EXTRACTS FBOM JOURNAL. 273 



I6th. — ^Thermometer 58°. The Japanese grow about 

 here a small plant resembling in leaf the acacia, which 

 they use as a substitute for tea. The persimmon trees 

 are laden with beautiful ripe fruit. The wax tree, 

 Myrica cerifera, is now of a lovely red, russet, and 

 bright yellow colour. 



2bth. — Eange of thermometer in the last twenty- 

 four hours: maximum, 74°; minimum, 63°. 



28<A. — Steamed through the Inland Sea to Hirosima. 

 In days gone by this beautiful island was kept as a 

 deer preserve by some prince. Since, however, 

 foreigners appeared on the scene, he, like most others, 

 had all the deer killed off. When I say all, that 

 is hardly correct, for there are deer on the island 

 now, and many a good day's work have I had after 

 them. 



The weather lately has been uniformly fine. Hiro- 

 sima is chiefly made up of decomposed granite ; and 

 here, and elsewhere when such is the case, I notice the 

 streams and springs are always milky, but otherwise 

 good in flavour. 



November \sl. — Thermometer 51°. The coldest day 

 as yet. I heard a deer calling yesterday evening. 



^ih. — Awadshi Island. The wild boar here are 

 absurdly plentiful. 



