A WALK IN KIUSIU. Ill 



hedge of the big jessamine {Olea fragrans), which 

 scented the whole atmosphere. Cucumbers were 

 growing over the side path and hedge, and a great 

 vegetable-marrow plant had run all over one end of the 

 roof of the cottage. A few tea shrubs were in full 

 bloom in the garden. This useful species of camellia 

 is both pleasant to the eye and to the taste. A pair of 

 little bantams pecked about the garden, and one of the 

 tailless cats peculiar to this country basked in the sun. 

 A pretty girl worked away at her loom under the shade 

 of the broad verandah ; a cloth round her waist was 

 her sole attire, and was doubtless enough, for the day 

 by this time had become very warm, although the 

 thermometer stood only at about 78". 



The elderly lady of this comfortable little home 

 was busy amongst her pots and pans. Two or three 

 smaller bairns were playing with a kitten, and a baby 

 strapped on its tiny sister's back was enjoying itself 

 in profound slumber, notwithstanding the perpetual 

 motion of its nurse. I could not help contrasting this 

 comfortable happy-looking labourer's home — by no 

 means an exceptional one — with many of our own 

 dirty, uncared-for, squalid cottages, belonging to the 

 same class of people. 



A little way further on I came to the well from 



