470 THE JAPANESE. 



Europe. Large flocks of handsome pigeons were com- 

 mitting depredations on the padi-fields ; several elegant 

 and showy-looking Cetonits (coleopterous insects) were 

 flying about the grass on the summits of the hills, which 

 were peopled moreover by thousands of those singular 

 long-headed Orthoptera, the Truxalis, beautiful green 

 Pliylloptera with large, soft, leaf-like elytra, and an odd- 

 looking Tropidinotus. In the evening, glow-worms were 

 exceedingly numerous in all parts of the island. In the 

 still, calm nights, the "diapason of the deep" lent its 

 powers of pleasing, as the waves idly dashed against the 

 rock-bound coast, and very soon lulled the small party, 

 tired with their days rambling, to a sound sleep on the 

 mats and grass laid for them on the ground. 



On the 5th of August we were anchored in Nangasaki 

 Bay, with the mountainous country covered with vegeta- 

 tion, surrounding us on all sides. The hills being prettily 

 surmounted with trees, and their sides beautifully culti- 

 vated in terraces after the Chinese fashion, together with 

 the batteries and tents for the troops on shore, and the 

 surface of the bay swarming with imperial guard-boats, 

 fishing craft, and pleasure boats, gave an air of great 

 vivacity and novelty to the scene. The gentlemen of 

 Japan were most polite and courteous in their manners, 

 conducting themselves with refined and polished urbanity, 

 and walking about with a solemn and respectful de- 

 meanour, putting to shame the ill-breeding of the seamen 

 who ventured to laugh at them. When they meet one 

 another, they close the hands, bring them together at the 

 knees, and, bending the body, make a very graceful bow. 

 Their curiosity and desire for information was very great. 



