338 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 



almost invariably inclined to be odd or ludicrous, — not 

 being hampered by any preconceived rules, they give 

 full scope to their mood in all their productions. 

 Another of their peculiar traits of character is their 

 liking for curves and tortuous lines in form as 

 well as design ; they suit their humour, and the 

 Japanese artist understands to twist them cunningly 

 into a multitude of devices in a manner quite new to 

 us. They sometimes attempt landscapes ; here they 

 fail however, their ideas of perspective being too 

 limited, which, in fact, requires technical study. It is 

 diiFerent, however, where the subject is simply a 

 matter of correct feeling or instinct, which never mis- 

 leads them, and there is always harmony of colour and 

 extraordinary finish. 



I have been told that the people of Japan are 

 musical ; they certainly are fond of music, but their 

 performances on the sam-sin, a small three-stringed 

 guitar, the koto, or mandoline, and the flageolet, blown 

 into from the end, seemed to me of a very elementary 

 character. No, as for vocal as well as instrumental 

 achievements, I must pass the palm into other 

 hands. 



My stay at Yeddo, like all good things, at last came 

 to an end ; not, however, without my having taken 



