The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-22
JAPAN'S INLAND SEA.
Panorama of Color Spread Before the
Traveller md yOyager.

Traveller and NOyager.
Japan Letter in New York Times.
1t is a most pleasant sensation to find
ones self once again entering the Shim-
onoseN straits with the prospect of trip
through the Inland sea, where nature has
been so lavish in her bestowal of beautiful
things to be admired. Then, too, there is
always this interesting place to look for
ward to as a chance of final enjoyment
before taking the steamer for transpaciic
voyage. Yokohama to the average foreign
er seems to mean far more than Toxic,
although the latter is the capital and a
very much larger place.
The entrance to the Inland sea from the
westward is through quite a narrow pas
sage, through which the current at certain
times of the year attains velocity of more
than five miles an hour. The waters of the
sea, bordered with terrace-ribbed hills, viii
lagos nesting in coy little hooks. and the
beautiful and varied-coloring of the hills
form a picture that battles the power of an
ordinary pen to describe with any degree
OF justice. The care and attention bestowed
on all connected with cultivation of the
SOIL Is what impresses one particularly, and
the rice fields are OF greatest interest. 1t
also lends diversity of coloring In its many
shades of green.
To a Japanese returning home the con-
trast of coloring that he finds under the
bright sunshine of his own country when
compared with the shows offered by some
OF the countries that he might call his
ne1ghbors, must make him more than ever
In love with his native land. Where color
is so essentially a part of any view that
the very name for landscape embodies it,
there can be no wonder that Japanese globe
trotters miss their lovely land for their
word 'keshid' (scenery) means land
scape COLOR" which seems to fully carry
the meaning they intend to convey.
In former years the junks were every
where In evidence, and one seldom saw any
other type of craft. but nowadays this has
all undergone a very decided change, for
instead OF always picturesque junk, with
Its peculiar sails and marvellous gear, one
finds that the schooner rig has supplanted
all others. In numerous cases the native
style of hull is still used, but in the vast
toned to see are the favorites. With their
modern civilization utility is apparently the
sentiment of the hour.
The way every approach Is commanded
by batteries with modern high-powered ar
tillery induces the belief that an enemy
would have difficult task to force a
passage. On every hand 1t looks as though
Japan had concluded that war was bound
TO come eventually, and that the way to
make 1t short and decisive was to be pre-
pared. Chimneys smoking along the snore
foundries in full blast. New harbors APP
pear In advantageous localities, and the
stone breakwaters are evidence of large
sums spent in the interests of the maritime
portion of the community.
This city was the first treaty port opened
to foreign commerce, and at present owes
its Importance entirely to foreign trade.
One recognizes several familiar names
given to places about the bay through
which vessels pass before reaching the an
chorage. Mississippi bay was one that
seemed to require bit of explanation. 1t
was simple enough, however, as the Mssis-
sippi was one of our famous side-wheel
frigates and she came over here with Com
modore Matthew G. Perry when he made
Yokohama was merely a fishing village
In the middle of the last century, but now
fine esplanade of houses in the more modern
European style faces the sea and forms a
pleasing contrast with those of native ar
chitecture. Behind all a bold eminence
known as the bluff Is covered with hand
some villas. gardens and winding drives.
These are all easily seen from the comfort
able seat of a jinrikisha, the universal
wheeled vehicle OF Japan. This convey
ance is a baby chaise." The latest wrinkle
with long shafts, and coolie between them
who moves on the trot.
When few years ago the first wheeled
vehicle iva, was introduces by an Englishman
invention has proved a great success
throughout the far East. the Chinese calling
1t the man-power car. One finds it as far
from where Ii was first introduced as Sin
gapore, where fate has somewhat funnily
decreed that II should be drawn by the lazy
though mercenary Chinaman; and although
so heavily handicapped 1t completes sue
cessfully with horse and carriage and pre-
vents the introduction of the tramcar.
OF course there are horses in Japan that
are used for draught purposes, for driving
and for riding. The races next month"; for
example. are a very important feature of
the season, and all hands turn. out to see
them. They have very sensible way here
| of breaking their colts for draught pur-
poses. The colts always run alongside their
dams on transport Journeys, and thus
begin their apprenticeship by learning the
roads. AS they get little bigger wisI
! OF straw Is tied to their backs to simulate
| a burden and give them the feeling of adj
ditional weight without the fatigue. Then