158 
ISLANDS JN THE SEA. 
Chap. X. 
shores of the “ Inland Sea” during our passage 
through it. 
Although the scenery through which we had 
passed had been most picturesque and beautiful, 
yet the land did not appear to he rich or fertile. 
With the exception of little patches of terraced- 
work near the sea-shore, the ground seemed in a 
state of nature where the hand of the agriculturist 
had never ventured to turn over the soil. Rocks, 
apparently of granite and clay-slate, with red 
barren earth, were seen everywhere in patches 
amongst the scanty vegetation of stunted fir-trees. 
Perhaps in spring, or during the rainy season, 
when the hills are green, these islands may not 
present such a barren appearance ; and no doubt, 
as in China, the interior may he rich and fertile, 
although the land is barren near the sea-shore. But 
though not rich in an agricultural point of view, 
the strange and romantic hills and valleys, the 
rugged rocks, and those sights of nature “ stem 
and wild,” contrasted with towns and villages 
nestled in snug coves, and basking on the shores 
of this beautiful “ Inland Sea,” made more than 
one of our little party express a wish to be set on 
shore, and to become a “hermit of the glade” 
for the remainder of his days amongst such 
scenery. 
I was rather disappointed in the number of 
trading-junks and fishing-boats seen during the 
day. The weather was fine, and there was nothing 
to keep them in their anchorages near the shore 
