THE CRYTOMERIA IN JAPAN 219 



Whether in its character as the dominating 

 personality of vast woodland areas, or as the sole 

 representative of pure forests self-sown and self- 

 grown, it has been literally raved about by 

 visitors, weather-beaten old travellers, and far-famed 

 plant collectors. In these ranks, too, there are many 

 to whom ecstasies are alien by nature and habit ; 

 but who, nevertheless, in spite of the promptings of 

 an inborn reserve, have been moved to declamations 

 of enthusiasm on its behalf, as they looked out 

 upon these huge forest areas of Japan, with Crypto- 

 merias towering to majestic heights and attaining a 

 still more mighty circumference, arising from beds 

 of undergrowing Crj'ptogams, ferns, mosses, and 

 lichens, with their trunks embedded in the deader 

 company of decayed tree-stumps and their ever- 

 attendant fungi, but still rising superior to all around 

 and revelling in a conquering growth. It is then, 

 on such occasions and beholding such scenes, that all 

 the sight -seers, whether prosaic or poetical of tempera- 

 ment, have offered up spontaneous tribute, and in 

 one clear clarion voice sung out their hymn of 

 praise. 



Intuitively, one and all, they seem to have suc- 

 cumbed to some spell of mysterious influence upon 

 entering their precincts, as if it were that some 

 inner conscience arose and said : 



A sacred presence overbroods 



The earth whereon we meet. 

 These \vinding forest paths are trod 



By more than mortal feet. 



Whittier 



And when we read of these scenes, and of all they 

 bring and of all they leave, how many a once youthful 

 traveller, we picture to ourself, must repent that in 

 those unfledged days, — which in so many cases are 

 the only days of life that can be dedicated to distant 



