The Country and its People, 
III 
to be found among the people of the " Sunrise Kingdom." 
The ornaments of the Japanese temples are, this writer 
says, imitated from Solomon's temple. The chrysanthemum, 
which is the Japanese national flower, along with the lotus- 
flower, peony, and other flowers, are found in many shrines 
and temples, beautifully carved and painted. Other 
shrines are to be found at the tops of hills, and among shady 
groves, as in the time of the Israelitish idolatry, after the 
reign of Jeroboam. It would be interesting to recount all 
the evidences of identification mentioned by Mr. McLeod, 
but our space will not admit of much digression on this . 
matter. Still, it may be noticed that many of the same 
arguments have been made use of by other writers to prove 
that the Lost Ten Tribes are to be found in England and 
her colonies. 
The vegetation of the Japanese islands is very luxuriant, 
presenting a beautiful verdure throughout most of the year. 
The people cultivate rice and tea largely in the provinces. ^ 
Beautiful flowers, such as camellias, azaleas, hydrangeas, 
magnolias, peonies, irises, chrysanthemums, rhododendrons, 
and veronicas, delight the eye on all hands in their season, 
and make a charming landscape. The empire extends 
through twenty-six degrees of latitude, and in consequence 
experiences many degrees of temperature — the extreme 
north being very cold, and the extreme south very hot, 
though damp. With the exception of the Ainos, the same 
language is spoken by all the people of the islands, and the 
same customs, manners, and traits prevail, thus proving the 
homogeneity of the race, from whomsoever descended. 
Earthquakes are very frequent, causing at intervals much 
destruction, and volcanoes are sometimes active. The 
population is said to be somewhat over thirty-four millions, 
or about two hundred and thirty to each square mile. 
