352 
FOREST AND STREAM 
For Forest and Stream. 
SESACHACHA* 
BY MBS. EUNICE B. I.AMBEKTON. 
i REMEMBER, I remember 
As if’t were yesterday, 
The rlpplo of a floating langhl 
Poll many leagues away; 
They called the pond Sesachacha. 
Whatever that may mean, 
I only know the fairies dwelt 
Above its silver sheen. , 
Gay vision of a tiny boat, 
Or rather cockle shell. 
Comes laden past the shores or time. 
With whom? 1 may not tell, 
I'Vir other boats and other hearts 
Have launched and moored since then. 
I only know the years go by 
And never come again. 
A blessing on the fairy pond, 
The oars that glipting swing, 
When cliffs re-echo soft and low, 
Tho songs we used to sing; 
Sweet bonny afts, they linger yet 
Tn memory’s refrain; 
Alaal to know the dream alone 
Will bring them back ggam. 
tjmliftu name or a pond at Nantucket, Mass. 
MacheMtr, N. T. 
For Forest and Slreatn. 
®lU Sports in §ap;m. 
BY S AMOUR AT. 
“Where fiery Phmbns riset.li up so bright 
That all the Orient laugheth with the sight.”— Chaucer. 
P ROBABLY no country in the world affords a better 
field for amusement to the enthusiastic sportsman 
than Old Japan, and of no country has so little been known 
until of late years, and since the advent of foreigners. 
Game from one end of the empire to the other is abundant 
and of varied description. The pheasants, woodcock, and 
snipe rival those of old England, while the several species 
of the duck and goose family oan only be equalled in this 
country for delicacy of flavor and as a standard for size, 
etc. Aside from the feathered tribe, to those who desire 
larger game, deer and boar bunting is easily obtainable in 
season, and in the northern portion of the country still 
larger game exists in the shape of bears, tigers, etc. It is 
not many years ago that I enjoyed a week of the best 
spoi o turn, I experienced during a residence of several 
years in that country. It had been determined at the 
close of the busy season in Yokohama that a few of us 
should fry our luck at game outside of treaty limits on the 
vast -paddy (rice) fields north of Yedo, which extends to 
the province of Jo-sbin, and from notes made during that 
excursion I propose to give you a rough outline of the 
trip. 
On the 25tli of November, 1872, B. and myself, having 
made all necessary preparations, started for a small hamlet 
called I-ta-bashi, about eighteen miles beyond Yedo. The 
railway from Yokohama to Yedo being still in an uncom¬ 
pleted state, we were obliged to use our carriage. After 
passing the gates of Yokohama, and a sharp pull over 
jNutigi hill, we strike a level road, or rather dyke, 
aud branching off to the right meet the tocaido, or gov¬ 
ernment road, which extends from one end of the em¬ 
pire to the other. Owing to the large traffic of 
late on the road by carriages and carts of all descriptions 
between Yokohama and Yedo, it is in such a condition as 
to make it anything but pleasant driving, whereas formerly 
one could not wish for a more level highway. We pass 
through Kanagawa, with houses on either side barely af¬ 
fording sufficient passage for two carriages to pass, and 
it is only after a great deal of maneuvering that we man¬ 
age to clear several jin-rick-shas (literally “one man 
power,” a small cart on two wheels for one person, drawn 
by,a eoolie) without overtumng them, and reach “Black 
Eyed Susan’s” tea house,.abreast of Nau-ga-mungi, where 
we gladly stop for a few moments to sponge our horses’ 
mouths out, partake of a small cup of Japanese tea, and 
eat a few ’tsembi. Jumping in the carriage again, we drive 
on, saluted by the tea house girls with “sai-yo-nara” (good 
bye). The road grows wider for a short distance, and 
makes locomotion easier for the horses, while we gradually 
lessen the distance and reach Kawa-saki, on the Logo 
River, a small village half way between Yokohama and 
Yedo. Unharnessing, we here take luncheon, while the 
bettoes (grooms) ferry the horses across the river. After 
an hour’s chat with the tea house people, we jump aboard 
a flat-boat and reach the other side. The stream is only 
about fifty yards broad, and thus easily crossed, llcre 
the tocaido runs in a straight, line for five miles, Banked on 
both sides by rico fields, aud is uninteresting until one ar¬ 
rives at gin-a-gftwa, a suburb of the city of Yedo, and 
-formerly a notorious place for drunken yackonins and 
swash bucklers. However, Sin-a-gawa has wonderfully 
changed within the past few years. Where formerly tea 
houses were restricted to foreign use, their proprietors are 
now (1872) peaceful and obliging to travelers, and but few 
tipsy two-sworded men are now met with on the road. 
