With iuis, seal kkinf, peites, SEA horse teeta, &c
This IL one OF tire most important brauchs:
o. iL,fr calomsl trade, aud was formerly free bal
sone years siu,e the government tsok tine whole
entI,iy into it, own hands, making II most prort
sble imperial monopoly, ~hich Mas gwen great dis
ssiis. seion 10 Tie people, 49, those products
SOLD ~ much his her prlces thsn formerly.