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CHAPTER XVII. 
Hakodacli— Vegetation— Pleasing Aspect of the Scenery— Appearance of 
the To^ra- A Temple of Buddha— Visit to the Theatre -The 
Audience and the Play — Vicinity of the To^\^l A Charming 
Ketreat — Iiitereom-se with Nature. 
On July the 15 th we arrived at Hakodadi, which 
has the aspect of a poor and straggling -fishing 
village, hut is very prettily situated at the foot of 
a long bluff promontory which projects from the 
southernmost corner of the island of Yesso. The 
lower portions of the hills have some fine groves of 
dark fir-trees, and the upper part is clothed with 
brushwood. In some places paths have been 
formed through the groves, and here and there a 
little garden is cultivated: The summit is bare, 
barren, brown, and rocky. 
The vegetation of the island is very similar to 
that of the opposite coast of Manchuria. ]\Iany of 
the plants are of the same species. The homely 
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