The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-03-23

] lellplSS. anu lHlGIGoNiuS gN9N
enable one to revel in excursions and sight
seeing of novel and charming character.
! One of these excursions we made in Jlnricki-
shas to the head of one of the feeders of the
Komo river, about fifteen miles from Kioto,
and over mountain road rich in scenery of
the most variegated description. Arriving at
the head of the river, at the village of Udzu-
ma. we alighted and refreshed the inner man
with a Japanese luncheon preparatory to
starting on the return journey by water over
the rapids. Two large flat bottomei boats
were engaged, in which we embarked with
our coolies and ''rickishas' Casting off the
lines, we were soon rushing down the rapids
with the speed of race horse, at one moment
running with the current in a narrow, rocky
bed, and at another over shadows where the
thin bottom of the boat would be lifted into
series Of waves by dragging over the rocks.
Each boat is manned by two men. One at
the bow, armed with long pole, looks out
for dangers ahead in the shape of bouders
and rocks; the other stands in the stern and
with long sweep oar guides the boat with
beautiful skill. Shooting the rapids in
Japanese mountain stream requires great
care, plenty Of quick nerve and GOODNESS, and
this the japanese boatmen possess to a great
degree; their management of these trail boats
at points where smashing upon the rocks
seemed almost inevitable, justifes one in
thinking that in this style of navigation they
- LII nr,r rfNa 70
an end at the little village of Arashiyama,
where the boats were punted in, and we dis
embarked at one of the pretty little tea-houses
on the river bank. where, after dinner in
which the delicious trout of the mountain
stream figured largely, we continued our
Journey back to Kioto in jiurickishas.
THE INLAND SEA.
Returning TO koke, passage was taken for
a voyage through the far famed Inland Sea,
a beautiful sheet OF water surrounded by the
most charming scenery imaginable. The sea,
sometimes eally the Mediterranean of Japan,
is about 80 mll,s in length, and varies in
breadth from very usrrow passages to points
where the opposite shores are so miles apart
Il opens to the Pacific Ocean at the eastern
end by the Xii channel, and at the western
end to the Sea Of Japan by the Strait of Shin
aneseki. Il can be safely navigated at all
times. and furnishes welcome break in the
rough sea journey along the coast The
shores are extensively populated, and towns
and villages are numerous, with safe anchor
ages at short distances apart. The scenery Is !
at once unique and picturesque, the villages
with their odd style OF architecture atthe base
of the enclosing mountain, and hundreds Of
little Islands, covered with verdure, dot the
sea itself, while fleets of japanese junks and
small fishing craft contribute to give life to
the scene. Along the shores almost every
foot OF the mountain side is brought into
state OF cultivation by terraces ascending al
most 10 the summit. In a mountainous coun-
try ike Japan, where the level ground forms
an exceedingly small fraction Of the total area,
every artificial means IS taken advantage of
TO Increase the extent of the cultivable soil,
and in doing this terracing is carried out TO an
exteat seen in no other part Of the world, and /
in no part of japan do these terraces present T
a more picturesque appearances than on the I
shores OF the Inland Sea. Rice is the principal /
product, so that, in addition to the labor OF
cutting out level stretches, streams must be I
topped by means of canals or bitches, and the /
water led. sometimes for miles, 10 irrigate 1
rice platform or terrace, and, in places where (
these means fail, water is brought up in pals /
and the plants watered daily
rHE STRAIT OF smrNoxESEEI
At the western extremity of the Inland Sea /
il the Strait Of Shimoneseki, about half mile I
wide aud FIVE or six miles long, The town of
Shimoneseki contains population Of about
~. COO, and is of considerable commercial
Importance, from its location. 1t is not as
vet an open port, but passing steamers stop /
for the purpose of landing aud embarking
Japanese passengers and freight. Shimones-
eki has a little place in the history OF the
United States, in consequences OF an inter
change of hostilities with the Prince of Cho-
isiu, Daimio Of the Province, before the abo-
E.ior of the feudal system in Japan. 1t
seems that. in 1868, an American merchant
man, while passing Shimoneseki, was warned
and then fred upon by the fortress, and at
about the same time similar affair occurr ed /
with French and a Dutch vessel on their
attempting to enter the straits.
On this news reaching Yokohama, the /
American corvette Wyoming, then in port,
proceeded TO Shimoneseki, destroyed two /
men OF. war aud shelled the batteries, and /
later two French men-ofw war proceeded in
like manner 70 wipe out the insult offered to /
the French flag The action of the Prince OF /
Choisiu in firing upon the merchantmen was I
condemned and apoiogized for by the Central j
Government, and it was thought that ample /
vengeance had been taken when Shimonesekl 4
had suffered bombardment from the war yes |
Sela OF two of the nations interested; but, !
strange to say, at the instigation of the Eng /
lish Minister-although England had not been
in the affair at ala feet of English, Dutch, |
French and American men.of-war sailed for
Shimoneseki. commenced bombardment,
landed and destroyed the batteries and
removed the guns. Japan was also required
to pay an indemnify of s9,000,000, S7s5,OOO
each TO the United States, France and Holland,
and S645, 600 to England. The conduct of
these four nations in this matter has been very
severely criticised in the East, since it was
conceded that Japan had the right to close
the straits, and at home the injustice of the
last expedition has been acknowledged, so
that for years the indemnity lay in the treas
ury, measures having been introduced each
year in Congress for its restitution, until
finally, within the past two or three years,
believe, the efforts were successful, and the
share allotted to the United States was return
ed to Japan.
NAGASAgI,
Passing out through the straits a run of a
few hours brought us to Nagasaki, whose har-
Dor is famous the world over for its beauty,
while its position with reference to China and
Corea makes it an especially important harbor
for trade intercourse with those nations.
This town has population of about $4,000,
| the principal industries being tortoise shell