668 THE JAPANESE NATION. 



A long range of high mountains follows the general trend of the 

 islands from northeast to southwest, culminating in the beautiful peak 

 of Fujiama, 12,365 feet high. Volcanoes and earthquakes give to Japan 

 its name of "Earthquake country." From the mountains clear and 

 rapid streams make rich the valleys, while inland seas, dotted with 

 small islands, beautiful bays, and numerous harbors, contribute to make 

 Japan a nation of sailors, and to cover the waters with vessels and 

 boats; the whole making a picture of surpassing beauty. The land- 

 scape is a continuous succession of lofty mountains and valleys, look- 

 ing out on these inland seas, while the labor of centuries has brought 

 the valleys and mountain slopes to a high state of cultivation. 



Leaving the geography of Japan, let us glance a moment at its his- 

 tory and see how that has been affected by its geographical conditions 

 and influenced by its environments. 



The oldest existing race is the Ainos, who now live in the northeast- 

 ern islands of the Empire, the coldest and least desirable portion. They 

 originally occupied the greater portion of Japan, but were dispossessed 

 of their lands; driven far north or enslaved, and so gradually inter- 

 mingled with the subsequent immigrants, who were stronger races. 

 These immigrants came from the islands of the Pacific, from China, 

 Korea, and Mongolia. Into the southern portion of Japan came inhab- 

 itants of the Malay and Polynesian type; into the center came the 

 Koreans and Chinese, while into the north came men of ^he Mongolian 

 type. 



The habitable portions of Japan are on or near the shore; this gives 

 easy communication by water to all parts of Japan, and has led to the 

 mingling of its races and the formation of the Japanese nation. 



OLD JAPAN. 



In former times the Mikado, as the earthly representative of the 

 Deity, ruled with absolute power. But by degrees the Mikado and 

 his court becoming weak and effeminate, the real power passed from 

 the court and civil rulers to the army. The military officers gradually 

 withdrew from court to fortified camps, and subsequently built castles, 

 where they lived surrounded by their military retainers and depend- 

 ents. They embodied in their customs and mode of life most of the 

 features of the feudal system of Europe. Thus, in two widely sepa- 

 rated portions of the world, each without knowledge of the other, 

 similar environments produced like systems, and at about the same era. 

 To the introduction of this system, unknown in any other part of Asia, 

 Japan is greatly indebted for its subsequent development, for each 

 castle became a center of civilization and of an independent growth. 

 The military officers of the Mikado became Daimios, or territorial lords 

 and barons, living in fortified castles scattered over the country. They 

 usurped all the offices, compelled the people to become subject to them, 

 and through the labor of these serfs acquired large hereditary revenues. 



