The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-11-09

served sdks, q fefmented liquor manufac-
tured from rice, and in character some.
thing between ale and wine. Some writers
have fallen into the error of describing
saki as a distilled liquor, but we were as.
sured that this is not correct, and that it is
made by process somewhat similar to
brewing. 1t is not disagreeable in flavor.
but has somewhat larger pcrcentage 81
alcohol than our malt liquors, and exhil.
arates more quickly. Indeed, in this re-
spect, it is somewhat similar to cham
payne. It is served hot from small porce-
lain vases, and 1T may be said to be the
national drink of the Japanese. When
near the end of the dinner we were sur.
prised by the appearance of some singing
girls, who proceeded to favor us with
some music. They sang in nasal, falset-
to tone, and accompanied themselves upon
an instrument somewhat resembling a
guitar, called Chami-sen.'' 1t ast6ree
strings, which are struck or thumbed with
piece Of ivory resembling a paper cut
ter. One of these girls also accom- panied
the music with a sort of dance, composed
principally Of pantomime, in which she
kept time with the music in a series of
graceful motions. 1t may be summed up
that, as an entertainment, it was pleasing
from its novelty, but the menu would hard
ly be called satisfactory to a European
palate.
Fish and rice are the staple articles of
Japanese diet, and without either of these
the Nation would find it hard to exist.
The soil is fertile, and apparently vegeta-
6les grow well here. Sweet potatoes, Or
binary potatoes, turnips, carrots, squash
es or pumpkins, elephants and peas are
grown, but do not enter largely into the
peoples diet. Beans are an important
article, and from these is manufactured
tetee or tote-literally bean cheese-an ar
ticle largely used by the poorer classes
tadlshes are also grown to some extent,
and some varieties are very large and not
unlike beets. They are rather coarse in
grain and texture, but not so much so as
their size would indicate. The young
bamboo IS also eaten to some extent, and
variety OF mushrooms are used in max
ing sauces and relishes. A species of
maize is raised. But it is very inferior to
the American Indian corn, and is not
used at any great extent. Tomatoes have
been introduced from the United States
within the last few years, and are received
with considerable favor. Cakes and I'm.
leavened bread of various kinds are
AiA"NS AVN III AOuA duu III tuC SCdpOl u
Dread made from flour imported from
California is beginning to be used by
some Of the natives. OF fruit-oranges
peaches, pears, apricots, plums, persim-
mons, raspberries, mulberries and cur
rants are indigenous here-but none of
them grow in great perfection and most
of them are quite inferior in quality. APP.
pies and strawberries have been intro
duced to some extent from other coun.
tries, but, although they can be grown
here, do not seem to take kindly to the
soil. The pears are round, mostly of a
russell color. coarse in grain, not sweet,
and sort of cross between the apple and
the pear. Water and musk melons are
largely grown; but these are also inferior
to the American productions of the same
kind. The climate is not unlike that of
oar middle States, but there is more
moisture, which keeps the vegetation con.
stantly green and beautiful, and coming
here in August from California there Is
a great contrast between her dried-up val.
Ieys and hill-sides and the verdure of ia
pan. The general impression which
one gets on coming here, is that ia
pan is beautiful country, and that hel
inhabitants are making great efforts tc
adopt what is best and most progressive
among other nations.-Cor. N. Y. Times