1 L2 THE BOTAXICA L MAGAZINE. [Vo i. xxur. No. 269. 



— an epoch-making work on natural history in Japan— was 

 undertaken by his grandson and others by subscription. 



In February of the same year the first set of these volumes 

 was distributed, and the delivery of the last volume of this 

 work took place in the winter of 1805. In the same year he 

 was ordered by the Yedo government to go on an exploring 

 expedition to the provinces of Awa, Kadzusa and Shimoosa. 

 He left Ycdo on the 20th March, and returned in the 22nd of 

 April. On this occasion he ascended Mount Kanozan and 

 Kiyosumi. A catalogue of natural objects discovered in these 

 districts is to be found in his dairy still preserved by his 

 descendant. 



In 1S04, he made an official tour to the provinces of Shima 

 and Suruga lasting for about thirty days, which extended 

 from 13th August till 12th October. After his return to Yedo, 

 he offered a catalogue of plants and other collections entitled 

 "Sunshu-Shishu-saiyakuki" (.^iH'I^^HlHc^lS) to the government. 

 In 1805, at his 77th years of age, he made another official 

 journey to Mount Myogi and Mitsumine, which continue! 

 from the 16th of May to the 6th of June, and made a catalogue 

 entitled "Myogisan-narabini-Bushu-Mitsuminesan-saiyakuki" ($; 



In 1806, he thought of undertaking a long journey through 

 the districts of Sendai and Nambu in northern Japan, but his 

 desire was not realized, for the government did not grant his 

 request, perhaps on account of his advanced age. The 

 government suggested nearer localities to the same end. But 

 on the 4-th of March, a great fire occurred in Yedo, which 

 reduced to ashes almost the entire city, destroyed 1248381 

 dwelling-houses, 800 buddhist temples, 800 Shinto temples, and 

 1300 citizens, 707 horses and 3 oxen, were burnt to death. 

 In this great fire the Seijukwan, which contained valuable 

 specimens and a library, besides Ranzan's dwelling, were all 

 made a clean sweep of. By this calamity, almost all of Ran- 

 zan's collections of rare and irreparable specimens, valuable 

 books, etc. were lost, except those kept in a small store-house, 

 most of which latter are exhibited here to-day. 



( 4 ) 



