34 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



so strong is the resemblance of the leaf, and even the stem ; which, however, is more brittle. 

 What kind of fruit it may bear is unknown, but the blossom is very like that of the above rasp- 

 berry, or a strawberry, and grows at the junction of leaf and stalk, with none or a very short 

 peduncle. 



A wild fig-tree (ficus) was also seen, with two mature fruit upon it. It was a mere shrub, 

 about twelve or sixteen inches high. 



Banana (musasapientum). This is not commonly reared for its fruit, ifatall. Numerous patches 

 are grown, the plants being very close together, and must yield very largely the material for 

 which it is cultivated. The fibres serve instead of hemp or flax for manufacturing the cloth — per- 

 haps mixed with cotton — universally worn. Paper, also, is probably made with it. Being thus 

 the source of clothing for the inhabitants, it is a most important crop, second to few, if any, on 

 the island. In this connexion, the cotton-plant (gossypium herbaceum) may be mentioned. It 

 is cultivated in small quantities, in rows, and, like all their culture, on a small surface. The 

 only exceptions to smooth or level culture are the before-mentioned potato-beds, in heavy, wet 

 clays, and a small lot "hilled up," supposed to be in ground-nuts. 



The clothing of the upper classes is always neat, light and cool in the summer, lined or wad- 

 ded in the winter. The color generally blue. That of the working-people is coarser and com- 

 monly undyed. They are never allowed to wear stockings, nor do I recollect ever seeing them 

 with sandals on. While at labor in summer, they are nearly naked; at other times, they are 

 decently clothed. In rains they do not abandon their work, but, donning a broad-brimmed 

 conical hat, and a loose, shaggy, short cape, both rudely made of the leaves of sugar-cane or 

 banana, they labor on without intermission ; at least this was witnessed in the moderate rain 

 we had. Usually, no hats are worn by any of the people. 



Dye-stuff's of some sort are extensively used, but what they are could not be ascertained. Can 

 it be the dyer's buck- wheat (polygonum tinctorium) of China? 



Granaries. — These are well worthy of note. Very numerous (supposed) public ones are pre- 

 pared in the towns; as many or more than ten or twelve occurring occasionally at one place. 

 Private ones have already been mentioned. They are raised from the ground some six feet, 

 and supported by posts placed upon stones. The body (of cane interwoven or plank) is square, 

 spreads outward on all sides as it ascends to the eaves, and is covered by thick thatch. One 

 will hold from four hundred to five hundred bushels, or more. Bice, wheat, millet, &c, are 

 probably deposited in them, which are kept perfectly cool and dry by the thatch and elevation 

 from the ground, and completely preserved from vermin ; a necessary precaution, as rats are 

 numerous and of very large size. 



Animals. — The horses are small, but active and strong. They are chiefly used for riding by 

 the rich; some carry burdens to market, &c, but almost all such labor is done by men and 

 women. I heard of horses being employed at the plough and sugar-mill, but never saw it. 

 The cattle are universally black and short-horned. Bulls are not large, but are in tolerable 

 order, and work as before indicated. They are harnessed by a strap crossing the breast, and 

 leading to a rough wooden saddle, from whence it goes on as a trace to the place of attachment 

 for draught. Cows are iised for maintaining the stock. How the cattle are ultimately disposed 

 of is not known. Goats are kept, probably, for their flesh, and it may be to assist with their 

 milk in making the bean-cheese. 



There are great numbers of hogs, two or three with pigs being kept in pens by every house 

 in the villages. They are a small, black breed, rarely going beyond one hundred and fifty 



