HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 19 



of a gun, I thinkee. No can savey that pidgin cookee no 

 makee sit down, all same sea-boot. I think all same 

 fooro (fool)." 



The natural tendency of man to strong language, in order 

 to ease the expression of his more violent emotions, is uni- 

 versally illustrated, and has been even justified, by the pious 

 Scotchwoman, who, when reproached with the fact of her 

 son being too strongly addicted to swearing, replied that, 

 " There was nae doubt that Jock was a awfu' swearer, but 

 who could deny that it was a great set-aff to conversation." 



Cape Yesan terminates in a large volcanic mountain, 

 which, rising sheer from the sea to a height of 2300 feet, 

 stood out in bold relief against the hard northern sky. In 

 the calm, clear air its blunt and somewhat rounded summit 

 was enveloped in a mist of steam and sulphurous vapour. 

 Frequent landslips revealed here and there the red 

 sandstone rock, contrasting vividly with the snow-like 

 appearance of the beds of sulphur with which its upper half 

 is covered. 



In the still air, great columns of vapour rose like genii 

 from the innumerable boiling springs which studded its 

 base and shoulders, while every now and then from some 

 unseen crevice a cloud of molten sulphur, impelled by the 

 pent-up steam beneath, was hurled upwards with the noise 

 of artillery. The lively imagery of Eastern story was 

 witnessed in Nature's forces ; the mind, so retentive of early 

 impressions, recalled without effort that delightful story of 

 boyhood's days, " The Fisherman and the Genii." 



It might well have been upon some kindred shore to this, 

 where Nature in all her wildness and mystery reigned 

 supreme, some tiny sandy bay, such as we can just see 

 breaking the stern grandeur of the rock-bound coast, that 

 the lonely fisherman, with his primitive net, dragged from 

 the crystal depths the earthen jar. He breaks the magic 

 seal, and lo ! with a terrible report, where all was clear and 

 still before, there rises a cloud of blinding vapour, which 

 gradually assumes the form of the genii of the mountain. 



C 2 



