128 THE KII COAST. 



Yedo. More particularly was this the ease when junks 

 carried all the merchandise. Steamers of late years 

 have taken the place of these ancient craft, and there 

 is now less traffic along the coast ; still, large fleets of 

 junks occasionally assemble here, waiting for a fair 

 westerly wind. During the interval the crews enjoy 

 themselves in the tea-houses, which are so attractive as 

 to tell much against a speedy voyage. 



A narrow creek runs a couple of miles inland from 

 the harbour of Matoya, opening out to a large shallow 

 lagoon. The surrounding country is undulating; the 

 "narrow valleys between the low hills are partly culti- 

 vated, and generally terminate in swampy patches. It 

 is a wonderful locality for game. Many an excellent 

 day's shooting I have enjoyed here. Beginning on one 

 side, and taking the country as it came, working up to 

 the head of the lagoon, my bag usually averaged six to 

 ten brace of pheasants, a hare or two, a woodcock, some 

 pigeon, half-a-dozen snipe, a few quail, and often a 

 mallard or a couple of brown duck. On reaching the 

 head, where a clump of large fir-trees grew round the 

 site of a small temple, lunch and an hour's rest was 

 thoroughly appreciated ; and here, whilst enjoying the 

 warm sun, I used to watch some ospreys, which invari- 

 ably were to be seen fishing in the shallow water. The 



