320 INTERCOURSE WITH JAPANESE <JENTLEMEN. 
The contemplation of so mucli beauty in so small a 
space, of so many organic gems in a little dehris^ 
could not but fill the mind with wonder ! Every 
wisp and every wrinkle of the grand nebula of 
Orion,” says Professor Niclioll, '' is a sand-heap of 
stars.” My sand-heap here, though of less proj)or- 
tions, was equally as wonderful. 
^ ^ si: 
Three Japanese gentlemen, who messed with us 
for some months, rendered our stay at Kino-O-Sima 
extremely pleasant, and the people belonging to the 
villages were very friendly in. their intercourse. 
Araki, a Japanese ofiicer of high rank, was a tall 
handsome man, with prominent features, very much 
resembling those of a Korth American Indian ; he 
was always very abstemious, dressed elegantly, and 
was courtly in his manner. 
Kuro-Sima, the next in rank, was an oldish 
large-headed man, short of stature, and somewhat 
grotesque in appearance. He was very jocular, and 
had no objection to creature comforts, which he 
evidently enjoyed. 
