Chap. XI. VISIT TO KANAGAWA. 181 
meshes. The latter are taken out and placed in a 
basket on shore, while the former are sent to sea 
again in search of new friends. 
This mode of fishing lasted for a few days only ; 
the species in question appeared to come suddenly 
on the coast, and as suddenly to take its departure, 
first, however, leaving a good supply of its number 
to assist in feeding the inhabitants of Yokuhama 
and Yedo. It was a curious-looking animal, short, 
flabby, and blown up, looking as if it consisted 
chiefly of wind and blubber. Some of the natives 
said it was poisonous ; but, if so, this could be only 
in certain conditions, for it was a great favourite 
with the Japanese, who cut it up, dried it in the 
sun, and preserved it for future use. 
One morning towards the end of April I crossed 
the bay from Yokuhama to Kanagawa, accompanied 
by Mr. Clarke, of the house of Messrs. Dent and Co., 
established here. Our object was to visit some of 
the Buddhist temples in that part of the country, 
and to examine the vegetable productions and 
other objects of interest by the way. Landing at 
Kanagawa, we crossed the long, narrow town, and 
soon found ourselves in the open country behind 
it. The first object which attracted my attention 
was the change which had taken place in the ap- 
pearance of the fields and the crops since I was last 
here. The low rice-lands, which had been lying 
fallow since the crop was gathered in November, 
were now being dug up, flooded with water, and 
manured. In China, bullocks and buffaloes are 
