EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL. 263 



Qth. — Went on to Awasi Bay. A button-hook 

 which I lost here last October was returned to me 

 to-day. A poor woman found it and kept it safely 

 until I turned up again. Eather different from what 

 one would find in England, where finders of other 

 people's property either keep it or destroy it. 



nth. — Found an osprey's nest and' three eggs. 



1 2th. — I came upon a large crested seal fishing about 

 some rocks ; what a curious animal it is ! This one was 

 by no means frightened at the boat as we pulled close 

 up to it. I believe it is only the male that has the 

 curious top-knot to his head. This one must have been 

 quite twelve feet long, of a yellowish colour, head and 

 shoulders darker, hinder fins very large and black. It 

 is amusing to watch an osprey on her nest in a fir-tree 

 which is growing on a small rocky islet, close to the 

 ship. 



15th. — Blowing hard from the south, and raining. 

 Wolves are very common here — Taskara Ura, Kii coast. 

 No large wood or timber about; dense fern, shrubs, 

 and rank grass constitute the cover. The people 

 are of the very poorest class, the country being far 

 too mountainous, rugged, and rough, for anybody but 

 charcoal-burners, and a few fishermen, and very small 

 farmers. Wild boar and deer are very numerous. As 



