XVI. 
GEOLOGY. 
chant, and even the petty shopkeeper. We are 
told that he is but the serf of the great landed pro- 
prietor, and that he is heavily taxed and kept in a 
state of complete degradation. I am not in a posi- 
tion to deny these statements, hut I can affirm, 
from personal observation in many parts of the 
country, that the farmers and their families live in 
good comfortable-looking houses, are well clothed, 
well fed, and appear to be happy and contented. 
It is just possible, however, that they may be a 
wealthier class in the territory adjoining the Im- 
perial cities, such as Nagasaki and Yedo, than in 
that of the vassal princes and feudal lords of the 
soil. 
The geological formation of the country and the 
composition of the soil vary greatly in the differ- 
ent districts. In the island of Kiu-siu, in the 
south, and also in Sikok, the upper sides of the 
hills are generally barren, with rocks of clay-slate 
and granite protruding. On the lower sides of 
the hills and in the valleys, where cultivation is 
carried on, the soil consists of clay and sand mixed 
with vegetable matter. On the south side of 
Nipon, Mr. Alcock informs us, the hills are formed 
of “ sandstone and sand, and the valleys and plains 
seem little else.” About three days’ journey to 
the south of Fusi-yama, “ the dark rich soil of the 
volcanic regions first appeared.” In the country 
round the capital the soil is of a blackish-brown 
colour, composed chiefly of vegetable matter, and 
bears some resemblance to that which is found 
