324 TKAVEL, ADVENTUEE, AND SPOKT. 



ally protected from the south-west winds to which 

 Ohosaka is exposed. There is very good anchorage 

 at about four or five fathoms, and this depth of 

 water is found quite close to the shore. Indeed, a 

 platform might almost be run from the beach on 

 to a vessel lying at anchor with short chain ; and a 

 few stone piers, such as the Japanese know so well 

 how to construct, will make it one of the most com- 

 modious places in the world for shipping. It is 

 quite close enough to Ohosaka for the purposes of 

 trade, and yet far enough off to allow the foreign 

 residents plenty of room to move about without 

 annoying the inhabitants of the large town by their 

 peculiar habits, and their disregard of all the manners 

 which the Japanese regard as constituting politeness. 

 The Japanese represent Ohosaka to be subject to 

 very violent earthquakes, but the extent of the town 

 and the size of many of the buildings go to contradict 

 the statement. 



When anchoring for the night at Hiogo, our vessel, 

 through mismanagement on board the steamer, got in 

 among some junks that were lying at anchor, and 

 threatened to do them damage. It was very in- 

 teresting to notice the extreme coolness and quiet- 

 ness displayed by the Japanese boatmen on this 

 occasion. They exerted themselves manfully and 

 ingeniously ; but it was without any bustle, outcry, 

 or apparent excitement. Even the author of 'Guy 

 Livingstone ' would have been satisfied with their 



