ElfSUMl 381 



that the Japanese possess regarding the mineral wealth 

 of the country is kept entirely to themselves. 



Once when returning from an inland mountain peak, 

 to get to which I had crossed numerous high ranges, I 

 observed a sort of rough settlement on the side of one 

 of the mountains, and on asking my Japanese guide 

 what was done in such a queer, wild spot, he told me it 

 was a gold mine, and that the workmen employed in 

 digging out the precious metal lived in these rude 

 dwellings. There were about one hundred men em- 

 ployed, so he assured me, but from my own observation 

 I thought there might have been half that number. 

 This was the only thing approaching a mine, or where 

 mineral of any description was worked, that I ever came 

 across in all my peregrinations, which extended over 

 a large area. I consider, therefore, tliat if I had not 

 actually come across mines or other mineral workings, 

 that I must have heard of such things if they had 

 existed to any considerable extent. 



Wlaen the art of saving or prolonging life is more 

 thoroughly understood and brought into play, the 

 population, already quite sufficient for the country, 

 will increase, and probably rapidly. What will become 

 of the extra population is a question not easy to answer. 

 An island without colonies, or ground for her people 



