Chap. X. 
ANCHORAGES. 
159 
had they really existed. A place like this in 
China would have swarmed with them ; and, as I 
have already stated, they were numerous in the 
vicinity of the ports of Hiogo and Osaca — towns 
which we know to be large and populous. This 
fact, together with the sterile character of the 
land, would lead to the conclusion that the 
southern part of Nipon, and the western part of 
Sikok, do not possess a large population or an 
extensive trade. Time will show whether these 
surmises are correct, or whether this absence of 
marine traffic be due to some other cause. 
There are numerous well-sheltered anchorages 
in many parts of this sea ; but, as in China, there 
seem to be some special ones which alone the 
natives are accustomed to use, to the total neglect 
of the others, and no doubt for native craft these 
are the best ones. We passed one of these fa- 
voured places about three o’clock in the afternoon, 
and our pilot wanted the captain to go in there 
and anchor for the night. This proceeding, how- 
ever, did not suit the ideas of Englishmen, who 
are always in a hurry, and it was intimated to 
our good pilot that it was too early in the day to 
anchor, and that we must go on until the evening. 
Before dark another place was pointed out as a 
safe anchorage for the night. A fishing-junk was 
at anchor a short distance ahead of us ; and our 
pilot thought, naturally enough, that there must be 
good anchorage in her vicinity. But when we got 
up with the junk, a cast of the lead showed us 
