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cut (Simonosaki). Made a very fair bag over my old 

 ground — pheasant and snipe. Otters are very nume- 

 rous about here. This place seems to be very flourish- 

 ing from the large numbers of junks that start both 

 west and east. It is the chief rice port of the whole 

 of ISTagato. I often see these great unwieldy craft 

 backing through the straits most cleverly, when a 

 good breeze blows against the eastern tide ; they keep 

 perfect command of their vessels in this way, lowering 

 or hoisting the one great sail according to the wind, 

 all the time being carried through by the strong current, 

 which is also acting on their enormous rudder. These 

 vessels are steered with the greatest nicety. The people 

 in the town are always asking me " when Simonosaki is 

 to be opened to the world." The telegraph, which runs 

 through the entire country from north to south, passes 

 by here, and, if need be, I can telegraph to any part 

 of the globe. What a difference a few years has made 

 in this country ! 



loth. — Shot a beautiful species of dark pigeon, 

 called Columha janthina. The shores of the islands 

 about the entrance to the straits are generally rocky, of 

 a dark red sandstone. Ducks are arriving. I have 

 seen some widgeon. The natives are hard at work on 

 their rice, which is half cut. An excellent crop. 



