FUSI-YAMA. 



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to Europe intelligence of the bright isles, whose Japanese name, Nipon or Niphon, 

 means literally "Sun-source." 



On the way to Yokohama, the great port of Japan, the voyager will encounter 

 the monsoons, the north-east version of which brings deliciously cool air from October 

 to March, while the south-west monsoon brings hot and weary weather. On the way 

 Nagasaki, on the island of Kiusiu, will almost certainly be visited, which has a harbour with 

 a very narrow entrance, with hills running down to the water's edge, beautifully covered 

 with luxuriant grass and low trees. The Japanese have planted batteries on either side, 

 which would probably prevent any vessel short of a strong ironclad from getting in or 



THE FUSIYAMA MOUNTAIN. 



out of the harbour. The city has a population at least of 150,000. There are a number of 

 Chinese restricted to one quarter, surrounded by a high wall, in which is a heavy gate, 

 that is securely locked every night. Their dwellings are usually mean and filthy, and compare 

 very unfavourably with the neat, clean, matted dwellings of the Japanese. The latter 

 despise the former; indeed, you can scarcely insult a native more than to compare him 

 with his brother of Nankin. The Japanese term them the Nankin Sans. 



The island of Niphon, on which Yokohama is situated, is about one hundred and 

 seventy miles long by seventy broad, while Yesso is somewhat longer and narrower. Japan 

 really became known to Europe through Fernando Mendez Pinto, a Portugese who was 

 shipwrecked there in 1549. Seven years later the famous Jesuit, Francis Xavier, 

 inti-oduced the Catholic faith, which for a long time made great progress. But a fatal 

 mistake was made in 1580, when an embassy was sent to the Pope with presents and 

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