120 Sporting Notes in the Far East. 



bagged. As this island is one of the residents only preserves, I 

 think it would be only courteous for any stranger to ask permission 

 to shoot over it. 



Here again, as at Yokohama, was I most unfeelingly deceived, 

 by a prevaricating native. I am not here going to relate the 

 circumstances ; but it seems to me passing strange ! that the 

 Japanese devout nation, at certain seasons, as they appear to be 

 should be such born perverters of the truth in all its forms : and 

 as their morals stand now, they certainly throw open an endless 

 field of labour, for the multitude of missionaries (of all creeds), 

 which at the present time, are scattered all over the fair islands of 

 the " Land of the Rising Sun." 



I fancy that the conversion of the "Jap ordinaire " must be very- 

 unsatisfactory and uphill work ; as by all accounts, you never know 

 when you have him safe. Such is their civility, that they will readily 

 and cheerfully agree with you on #// subjects ; and will also appear 

 to take unbounded interest, in any serious conversation you may be 

 be inclined to enter into with them ; yet they are a pig-headed race ! 

 They judge foreigners by themselves, and although always acqui- 

 escent, they believe " never a word ! " 



They have also always ready at hand, one solid and unanswerable 

 poser : when addressed by the man of peace, and told of their evil 

 lives, and what will happen to them in the Great Hereafter, if they do 

 not mend their ways ; they will often ask, " Where did my father 



