SULPHUR ISLAND. 
mariners as the “ Retribution Rocks.” They are 
only a few feet above the water, and are rather 
dangerous neighbours in a dark night, or during 
those heavy gales for which this coast is so unfa- 
vourably known. On our left we observed the 
mainland of Kiu-siu, stretching far away to the 
eastward, and ending in a Cape named “ Cape 
Chichakoff.” A high conical-shaped mountain 
named “ Horner Peak,” 2345 feet in height, and 
not unlike Fusi-yama in miniature, was also passed 
on our left. It forms an excellent landmark to 
the navigator of these seas. Between “Horner 
Peak ” and the Cape there is a deep bay jutting 
inland for 30 or 40 miles, and having at its head 
an important city named Kagosima, where the 
Prince of Satsuma has his head-quarters. On the 
south side of the strait we observed several large 
islands, one of which is named Iwo-sima, or Sul- 
phur Island. This is an active volcano, and smoke 
and flames are continually rising, not from its sum- 
mit in the usual way, but from many parts of its 
sides. The whole mountain seems on fire, and 
has a very curious appearance when seen during 
the night. 
The coast of Japan is remarkable for the sud- 
denness with which gales of wind come on, and we 
were now destined to have our turn. It w as a 
beautiful evening when we were nearly abreast of 
Cape Chichakoff ; we had a light fair wind, and 
our little bark w as gliding along at the rate of 
six or seven miles an hour. We were congratu- 
