The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-10-16

In the far cast, lying between tn,
Islands which compose the empire o
,Iapan-that ancient and mysterious
realm but recently explored and intro
duced into the circle of nations by the
greed or enterprise or western commerce,
there Gibbs and flows and sparkles, witt
a gorgeous beauty truly oriental, a fail
| Mediterranean, known Us the Seto Uchi
or Inland sea. Though smaller bv fan
than its namcsake of the west. it has
many physical characteristics much more
striking. 1t abounds in harbors, bavs.
snug anciorages, deep channels, and
shcltering islands. 1t b;rSks in Il climate
almost perfect in its serenity and free
dom from extremes. The mariner fresh
from the chilly spring time and ungen-
| erous summer of our own islands, navi-
gates its waters in June with Il cloud
less sky
" Beneath roof of blue Ionian weather.
unprotected by awnings, and fearless of
the sun, which ut the same season off the
Spanish or italian coasts beats down on
those who sail beneath it with an nm
supportabc and even deadly ficrccncss.
Here are no tideless waters; a strong cbb
and flow, running to and fro between
fairy eylets, and round verdant capes.
with almost hcadlong fury, purifies and
freshens every inlet with an influx from
the wide Pacific ocean without. Re
markably, free from storms and rain, the
frallcst fishing boat is pushed fearlcsslv
out to the mid waters of its widest
parts. No sirocco blows across it to rcn-
der life scarcely worth having through
out the length of many an autumn dav.
In fine weather the bosom of the sea
al not l,,I.,
even the smallest bark vet there is no
lack of breeze. 1t should be the very
paradise of pleasure seekers. The
scenery is truly lovely: a Devon fore
ground set in IA background of the Alps.
Lofty mountains bound the landscape.
In summer, light, feccy clouds hover
about the higher slopes; while through
dips in the stately range of heights. |
glimpses are caught of still higher peaks
beyond, bathed in a violet haze. or dis
solving into the misty distance Front
ing the water are pine-clad hills, with |
the varied and fantastic outline natural !
to once volcanic region. Their sides |
are scanned with valleys, in which nestle |
pleasant villages, half hid in the varie-
gated foliage of shady trees The tenn
perate zone meets the tropics in groves
and coppices of pine, and fir and cam
phor-wood, and graceful bamboo Above.
the lilac waves in clusters, whilst under
meath the sleeps are all aglow with
izaleas in crimson MASSES. The quaint
gables and high-peaked roofs of temples
peer out from lcafy groves travcrsed by
slades of brilliant green. Streams grisli-
ing from the rocks trace silvcry lines
upon the abrupt hillsides, Rocky prom
festooned with crecpers, and
;rowned with clumps of frs, just ont
INTO the sea, and divide white, sandy
peaches, or form little coves and bavs.
Here huge mass of gray granite stands
'ut as a monument of some ancient con-
'ulsion of the soil; there a succession of
,rassy knobs and hanging woods uddu-
ating backward from the shore, intro
luces park-like feature into the pano-
anna. Art completes the picture The
lOpes of the mainland, and of innu-
nerable islands
THAT like to rich and various gems inlay |
The unadorned bosom of the deep
re clothed with fields of waving corn, of ;
really golden hue, in the dazzling June
unllght. The style of cultivation is
high. The fields are arranged in ter
aces, which climb in long series of
teps the sides of hill and ravine, to a
ODDLY height above the lower ground.
1ere and there the fields are dotted with
he brilliant emerald of tiny patches of {
he young rice plant. Blue wreaths of
moke ri~e from the bonfrcs of brush
rood, lighted to Dream the sharp-bowcd
raft hauled up on the beach below.
The sea is studded with the boats of
shermen, and fecked with the white |
ails of scores of native trading vessels. {
-Fortnightiy Recieuc.