24 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



termittents may arise about the time of the maturing of the rice, when the water is drawn off 

 from the land for a brief period. 



Situated near the tropics, intense heat might he expected here ; but this is so tempered by 

 sea winds and the elevation of the land, as not to be excessive or even severe ; hence, diseases 

 thence arising, as bilious disorders, diarrhoea, cholera morbus, &c, are not to be apprehended. 

 Nor do the cold northwest winds from the continent of Asia reach this favored isle with their 

 chilling blasts, being mellowed by traversing a lengthened sea, through which is flowing a cur- 

 rent of warm water from the south. Thus softened in their long course, they do not bear with 

 them inflammatory affections, such as pneumonia, pleurisy, rheumatism, and the like. In 

 short, no causes seem to exist for endemics or epidemics — unless, indeed, a comparatively poor 

 food may predispose the people to strumous complaints. Sporadic cases of any of the prece- 

 ding classes of disease may occur, of course, but would arise from imprudence or accidental 

 causes. The above opinion could not be brought to the test of personal experience; but it 

 may be remarked, that of all the multitudes seen upon various occasions, only one person was 

 noticed as having an anemic condition, owing, apparently, to disease of the digestive system. 

 Several, however, were observed to have marks of contagious diseases, such as smallpox and 

 the venereal. A few cases of noses caved in and flat with the face, in both men and women, 

 were seen in the market-place at Napha, and also one case of elephantiasis. 



To illustrate how sporadic cases may occur, the nature of the remedies used, and, perhaps, the 

 physical endurance of the ruling classes, the following case is introduced: 



Upon the third day, our road lay over three of the before-mentioned promontories, with very 

 steep ascents and descents, and an elevation of some 200 feet. These had to be passed upon foot, 

 both going and returning, by the whole party. The interpreter, of a low grade in the upper 

 orders, and who, by the way, had walked much less the preceding days than any of us, had now 

 this task to perform. After it was done, and before reaching shelter for the night, a cool, 

 drizzly rain was blown upon us. The next morning, instead of making his appearance, Usi- 

 sarti sent to ask for a little sugar. He had an ephemeral fever, arising from the fatigue and 

 exposure of the day before, and, by my advice, remained behind. The sugar was for medicine. 

 It was used first in ecm sucre, which he thought would soon relieve him. It was next made 

 into a paste with starch (of the sweet potato), and boiling water added ; this he drank, and re- 

 marked he would be ready to start after sleeping a little. The sickness was slight, and appar- 

 ently would be brief ; the remedy was equally simple, (quite French,) and would probably be 

 sufficient. Indications of a more active external practice are manifested in the course of the 

 spine and upon the abdomen of many of the inhabitants. 



To conclude this branch of the report, the climate of Lew Chew is, perhaps, as pleasant, as 

 free from the severity of winter's cold or summer's heat, as any in the world; and the island is 

 nearly, if not quite, as healthy as any on the bosom of the sea. 



AGRICULTURE. 



Soil, — is somewhat various. In the southern half of tbe island it lies upon limestone, which 

 protrudes through it in many places on the tops and sides of ridges, in large and irregular 

 masses, causing the scenery to be peculiar and picturesque. These frequently appeared like the 

 ruins of fortresses, castles, and abbeys. Around and in the midst of these rocks the stratum of 

 soil is thin, and, therefore, not susceptible of culture, except in small spots. In this section, 

 and indeed in all the island, there is little sandy loam or sandy soil. The uplands consist, in 



