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SOLDIEBS. 
109 
city behind me. In one of these country parks I 
heard some soldiers going through their exercise ; 
and the music was not unlike that of our own 
military bands. It was very likely an imitation 
of something of the kind. The high close paling 
and dense brushwood prevented me from seeing 
much, but sometimes I caught a glimpse of the 
flags and spears of the soldiers. The Daimios are 
constantly training their soldiers in all the arts of 
Japanese warfare. On this occasion, when passing 
near a Daimio’s residence in the city, I heard the 
clattering of arms, as of men engaged in fencing ; 
and many times, during my stay in Yedo, I have 
heard the same sounds. If ever any European 
nation has the misfortune to go to war with Japan, \ 
it will find the Japanese, as soldiers, very much " 
superior to the Chinese. At the same time, as 
we do not fight with swords only, there is little 
doubt about the issue of such a contest. Let us 
hope, however, that such a thing as a war with 
Japan may be far distant, and that, in this one 
instance at least, we may have the satisfaction of 
opening up a country without deluging it with the 
blood of its people. 
Park-like scenery, trees and gardens, neatly- 
clipped hedges, succeeded each other ; and my at- 
tendant yakoneens at length announced that we had 
arrived at the village of Su-mae-yah. The whole 
country here is covered with nursery-gardens. One 
straight road, more than a mile in length, is lined 
with them. I have never seen, in any part of the 
