The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-08-24
For the Central Presbyterian
The Empire of the Rising Sun.

A beautiful land it is The name
Japan comes from its principal island,
Nippon, which is composed of two
Chinese characters, meaning the origin
of the Sum-" A few years since we
landed upon its eastern shore-the first
heather land our foot had trod now
from the West we come.
Shanghai
Never looked grander than the morning
we left. 1t lies upon bend of the river.
the hongs and banks in palatial style
lining the river front. The harbor, so
dangerous to the sailor whose foot NAV
slip or sompam overturn, because of an
undercurrent which does not allow the
swimmer to rise, is not bay, but only
the Whangpoo river, afording a safe
haven for ships after leaving the Yang
tse, which, at its mouth, the Chinese call
little sea. Steaming down this river
an hour, you come to Woosung where is
bar, which obstructs large vessels ex-
cept at high tide-a heaven-sent bar
rler, the celestials think thence
four hours down the Yang-tse past the
Light-ship, where pilots wait for sailing
vessels, out into the Yellow Sea. To
Nlngpo and the southern ports, ships
sail southwark; to Chefoo and Tientsin.
to the north. Two large rocks stand out
OF the water-a terror to mariners when
a fog comes on.
The Yellow Sea
Is generally rough and tempestuous. A
tavorlte place for the storms and the
dashlng pillows. Its dangers must be
proven by other witnesses, as the first
time we crossed it, so now, it was as
smooth and quiet as lake. The second
afternoon the rocky islands off Japan
were seen, and that night the flashlights
from the lighthouse told us land YVES
near. There are three ports in japan
where vessels for Shanghai stop; at Ma
gasaki, Knobe, and Yokohama; about 400
miles between each, or 1000 miles from
Shanghai to Yokohama. The pleasure
OF Japan is that you stop five of six DAYS
in its ports en- route. Our first day was at
Nagasaki.
The first time we stopped here, we
thought surely this must be the most
beautiful place on earth. The bay.
about three miles across, is land LOCKED.
or rather mountain-encircled its quiet
waters surrounded by lofty hills of
deepest green. The native town is on
the side of the bay. Some of the foreign
places of business are along street By
the waters edge, but most of the foreign
residences are upon the mountain side.
with steep and precipitous ascents. The
gardens, under the hands of the Japa-
nese, are simply superb. The view from
every point is beautiful; the hills rising
precipitously, and covered with foliage;
the harbor filled with the ships of ali
nations; the Russian settlement at one
side, the foreign churches and residences
amid trees and fowers-these make
Nagasaki, by all confessed, one of the
most unique places on earth or by the sea.
The Bazaars are filled with the most
delicate porcelain, and the places of
manufacture are not far distant. The
principal trade is in coal. 1t is very
bituminous; so the Chinese well call it
smoke coal" 1t supplies the China
ships, the Shanghai market, and now in
the interior OF China great quantities are
used.
The commercial Importance of the
port lies in the fact that it is near to
Emma, the nearest port to Russia,
lSlberia) and so near to Corea. 1t thus
forms the headquarters of many Asiatic
squadrons. In this region 300 years ago,
the Roman Catholics numbered hun
dreds of thousands. They were exter-
minated by persecution. From a rock
near Nagasaki many were cast into the
sea. Recently in some of the villages
the priests think they have found some
vestiges of their faith and Church rites,
and have baptized some thousands,
whether converts" or not, is not our
topic at present.
From Nagasaki, the course is north
ward along the west coast of Japan to
Shimonasaki. This is a large town.
The steamer stops two hours, but for
elgners are not allowed to 90 on shore.
Here begins the
Inland Sea.
Look upon your map at a little strip
one-half inch long. The one-half inch
is $50 miles. Here the sea is not a sea.
if you mean large body of water
rather river, lake, or bay. or a
chain Of lakes and bays, with unrippled
waters. For some miles you are out in
the open sea, with the land in the straits.
the land within stones throw on either
side; or, perchance, on one side, and
opening out in beautiful vista on the
other Japan in the ,eooraY,bv bo,