160 VILLAGE OF INO-SIMA. Chap. X. 
that she was at anchor in a place where there 
were twenty-three fathoms of water! She had, 
no doubt, only a light kedge out, and had taken up 
that position for fishing operations. We therefore 
steamed onwards until our soundings gave twenty 
fathoms, when Captain Dundas, fearing to approach 
nearer the shore, dropped anchor for the night. 
A few minutes before we anchored the sun went 
down behind the islands of the west, and, in 
bidding the “ Inland Sea ” adieu for the day, 
lighted up the clouds in the most gorgeous man- 
ner, and gave them the appearance of mountains 
of fire and gold. And thus ended my first day in 
the Harama-nada Sea. 
Next morning (Dec. 20), at day fight, we 
weighed anchor with considerable difficulty, owing 
to the length of chain we had out in our deep 
anchorage. We discovered, too, that, at a short 
distance from where we had spent the night, there 
was an excellent anchorage, with only eight 
fathoms of water over it. During the forenoon we 
came up with a pretty-looking village of consider- 
able size, named Ino-sima. Here the land ap- 
peared much more fertile than we had seen since 
entering the sea. The houses were scattered over 
the sides of the hills amongst fields and gardens 
of terraced land, and surrounded with healthy 
fruit-trees, apparently pears. The young crops of 
wheat and barley were above ground, forming 
broad patches of the liveliest green, most pleasing 
to look upon. Half-way up the hills cultivation 
