MX.] THE FUTURE OF JAPAN. 693 



with joy. But our joy was mixed with a regretful feeling tliat 

 we were so soon compelled to leave — without the hope of ever 

 returning — the magnificent country and noble people among 

 whom a development is now going on which probably will not 

 only give a new awakening to the old cultured races of Eastern 

 Asia, but will also prepare a new soil for European science, 

 industry, and art. It is difficult to foresee what new undreamed- 

 of blossoms and fruit this soil will yield. But the Europeans 

 are perhaps much mistaken who believe that the question here 

 is only that of clothing an Asiatic feudal state in a modern 

 European dress. Rather the day appears to me to dawn of a 

 time in which the countries round the Mediterranean of eastern 

 Asia will come to play a great part in the further development 

 of the human race. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Hong Kong and Canton— Stone-polishing Establishments at Canton — 

 Political Relations in an English Colony^Treatment of the Natives — 

 Voyage to Labiian — Coal Mines there — Excursion to the shore of 

 Borneo — Malay Villages — Singapore — Voyage to Ceylon— Point de 

 Galle — The Gem Mines at Eatnapoora — Visit to a Temple — Purchase 

 of ]\Ianuscripts— The Population of Ceylon — Dr. Ahnquist's Excursion 

 to the Interior of the Island. 



Some days after our arrival at Yokohama the Vega was 

 removed to the dock at Yokosuka, there to be protected by 

 coppering against the boring mussels of the warm seas, so 

 injurious to the vessel's hull ; the opportunity being also taken 

 advantage of by me to subject the vessel to some trifling repairs 

 and alterations in the fitting up, which were desirable because 

 during the remainder of our voyage we were to sail not in a cold 

 but in a tropical climate. The Work took somewhat longer 

 time than was reckoned on, so that it was not until the 21st 

 September that the Vego. could leave the dock and return to 

 Yokohama. It had originally been my intention to remain in 

 Japan only so long as w^as necessary for the finishing of this 

 work, during which time opportunity could be given to the 

 officers and crew of the Vega to rest after the labours and 

 sufferinos of the lonsj winter, to receive and answer letters from 

 home, and to gather from the newspapers the most important 

 occurrences that had taken place during our fourteen months' 

 absence from the regions which are affected by what takes place 

 in the world. But as appears from the foregoing narrative, the 

 delay was longer than had been intended. This indeed was 