Tims we gradually enter Yeilo, passing on the left the 
Dutch, American, and English,legations, and going through 
the large gateway we are at Inst fairly in Yedo itself. A 
drive through the honeho-dori, or main street, of a half an 
hour, and a sharp turn to the right, brings us to tsu-ki-ji, 
the foreign concession, where we have the pleasure of put¬ 
ting up for the night with one of the foreign diplomatic 
corps, who places his horse at our disposal. 
After a bath and a good dinner, it required a great deal 
of talking to determine which was really the best place to 
go to shoot, B. suggesting a change in the programme. A 
long discussion followed, during which we had finished a 
liberal allowance of Burgundy and cheroots, and it was 
finally decided, as first agreed upon, that I-ta-bashi was 
the most unfrequented place, and L-, our host; after mak¬ 
ing due inquiries of his boy about the necessaiy supplies 
for the week’s trip, began to doze off, followed by A.,with 
his pipe dropping into his waistcoat pocket, while B. 
amused himself overhauling his traps, etc. We managed 
to retire before' twelve o’clock, and slept soundly in the 
comfortable beds of our host, notwithstanding the legation 
consisted of a Japanese house. 
At six o’clock the next morning we were up and about, 
while A.'s waggonette and horses were already harnessed 
and betties (guards) on hand. The servants then stowed 
away our luggage while we quietly enjoyed our toast and 
tea. Everything being in order, we left the legation at 
half past six and drove off. Branching off to the left on 
the Na-ka-sendo, we passed through several small villages, 
and reached 1-ta-basbi at noon. The road was in good 
order; in fact, as good for driving over as any country 
road in America, and the scenery simply lovely. The 
monotony of rice fields was broken here and there by 
fields of wheat, or a grove of magnificent old trees. The 
tea-house was excessively clean, and a small L which we 
occupied bordered on the bank of a rivulet fringed with 
bamboos. The remainder of the day was spent in seeing 
that our fire-arms were in perfect order, and preparing am¬ 
munition for tho next day’s sport. 
At three o’clock the following morning we were aroused, 
and after taking our tea and toast by candlelight we 
sauntered out to be in readiness for the first flight of geese 
to their feeding grounds, which always occurs at early 
dawn. It was too early yet, however, and passing over the 
ridge of a small hill leading to the open ground, a grand 
sight was spread out before us. To the north the long 
range of mountains of Joskin were distinctly visible 
against the horizon, and between us for fifty miles was one 
vast sheet of rice-fields with the narrow serpentine Nak-a- 
sendo traveling northward; while to the left that grand old 
mountain Fusi-yama (literally “Peerless Mountain”) with 
its snow-capped dome rising from above its lesser sateiites 
in the heavens, and the full moon shining placidly upon its 
mirrored surface, was a sight that few in the world are 
fortunate enough to witness, and one never to be forgotten. 
It was no time for cogitation, however, and pushing rapidly 
on we separated and concealed ovrselves among the blinds 
built of rice straw thaL had previously been prepared for 
our reception. 
