104 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



for strength. In writing, the Japanese begin at what we call 

 the last page of a book, though not at the bottom of it, but 

 at the top ; yet not at the left-hand corner, but at the right- 

 hand one : nevertheless, they do not proceed from right to 

 left, but from top to bottom, so that all the lines are vertical ; 

 and, in reading, they begin at the top of the last column, and, 

 having finished that, begin again at the top of the one next 

 to it on the left, and so on to the place called by us the 

 beginning. The title of a book is always printed on the 

 front edges of the leaves, instead of on the back of the cover, 

 and every leaf is double instead of single, and so the paper 

 is printed only on one side. Candles in Dai Nippon do not 

 fit into a socket of the candlestick, but are made hollow so 

 as to slip on to it. Japanese do not kiss, nor rub noses, nor 

 shake hands, nor rise up, in saluting, but show their respect 

 for each other by repeated bowing, rubbing their own shins 

 with open hands, or by touching the forehead to the floor or 

 the ground. 



In the island of Yezo are several herds of wild horses 

 which belong to the government, and which are never fed, 

 though the snow often lies on the ground for weeks at a 

 time, and all vegetation ceases during the long cold winter. 

 The principal fodder of these animals at this season is a 

 small, hardy bamboo, which covers immense areas of the 

 country, especially on the mountains, attaining a height of 

 six or eight feet. The foliage remains green under the snow ; 

 and the horses dig for it with their feet, or liberate the elastic 

 stalks by trampling among them. The only assistance rend- 

 ered them by the keepers of the herds is to protect them 

 from the attacks of bears and wolves, and, in the case of deep 

 snows, to drive them to localities where the bamboo is abun- 

 dant. While most of the horses thus reared are somewhat 

 stunted in growth, and defective in form and spirit, there are 

 some admirable specimens which are fleet, sure-footed, and 

 lively. They are sold in the wild state at the very mod- 

 erate price of six dollars and a half apiece ; and the best of 

 them, when broken, would readily sell in Massachusetts at 

 one hundred dollars each. 



The Japanese are very fond of riding and driving ; and the 

 number of horses will undoubtedly increase rapidly, now that 

 all classes are allowed the privilege of using them, and a 



