Chap. VI. 
EXCURSIONS ROUND YEDO. 
CHAPTER YL 
tie country round Yedo — Hill and valley — Trees — Autumnal fo- 
liage — Views of Fusi-yama — Cottages and farm-houses — Flowers 
and vegetables — Signs of high civilization — Public baths — Beau- 
tiful lanes and hedges — Avenues and groves — Civility of the 
people — Dogs and their prejudices — Street dogs — Lapdogs — 
' Fire at the British Legation — Mode of giving alarm — Organization 
of Fire-brigade — Wretched engines — Presents from foreign govern- 
ments — More suitable ones pointed out. 
During my stay in Yedo I made many excursions 
into the surrounding country — sometimes on 
horseback, and at other times on foot — but 
invariably accompanied with a guard of yako- 
neens. If the reader will accompany me on one 
of these excursions, I shall endeavour to show 
him something of the country, as I have already 
done of the town. Our road leads us to the 
westward, and we are soon clear of the straggling 
suburb of Sinagawa. The land is undulating in 
its general features, and consists of a succession 
of hills and valleys. The valleys are low and flat, 
and capable of being irrigated by the streams 
which flow down from the surrounding hills. 
Rice is the staple crop of these low lands, and it 
was now of a yellow hue and ready for the reap- 
ing-hook of the farmer. The hills which encircle 
