Extracts from Diary in Japan. 67 



kid gloves spotted, which it is absolutely impossible to 

 prevent. 



Strange as it may appear there is very little sickness in 

 summer, and fevers are almost unknown. 



Small-pox is very prevalent in winter, and appears when 

 the cold sets in, disappearing with the spring rains. 



Skating is fashionable amongst the European population 

 of Yokohama ; good ice usually lasts a month, or six weeks; 

 it is necessary to shade it with mats, or the sun's rays thaw it. 



The 10th of January, 1876, eight inches of snow fell at 

 Yedo, and remained with frost six days, and began to thaw 

 the seventh day. On 27th January, 1876, fifteen inches of 

 snow fell at Yedo, and delayed trains ; in some places it was 

 four feet deep. 



July, August, and September are very hot months ; 

 although the temperature is much less than in this colony, 

 the heat is more oppressive. Sun hats (helmets) and white 

 linen clothes are worn. 



There is very little thunder and lightning, but severe 

 earthquakes, which appear to travel east to west ; eastward 

 is Brise Island, which has upon it an active volcano, and 

 Fujiyama, the holy mountain, nearly 14,000 feet high, is 

 distant about sixty miles west from Brise Island. Yedo and 

 Yokohama, which are eighteen miles apart, lie between these 

 two mountains; and it is thought the waves or shocks travel 

 from Brise Island to old Fuji. (See notes on earthquakes at 

 end.) Fujiyama is clothed with snow about nine months of 

 the year, and is ascended by hosts of pilgrims during July 

 and August, who are stamped on the back with a large 

 circular seal, or stamp of red paint, in proof of the ascent 

 being made ; the pilgTims are usually clothed in white loose 

 tunics and trousers, straw sandals, and huge broad brim hats, 

 made of flat rush or bamboo. Fujiyama is well wooded at 

 the lower part, but barren towards the top, which consists 

 of loose lava and ashes, with a deep inactive volcano basin 

 at the summit. 



The ordinary Klac rhododendron grows on the mountain. 

 According to tradition Fujiyama rose from the plains in a 

 day, or night; the day being a dark day of horror and 

 destruction by earthquakes, &c. The superstitious believe 

 that the earth is moved by a huge tortoise. 



Japan generally is mountainous, a chain of mountains 

 running from north to south, through Niphon, of 3000 to 



