SIMOD A. 



413 



At the opening of a smaller valley, -which branches off from the main one near Hongo, is a 

 small village, called Eendai-zhi, from the Lotus terrace monastery near by. 



Japanese Rice Cleaner and Spado. 



From Hongo the valley widens more and more until it reaches Simoda, where it forms an 

 iipen expanse, like an alluvial plain. Along the base of the range of hills, and up their slopes, 

 in the direction of the harbor, the numerous farm houses and abounding granaries, many of 

 them of stone, and with substantial walls of the same material, exhibit a cheerfiil prospect of 

 thrift and comfort. Nor are there wanting evidences of luxuriant enjoyment in the handsome 

 structure of the dwelling houses^ with their pleasure grounds adorned with pastures of varie- 

 gated flowers, artificial ponds of gold fish, and fancy dwarf shade and fruit trees. West of 

 Simoda the villages are smaller, and the hills which flank them of less height. In that 

 direction there are no villages of a shorter distance than five miles from the town of Simoda. 

 Near two seaside settlements, towards the southwest, the inhabitants have excavated largo 

 chambers in the cliffs, some hundred feet above the shore, in which they store the sea weed, 

 which is a favorite article for chewing, as tobacco is used with us, and where the fishermen occa- 

 sionally resort for shelter. The lower hills in every direction are covered with wood, from 

 which large supplies of charcoal are made, which is extensively used as fuel for domestic and 

 manufacturing purposes. 



The topographical characteristics of Simoda are such as to indicate a healthful climate. Its 

 situation on the extremity of a peninsula, looking seaward, and the elevated ground which 

 surrounds the town, secure the fresh breezes of the sea and a freedom from miasmatic influences. 

 Simoda itself lies low, but the soil is dry, and the stream which passes through it flows rapidly 

 and with a clear current of pure water. It cannot bo very cold, as Simoda is at the level of tho 

 sea, by the equable temperature of which the winter season is necessarily tempered. Tho hills 

 from under which the town snugly reposes protect it from the full severity of tho blasts from 

 the snowy summits of the distant mountains. The climate is more or less variable in the 

 winter and spring. The presence of snow upon the lofty peaks, although there is seldom frost 

 or snow at Simoda itself, and the not unfrequent rains with the ever recurring fogs, give an 

 occasional humidity and rawness to the atmosphere, which are chilling to the senses, and must 

 be productive of occasional inflammatory diseases, such as are frequent in the spring and winter 

 witli us. The change of the wind alternates often between the warm sea breezes from the 



