Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-10-05

and there, on either side of the gully,
the lovely mountain lilly-a real
mountain gem-shows its gracefully
dropping flower. Below you the clear
waters of the river hurry on towards
the sea.
Near Sakata, on the sea of Japan, is
an island of solid rock, approximately
half mile square. Local legend has it
that this island tTobishima) was pro-
iected there by former eruption of
the volcano Chokaisan, some ten miles
distant. Certain it is that We passed
hundreds Of tons of rock projected, IN
an earthquake four years ago, from the
cliffs above US into the sea below US.
The same earthquake destroyed a great
part of Sakata.
The northeastern part of this, the
main, island is mountainous, almost
uninhabited region. 1t is accessible,
either by tedious voyage of seven
hours in steam tug across the sea OF
Rik1loku or by still more tiresome
trip of some nine hours in rude coach
around the sterile eastern coast of the
sea. Having passed by steamer on
the Sea of Japan from Akita around
the northwesternpeninsula through the
strait of TSurugu to Hakodat, thence
by steamship in seven hours back to
Aon,ori on the northern coast OF this
island, we proceeded by the steam tug
to the northeastern peninsula. There
we made our headquarters at place
called Tana6e. From Tanabe we as
cended OSore-San-a volcano with ev-
licences of activity. But few foreign
els had ever made the tedious trip to
the peninsula. Perhaps none before
us had ever viewed the magnificent
crater Of Osore. san. The huge rim
of the volcano, perhaps ten miles in
circumference, is studded by lofty
peaks, each of which from below seems
to be a separate part of a mountain
range. Most of the outer rim is cov-
cred by an impenetrable mass Of grass
and dense shrubbery, or with various
kinds of trees. The center of the an
cient crater is now lake Of q miles
circumference. In the broad slope be-
tween the lake and the rim, are nu-
merous yellow pools in whose bottoms
one can see the waterapparently boil
ing up. The water in many Of them
was, however, cold. Skirting the lake
on the north, we cross a rapid flowing
stream, outlet Of the lake. On the
western side, we arrive at buddhist
temple to which is adjoined the large
residence of the priests.
Most of the great mountains, espe-
cially volcanoes of japan, are held to
be sacred. They are believed to have
been the seats of early saints or gods
much resembling in this respect the
belief of the ancient Greeks. OSore-
san is supposed to have been the seat
of the saint Jukah DaiShi. 1t has,
therefore, been the seat of temple
and a result of pious (?) pilgrims for
more than eleven hundred years. Like
other sacred mountains, it is still much
frequented by pilgrims The band Of
plodding pilgrims is a common sight
in summer on the highways leading to
sacred mountains. They are not, ac-
cording to our ideas, over devout and
abstinent. On the contrary, their rev.
elry at the inns frequently make, sleep
for other guests impossible. On the
mountain, they are always lodged and
fed in the large residence Of the priests.
For this, no charge is ever exacted /;
but suitable gratuity is customary,
in addition to any special gift to the
temple.
At the residence Of the priests we
were given tea, and, along with band
of pilgrims, furnished guide. Leav-
ing our own guide and our food, we
followed the temple guide. He showed
us many sacred images Of special sig
nifcance, many sacred spots, such as
the place where the saint was wont to
mediate, to preach, TO cit, &C. More
interesting than all the religious things
were the phenomena Of nature-many
Of which, however, were also associated
with religious beliefs. There were
innumerable points at which water
seemed to spurt and boil right out Of
the hollow-sounding cinder bed. Some
were clear, some were yellow and sui
phurous, others were muddy, even al
most black and filthy in appearance.
At other points, Kissing sound would
be traced to the escape, from similar
orifces, of scarcely visible sulphurous
steam and gas. This at several points
aIso issuad from yawninO clefts In the