The daily gazette., 1875-09-06
The Seio Cchi.
TIE GREAT INLAND SEA OF JAP.

| 49, NBGhA AsNbaEtD SEA VI OA1ag.
In the far East, lying between tn,
Islands which compose the Empire O
Japan-that ancient and mysteriou
realm but recently explored and intro
duced into the circle OF nations by thu
greed or enterprise OF Western com
mercc-there GIBBS and fows and spark
les, with n gorgeous beauty truly Ori
ental, q fair Mediterranean, known d:
the Seto Cchi, or Inland Sea. Though
smaller by far than its namesake OF
the " esh it has many physical charac.
terlstics much more striking. Il
aoounds In harbors, bays, snug anchor
| ages, deep channels, and sheltering
islands, 1t basks in climate almost
perfect in its serenity and freedom
| from extremes. The mariner fresh
from the chilly spring.time and uu.
generous summer OF our own Islands
| navigates ita waters In June with a
cloudless sky
Beneath root 81 blue Ionlsn weather.
unprotected by awnings and fearless
| Of the sun, which at tho same season
on the Spanish aud Italian costs beat
ooWn on those who sail beneath 1t
with an insupportable and even dead.
~ terceness, Eera are 70 tideless
waters. a strong ebb and dow, running
70 and fro between fairy islets, and
round verdant capes, with an almost
headlong fury, purifes and freshens
every inlet with an influx from the
wide Pacific Ocean without. Re.
markably free from storms and rain,
the frailest fishing boat Is pushed fear.
lessiy out to the mid.waters of its
widest part. No sirocco blows across
1t to render life scarcely worth having
throughout the length of many an
autumn day. In fire weather the
bosom OF the sea does not undulate
suftcieutly to rock even the smallest
bark yet there is no lack OF breeze.
It should be the very paradise of
pleasure seekera.
The scenery is truly lovely, Davon
fore ground set in a background of
the Alps. Lofty mountains bound the
landscape. In summer light, heecy
clouds hover about the higher slopes
while through dips in the stately range
OF heights glimpses are caught of still
higher peaks behond bathed in a VIC.
let haze or dissolving into the misty
distance. Fronting the water are
pine clad hills, with tho varied and
fantastic outline natural to a once vol.
canic country. Their sides are scanned
with valleys, In which nestle pleasant
villages, half hid in the variegated
Foliage OF shady trees. The temper.
ate zone meets the tropics in groves
and coppices of pine, and flr, aud
camphor wood, and graceful bamboo
Above, tho lilac waves in clusters.
while underneath the sleeps are all
aglow with azaleas In crimson mas
seS.
The quaint gables and high.peaked
roofs OF temples peer out from leafy
groves, traversed by glades of brilliant
green. Streams gushing from the
rocks trace silvery lines upon the
abrupt hill sides. Rocky promontories
festooned with creepers and crowned
with clumps Of frs, jut out into the
sea and divide white, sandy beaches,
or form placid little coves and bays.
Here huge mass of grey granite
stands out as a monument of some an
cient convulsion of the soil; there a
succession of grassy knobs and hang.
ing woods uudulating backwards from
the shore introduces Z park like fea- !
ture into the panorama. Art com.
pletes the picture. The slops OF |
the mainland and Of inndmerablc is !
lands,
That like TO rich and various gems inlay,
The unadorned bosom of tho deep.
are clothed with fields of waving corn,
OF really golden hue in the dazzling |
June s-llight. The style of cultiva.
tion Is high. The fields are arranged |
in terraces, which climb in long
series of steps the sides OF hill and "a,
vine TO q goodly height above the
lower ground, Here and there tho
fields are dotted with the brilliant
emerald OF tiny patches OF the young
rice plant. Blue wreaths OF smoke
rise from tho bonfres of brushwood, |
lighted to Dream the sharp.bowed |
craft hauled up on the beach below.
The sea Is studded with the boats of !
and fecked with the white ]
sails Of scores Of native trading vessels.
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