THE CRYTOMERIA IN JAPAN 219 
Whether in its character as the dominating 
personality of vast woodland areas, or as the sole 
representative of pure forests self-sown and self- 
grown, it has been literally raved about by 
visitors, weather-beaten old travellers, and far-famed 
plant collectors. In these ranks, too, there are many 
to whom ecstasies are alien by nature and habit ; 
but who, nevertheless, in spite of the promptings of 
an inborn reserve, have been moved to declamations 
of enthusiasm on its behalf, as they looked out 
upon these huge forest areas of Japan, with Crypto- 
merias towering to majestic heights and attaining a 
still more mighty circumference, arising from beds 
of undergrowing Cryptogams, ferns, mosses, and 
lichens, with their trunks embedded in the deader 
company of decayed tree-stumps and their ever- 
attendant fungi, but still rising superior to all around 
and revelling in a conquering growth. It is then, 
on such occasions and beholding such scenes, that all 
the sight-seers, whether prosaic or poetical of tempera- 
ment, have offered up spontaneous tribute, and in 
one clear clarion voice sung out their hymn of 
praise. 
Intuitively, one and all, they seem to have suc- 
cumbed to some spell of mysterious influence upon 
entering their precincts, as if it were that some 
inner conscience arose and said : 
A sacred presence overbroods 
The earth whereon we meet, 
These winding forest paths are trod 
By more than mortal feet. 
WHITTIER 
And when we read of these scenes, and of all they 
bring and of all they leave, how many a once youthful 
traveller, we picture to ourself, must repent that in 
those unfledged days,—which in so many cases are 
the only days of life that can be dedicated to distant 
