EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL. 275 



somewhere beyond where they had disappeared without 

 seeing or hearing anything. A rustling in the long 

 grass fifty yards up the hill-side made me halt, and 

 standing perfectly still, I again heard it ; at the same 

 moment the stag's horns showed like two dried sticks, 

 and judging where his shoulders ought to be, I fired. 

 With a few desperate plunges the fine beast came crash- 

 ing down the hill-side, and fell dead within five yards 

 of where I stood. His horns were very poor,, but the 

 deer was one of the largest I ever shot in the south of 

 Japan. 



29th. — Bamboo clumps and plantations are always 

 fenced in. I believe it is to protect the young shoots 

 from boars. The shoot, when twelve to eighteen inches 

 long, is a most excellent vegetable. The tea-plant is in 

 flower. 



30th. — Thermometer: maximum, 63°; minimum, 44°. 



December 1st. — Matoya. The women still at work 

 diving for seaweed; temperature of water 66°. The 

 wind is sharp and keen. How they stand it appears 

 extraordinary. 



7th. — ^Extremely cold on the mountain peaks, but 

 quite warm in the sheltered valleys. 



Came round to Toba. How this lovely place, with 

 its grand old castle, and magnificent trees dotted about 



