88 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



mountains, and incapable of culture ; certainly such was the case as far as the eye could reach 

 from the shipping, with very limited exceptions. In fact, even the horses seemed to be ill-fed 

 and ill-conditioned. These were small, but not remarkably diminutive. Those seen near Yedo 

 and Simoda were better kept, and, though not large formed, were fatter and stronger. 



For the accommodation of horses and bullocks there are many stables, which are all constructed 

 upon one uniform plan, as if enforced by tbe regulation of law. They are rectangular and ob- 

 long about twelve feet by thirty, and are divided into three equal compartments with a loft over- 

 Lead. The stables are very neatly and very well built, rivalling in these respects many of the 

 houses. At one end is a room tor provender, &c; at the other, a place for receiving and com- 

 posting manure, and the animal occupies the central division. From this equal allotment of 

 space and shelter for provender, animal, and manure, an idea may be formed of the great im- 

 portance attached to the latter by the Japanese. And, as manifesting this more strongly, it 

 may be mentioned that there are numerous large pipes or hogsheads placed beside all the high- 

 ways and byways about Simoda, for the reception and preservation of liquid manure. These 

 are employed instead of the pits formerly mentioned, the soil being here too sandy and porous to 

 retain the liquid portions. From these vessels, which have a light conical thatching, the odor 

 is very offensive at times, but it is blown alike upon the noble and ignoble passer-by, and has 

 to be borne by the former in consideration of its indispensable necessity in providing means of 

 sustenance for them all. As in China, its application appears to be preferred in the liquid 

 form ; and, as in China also, it appears to be given to the young plant while growing, instead 

 of to the earth as a preparation for the seed. I am persuaded there is much wisdom and phi- 

 losophy in this practice, and it would be well for us to follow the example, could means and 

 appliances sufficiently economical be devised. 



Not much can be said about the animal food used by this remarkable people. It seems to 

 consist in fowls and their produce, and of fish. To show to what small particulars they descend, 

 it may be observed, they catch and dry and offer for sale little fishes, of which it would require 

 at least six to be the size of a man's little finger. And this shift is resorted to, although they 

 have great quantities of large and fine fish. It merely indicates thescarcity and value of ani- 

 mal food with them. 



The books tell us they do not eat the flesh of animals — such as cattle, hogs, &c. — on account 

 of their religious opinions; or, because as the bullock has to work, therefore he should not be 

 eaten ; or, as the cow has to suckle, therefore she ought not to be milked. But, be this as it 

 may, they one and all ate freely and heartily of all kinds of meat set before them at our enter- 

 tainments, of which the fattest pork seemed to be the most relished morsel. 



There appeared to be quite a limited number of horses and cattle about Simoda ; and there 

 were no hogs, no sheep. We had one or two sheep in the squadron, and they were objects of 

 much observation to the Japanese; and the more so, when informed that our cloth was manu- 

 factured from their wool. The cloth itself was a wonder to the females, who admired its tex- 

 ture, but still more its very great width. 



Had I known from the beginning that these sketches were to assume their present form, they 

 might have been prepared more worthily for publication. As it is, they have been arranged 

 from notes written at the time, or from traces left upon the memory. Some errors there doubt- 

 less are, arising from partial views and limited observations, but in the main they are correct. 

 It is possible they may afford some interest to our farmers, however incompletely handled, if 

 from the novelty of the subject alone. 



Kespectfully submitted, DAN'L. S. GREEN. 



