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FiGUBE 1.— Map of the Ryukyu Islands (adapted from the Navy Department's 

 Civil Affairs Handbook, p. v). 



Inland from the coast on most islands, the sloping or gently rolling 

 terrain merges into rugged hills beyond. The plateaus and gently 

 rolling lands are usually covered with well-drained, moderately fertile 

 soils of clay and sand. The best lands are the alluvial soils in the 

 shallow valleys. On the slopes of the rugged hills the covering of 

 sandy loam has been washed thin, except where it accumulated in 

 pockets. At best it is of mediocre fertility. Usually the smaller 

 islands are less fertile than the larger, provide a less certain water 

 supply, and consequently are less habitable. As in all but the most 

 advanced civilizations, the environment has strongly molded and lim- 



