Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-08-31
mao JAPANEsR. PoRTs.
What the Islands Look Like 70 An
Kansan's Eyes.

Letter from Japan by G. G. Wich
in Chapman Gazette; On the morn
ing of the 23rd we should have been
reused from dream of milking COWS
and feeding hogs by the cry OF Land
Ho!" but we were not. We simply
sauntered out on deck and saw the
mountainous outlines Of Japan loom
ing up ahead. Soon the ridges as
sumed tangible shapes. There were
bold headlands with lighthouses, and
fortress on our left.
The mountain and hill tops were
Ifringed with scattering, tall, scrag-
Ky trees. There were no beetling
cliffs, rocky, barren slopes or sWampy
stretches Of tide covered shore, The
surface was steep but not precipi-
tous; here and there cut by gulches,
lined by artificial terraces, and
checkered with small cultivated
patches, but everywhere green to the
waters edge. Nestled along the shore
every mile or two were villages
ranging in size from Detroit to ABB
lene, and, without stretching 1t, more
picturesque than either of these CEN
ters of beauty. 4-..
We knew that we were entering a
bay and that 1t was Yokohoma Bay.
Still we kept steaming ahead; and
steaming ahead, passing villages,
lighthouses, and small ports. sailing
through fleets of fishing boats, meet
ing ocean going steamers, passing
coast sailing junks, and still the
forward horizon was water. We'll,
this do beat ALL" l thought to my
self. "Here's little old Japan, that's
only two inches long on the map, and
she has a harbor as big as the Gulf
Of Mexico"
We were in the bay two or three
hours before the spires and spars OF
the city and harbor of Yokohoma
were seen. And all this time we were
passing dozens and scores of hun
dreds of fishing crafts-some mere
dancing thimbles, sampans, propell-
ed by a single oar, ranging up to
seaworthy sailing vessels. Again
soliloquized: "If Charley Day can
supply the whole city of Chapman
with fish, there are enough fish
ermen here in the bay to supply
billion people, and have scraps
enough left for all the cats"
Yokohoma is the, principal port
of Japan, and has perhaps twice as
many vessels in the harbor as San
Francisco. There are only two piers,
and wharf charges are SO high that
few vessels tie up. The majority
anchor inside the breakwater, and
load and unload from launches and
barges.
There is a splendid breakwater,
built out n semi-circle and Afford
ing ample anchorage.
As we steamed slowly inside the
breakwater and anchored, we were
soon surrounded by dozens Of small
boats, the one cared sampan, larger
boats with a single sail, and steam
launches. Women we're as much in
evidence as the men, half OF them
barefooted, and all in evening dress
(?).
The steam launch came along side
and took us ashore. At last Gafter
dreaming for years; after sailing the
high seas from pillow seat after
tempestous voyages in which a load
of wheat was the good ship, Graino;
the Smoky Hill river was Dover
Strait or the Dardenelles and Enter
prise, Amsterdam or Constantine
pie, at last l was upan a foreign
shore. And what did I do? didn't
go into a drug store and order root
beer all around, or set up the stogies,
It all seemed as much a matter OF
course as If were horse eating
oats in an adjoining county.