io6 - Japan and the Japanese, 
Great Gentleness," and " Southern Country of Brave War- 
riors." It is sometimes called " the Empire of the Thousand 
Islands," a poetical and descriptive name. It is a very- 
hilly country; it possesses many rapid and precipitous 
rivers, and a large number of harbours, some of which are 
very commodious. The climate is somewhat changeable, 
but, on the whole, healthy and mild, although it is stated by 
travellers that rheumatism, bronchitis, and lung affections 
are plentiful in the country. These, however, can be partly 
accounted for by the dress, houses, and habits of the people. 
In the summer the heat is so overpowering as to compel 
people to remain indoors during the middle of the day ; but 
much rain falls, causing generally a damp, moist heat. It is 
said that on account of these summer rains the Japanese 
can reap two harvests a year off the same fields. In July, 
August, and September, the country is visited by terrible 
storms, called typhoons," which inflict great destruction. 
These typhoons are revolving storms, advancing in a curved 
path, and blowing with tremendous force. They last but a 
short time, but work so much mischief in their duration, that 
they are greatly dreaded by the people. On the whole, 
however, the climate is very genial, and the country beauti- 
ful. It is said that the name Japan is derived from the 
words Jih'pun-quo ; or, " The Sunrise Kingdom." 
The country abounds with precious and useful metals, 
and the landscape, is diversified with bamboo thickets, pine 
plantations, and rice-fields. Still, the Japanese cannot be 
said to be an agricultural people, for they have but few 
cattle. They only use horses and ponies occasionally, and 
never take butter, milk, or beef. They have no idea of 
milking cows for the sake of drinking or otherwise using the 
milk, their sole idea being that only calves were intended to 
drink milk. They look upon it as a barbarous custom to 
