The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-02-19


since Perry opened the sealed gateways of
Japan TO the commerce and travel of the
world The unique civilization of an island
empire, with an area of 80, 900 square miles
and more than 81, OOO, 900 of people, was
then first presented to modern times for
Z study and investigation. Since then libra
ries Of books and pamphlets, and volumes
of letters have been written upon every
phase Of that civilization, except the status
and condition Of the Iaborer. Of the i'm
portance and power of $4,000. 900 of people
as added factors in the products of the
world there can be no question.
The japanese archipelago embracing be-
tween two and three hundred islands large
and small, lies, as you doubtless all know,
on the eastern shore of Asia, stretching
from the 31st to about the 49th degree of
north latitude, and between the both and
145tk degree east longitude.
The area of the land is estimated at be-
tween 15O, 900 and 10000 square miles. Of
this some so or 10000 is fit for cultivation,
but only 10000 or about one-sixth of the
whole are actually cultivated. This is owing
to variety Of cause.-the chief one being
the absence Of fertilizers. There is no
farming, as we understand it, in Japan. 1t
is all gardening. The land Is worked in
small divisions, but it is so thoroughly
worked and cared for that no weeds are al
lowed to flourish and the most incredible
crops are raised-and in many parts two
crops year.
The Japanese people are supposed to be
gregarious, aud aside from their cities they
live almost exclusively along the sea shore
or the banks of rivers. One of their staple
articles of food is fish and they thus procure
it close at hand.
Through the centre of this island chain is
one long mountain range, with spurs of
lesser elevation running at right angles. In
terspersed through all the three noun tain
masses are innumerable fertile valleys,
through which the drainage of the whole
area finds its way to the sea. Along either
coast are extensive alluvial plains, the
weatherings and washings of the mountains
during ntold centuries. The crest of the
higher mountains are rocky and precipitous
but as the spurs slope toward the sea they
present gentler hill-sides susceptible of till
age. 1t is on these alluvial plains along
the sea, through these fertile valleys, and
the gentle mountain slopes, that the
laborer is to be found. Both the eastern
and western coasts present deep indenta-
tions OF CULTS and bays extending into the
main land
The soil with which the laborer OF Japan
has to deal is a black, vegetable mould from
. 70 in,
deep subsoil. This mould is mass of de-
composed vegetation, grown luxuriently in
a warm summer climate, combined with
great rainfall. 1t is true humus, with an
excess of humic acid, which render its fertile
elements more or less insoluble. Even in
it's virgin state this black, rich-looking soil,
without some chemical solvent, will not pro-
duce paying crop but with lime or potash
every product of the latitude grows luxu-
riantiy.
In speaking of the rainfall of Japan, it
must be borne in mind that the amount
varies with the latitude and the configura-
ton of the land. In some localities tits
very great, while in others it is below what
is actually needed. 1 will give you, how
ever, the result of observations made in
Yokohama.
Before doing so, however, I think it we'll
to advise you where g Yokohama or rather
''Kanagawa,' to which am accredited, is. 1t
may, perhaps, be taken for granted there
are but few in the audience who know. 1
did not when appointed, and whom applying
at the Department of State the informa ton
received--or did not Observation-Disclosures
me not at all; and some time after my arrival
at my post, when the steamship Japan, of
the Pacific Mail Company, was lost near
HOngkong, l received q despatch from the
Department saying that, seeing the Japan
was lost near Hongkong, they had dupli-
Gated and forwarded by next mail my des-
patches, which had been on the Japan. OF
course returned thanks, but informed the
Department that had received the despatch
ten days before the steamer was lost, Yoke
hama being the first port touched at after
leaving San Francisco.
Kanagawa Is the name of the ken or dis
trict corresponding to our county in the
States of the Union), in which Yokohama is
situated. 1t is also a small village upon the
bay of Yeddo, the southern shore of which
makes a graceful curve towards the north
and west This little port was the one
named in the early treaties, and is therefore
still retained in all official documents
Every report, or other official paper, being
dated as from there. The water, however,
in it's immediate vicinity being found too
shallow to permit the near approach of
vessels, and its nearness to the Toqaido, or
great highway of the Empire, upon which
the native princes and their armed retainers
were in the habit of travelling, rendering
collision with foreigners imminent lin fact
one or two of the latter had already been
killed in these affrays) made it necessary
that ? change should be made, and there
fore it was agreed between the Japanese and
| foreign authorities that the foreign settle
ment should be moved to Yokohama, another
/ little fishing village further down the bay to
the east-and there the Ministers of different
/ Powers resided until they removed to Toxic,
| the capital; and there are located the
/ foreign Consuls and the different Govern
ment buildings, such as the Japanese Custom
House, Post-office, &c. and on the beauti-
| full highlands at the back of the settlement
will be found the lovely homes of the foreign
residents, almost all Of whom command ex-