1 had hardly ensconced myself before the first faint 
streaks of the breaking day were visible in the eastern hor¬ 
izon, and with it was heard in the deep stillness of the 
morning tho distant “honk, honk,” which plainly an¬ 
nounced the first arrival of the early birds for food. This 
flock passed to the left of my station, and swung around 
directly in front of B., who fired two barrels and brought 
down three geese. Becoming bewildered instead of taking 
their flight in a direct line, they wheeled, and circling, 
gave both L. and myself a fair shot, which we certainly 
availed ourselves of for three more paid the penalty of 
their temerity. For two successive hours we loaded aud 
filed, as flock after flock arrived at their habitual feeding 
ground, only to be thinned and driven away. At seven 
o’clock a cessation of hostilities took place, and as there 
was uo more shooting to be done with these birds for the 
remainder of the day, it was considered advisable to send 
the bag to the house and finish with snipe shooting. After 
dispatching a hearty breakfast we walked the fields until 
noon, bagging snipe at every few yards, and when the Bun 
was high in the heavens and our noonday meal, which had 
been sent on before us, was reached, the three of us had 
24, 26, and 85 couplos of snipe to show for the morning’s 
work; and the same ground being shot over in the after¬ 
noon afforded 52 couples of birds more. No conception 
cau be formed of the multitude of these birds when the 
rice is ripe, or of the delicate flavor of their flesh. They 
are fine, plump, and equal iu size to their English con¬ 
geners. 
The next day was devoted to woodcocks and pheasants, 
and with our trusty spaniels Becky and Diver, Ilesper and 
Sally, we began work by skirting the woods bordering on 
the rice fields. Fortune favored us, aud In a short time we 
were hard at work. Suddenly we heard “Mark wood¬ 
cock!” from L., and B-, having the centre, fires as a splen- 
. did bird flies silently through the tangled wood as only a 
woodeocR can. “Well done, B.,” shouted A., as his .bird, 
twisting and twirling in among t,he brush wood, fell 
heavily. While in the very act of retrieving this bird the 
spaniel flushed a cock pheasant wbieh, flying toward L., 
. was brought suddenly to the ground by a well-directed 
shot. The work was now getting warm, and each man 
looked out for himself, with an occasional “Mark pheas¬ 
ant!" or “Mark woodeook-!’’ and our hands were kept 
busy. 
When the end of the week drew near there were few 
happier mortals in the world than L., B. aod A., and on 
Saturday night when ourhoises’ heads were turned home¬ 
ward, the waggonette would not hold the game killed 
during the last three days. We had sent to Yedo over 250 
birds of the first three days’ shooting, and now we had 200 
birds more to bear witness to the sport. Few can realise 
the pleasure that is derived from shooting in a country 
filled with game, and in cover where no white man ever 
shot before. The birds in every instance were strong on 
the wing, and in the perfection of condition. Those of 
your readers who havo been fortunate enough to have 
visited Japan, and to have shot there, will bear me out in 
saying that it is without exception the finest game country 
in the world; and tire Japanese having become of late 
years acquainted with this fact, have, like sensible people, 
framed a code of game laws which some of our sportsmen 
would do well to imitate for the protection of game in 
States where no law exist, and where extermination is only 
a question of time—and a very Bhort time at that. 
NOTES OF THE WHEELER EXPEDI¬ 
TION. 
A DAY IN THE CANON. 
Whipple. Not passable ? 
Lee . Not even jackasBable.— Ol*n PC AY. 
HE lines of this life do not always fall in pleasant 
places. In the chaparral, one fresh and dewy morn¬ 
ing, a green-coated, red-throated humming-bird came while 
I was yet asleep and stood in the air over me like a liny 
guardian angel. This was very nice, indeed, and I felt 
very much flattered and pleased by its graceful attentions. 
But last night, in the dead and solemn darkness, as I lay 
On the sand at the bottom of the canon, I was visited by a 
creature of different portent, which frightened me and dis¬ 
pleased me exceedingly. A lizaTd, one of those diabolical, 
swift-footed little whiskabouts, flopped down on me and 
my dreams, at about that hour at which evil spirits are 
supposed to be abroad. He came from that rock on whose 
lee side I had chosen my berth. First be looked at, me 
with one eye, and then fluttered across my blanketed form 
with an eccentric jerk .and stared at me with the other. 
Again, with spasm after spasm of locomotion he inspected 
me from different points of view, until I, taking the risk of 
being impolite to the devil, who be probably was, cast him 
off and breathed freely again. No, it was not an imp of 
night mare, either, such as rides the school-boy alter a 
hearty supper; this creature had the real form and sub¬ 
stance of a lizard, though what its spirit was 1 do not pre¬ 
tend to know. 
