58 THE INLAND SEA KEVISITED. 



south side of the straits belonged to a prince who was 

 at enmity with his northern neighbour, which of course 

 was much to our advantage and comfort. When sur- 

 veying the straits years afterwards, a farmer pointed 

 out the spot where the few men killed in the action 

 were buried. This man had watched the whole affair 

 from his own door on the south side. 



The town of Simonosaki chiefly consists of one long 

 street, built along the north shore of the straits for more 

 than a mile. In walking along the street you see 

 through the houses on either side. On the water side 

 you have ever-changing views of junks, with their 

 white sails, boats busily at work carrying merchandise 

 and people to and from the big craft at anchor, — 

 muzumees in blue and scarlet being paddled off to the 

 native craft, where they pass their evenings drinking 

 tea and entertaining their friends on board. The moun- 

 tains on the south side of the straits form sometimes a 

 grand, but always a pretty, finish to these repetitions of 

 pleasing and happy views. As you walk along, it all 

 resembles many different pictures of similar objects. 

 The other side of the street is quite different. Here 

 the houses are open through as before ; but on the 

 further side gardens, green, cool, and fresh, greet your 

 eyes, flowers, miniature mountains, cascades, tiny 



