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CRUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
so cleverly jointed as almost to avoid detection. It 
stands upwards of 50 feet in height. Its interior is 
hollow, and forms a temple, where are numerous gilt 
idols, chiefly images of Kunanon, with prayers and 
vows of worshippers, written on papers twisted to- 
gether. A priest in attendance disposes of historical 
books and photographs of this great divinity. 
The tea-houses in the vicinity are enjoyable places. 
There is always something or other to amuse 
visitors, either gardens with beautiful flowers or an 
agreeable view of the surrounding country, so as 
to tempt the traveller to enter and enjoy himself. 
The eatables, consisting of cakes and various sorts 
of fish and vegetables, and often sweetmeats, are 
usually far more agreeable to the eye than to the 
taste. Tea is the universal drink, but it is not in 
accordance with European flavour, tasting somewhat 
like an infusion of wood ashes; yet the Japanese 
consider it far more wholesome than that which 
we are accustomed to use. A favourite drink is 
also made from the peach blossom, which is even 
worse in flavour than the tea; for the flowers, 
after picking, are kept in salt, and, when required, 
a slight infusion is made ; these, with saki, a spirit 
distilled from rice (which the Japanese are very 
fond of), constitute nearly all their refreshments. 
Docking and refitting having been completed, 
we returned to the anchorage off Yokohama, and on 
the 10th May left for Hiogo. After passing through 