At daybreak, rolling over in search of an easier position 
—there is but one thing harder than a bed of Band, aud 
that is the solid rock—1 spied a scorpion just at the edge of 
my canvas, aspiring with clumsy claw, to climb up to me. 
But, foiled in his sociable intentions, it quickly became 
food for scientific research. Remembering the popular 
belief in the suicidal proclivities of this insect, reptile, or 
whatever it may be, we conducted it with ceremonies of 
martyrdom into open ground, built up around it a wall of 
living coals, and waited to see it sting itself and die. The 
prisoner became frantic with the heat, and, seeking escape, 
rushed toward the red embers, only to recoil from the lire. 
Again and again lie tried, but the fence of his corral was 
too hot lor him to climb. At last with faint and fainter 
equirmings he died. Did he sting himself to death? 
Faith, I know not. All of this time he had been wriggling 
through all of the motions incidental to a reptile’B distress, 
and, in the course of these, his tail, curled in agony, did 
once or twice seem to touch iiis back. In this motion 
some of the spectators did see him stab himself, like a 
Roman at bay, but there was still a strong latent opinion 
among the unscientific that the wretch was simply toasted 
to death. 
This was in the Cespe Canon, between whose immense 
walls .and over whose rock sluices and bowlder-dams, we 
were seeking a thoroughfare. That was a day of bard 
work for aHimal and man. Laboring incessantly from day¬ 
light till dark, scarcely two miles of progress could we 
achieve. Now the task would be to flounder through some 
pool, where the mules must swim, soaking our provisions 
and luggage, and again they must leap lrom some ledge, 
which, provokingly, was not quite so high as to he impos¬ 
sible, nor so low as to be easy, even when filled in with a 
grade of loose rock. Or it would be necessary to ascend 
to perilous heights in order to avoid some chute of steep 
descent, down which tho water seethed, half cataract and 
half rapids; or to avoid some continuous area upon which 
the bowlders were thickly Btrewn, like the cobble-stones of 
the street. Then, climbing and clinging, the animals of the 
train, weak with much fasting, would falter at some criti¬ 
cal point, strike impoteutly at the ground for securer foot¬ 
hold, and, failing this, would sway around with the hind¬ 
quarters, fall, roll, and bound over the precipice, and to 
the bottom. But, plucky and tough, they never died 
Though bruised and bleeding, a mule, wedged in among 
the ruins of his cargo after a fall of twenty, thirty, or even 
fifty feet, never thinks of dying. More reasonably, if his 
hoad be uppermost, he turns his jaws to (he nearest leaf or 
clump of grass and allows his ruling passion to assert 
itself. Perltaps this tenacity of life is hardihood, perhaps 
it is stubbornness; let the mule-whacker say which. 
So we worked in tire Cespe Cation, often carrying the 
cargo or wheeling the odometer by liana over routes where 
the animals could not go. Finally, defeated aud sore, we 
retraced the steps whioh had been so futile, and balanced ac¬ 
counts with Cespe Csflon, realizing that we bad lost there¬ 
in much patience and piety, and also one wheel of the od¬ 
ometer vehicle, and had made discovery of one human 
skeleton, bleached, scattered, and incomplete; one miner’s 
pick, witli head all rusted and handle all shrunken ai.d 
loose in its socket; and the trail of one grizzly bear, whose 
track was twelve and one-half inches long from heel to 
toe nail and full six inches broad across the ball of l lie foot. 
Rather a dismal inventory, was it. not, and wiihal quite 
discouraging to furtherin', vance? Persons of a logical turn of 
mind may fiud conucotion between these three items, amt 
infer that the man went out to seek gold aud tlie bear went 
out to seek bis dinner, and that, while the bear wus suc¬ 
cessful, the man was not so. Or romancers may put these 
three limbs together and have the basis of a novelette whioh 
shall be nuts tor the juvenile intellect. Only it should be 
remembered that there is a slight anachronism existing 
between a fresh bear track and a bleached skeleton. 
I That was a characteristic formation of country around 
there, and interesting for geological study. It Beeins newly 
broken up and suggest recent igneous action. The moun¬ 
tains are not yet rounded down by ooutinual washing and 
