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"It contains 700,000 inhabitants, and is traversed by a considerable river, which is navigable by vessels of moderate size. By this river, which is divided, in the interior, into several branches, the inhabitants are supplied with provisions and necessaries, which are so cheap, that a man may live comfortably for 3d. a day. The Japanese do not make much wheaten bread, though what they do make is excellent. The streets and open places of Yedo are very handsome, and so clean and well kept, that it might be imagined no person walked in them. The houses are of wood, and mostly of two stories. The exterior of them is less imposing than that of ours, but they are infinitely handsomer and more comfortable within. All the streets have covered galleries, and are occupied each by persons of the same trade; thus the carpenters have one street, the tailors, another, the jewelers another, &c., including many traders not known in Europe: the merchants are classed together in the same way. Provisions are also sold in places appropriated for each sort. I remarked in the market where game is sold, that there was a vast quantity of rabbits, hares, wild boars, deer, goats, and other animals which I never saw before. The Japanese rarely eat any flesh but that of game, which they hunt. The fish market is immense, and extremely neat and clean. served more than a thousand different kinds of fish, sea and river, fresh and salt. Large tubs contained besides a vast quantity of live fish. The inns are in the same streets, adjoining those where they let and sell horses, which are in such number, that the traveler who changes horses, according to the custom of the country, every league, is only embarrassed where to choose. The nobles and great men inhabit a distinct part of the city. This quarter is distinguished by the armorial ornaments, sculptured, painted, or gilt, placed over the doors of the houses. The nobles attach much value to this privilege. The political authority is vested in a governor, who is chief of the magistracy, civil and military. In each street resides a magistrate, who takes cognizance, in the first instance, of all cases, civil and criminal, and submits the most difficult to the governor. The streets are closed at each end by a gate, which is shut at nightfall. At each gate is placed a guard of soldiers, with sentinels at intervals; so that if a crime is committed, notice is conveyed instantly to each end of the street, the gates are closed immediately, and it rarely happens that the offender escapes. This description is very applicable to all the other cities in the empire." Much of this account too, our readers will perceive, is similar to those which have been given by old writers, of the eities of China. The principal facts may be true, even, at the present day; but were the city now faithfully described by an eye-witness, much of the detail, we apprehend, would be found to differ from that given by Rodrigo.

2. Tosan is situated north of Tokaï, and consists of eight departments, viz., Oomi, Mino, Fida, Sinano, Koodsuke, Simodsuke, Moots, and Dewa. It is the largest province in the empire, and includes the whole of the northern part of Nippon. 'It is an extraordinary good and fruitful country, says Kampfer, and wants

nothing for the support of human life.'

Near the southern extremity

of this province, and only a short distance east from Miyako, is the lake Mitsu (written Oïts on European maps), which is the largest in the empire.

4. Fovkurooku comprehends seven departments, and is situated to the northeast of Gokinaï, and westward from the southern part of Tosan the names of the departments are Wakasa, Yetsisen, Yetsiu, Yetsingo, Kaga, Noto, and Sado,-this last is an island, the capital of which is Koki.

5. Sanin includes the northern part of the western extremity of Nippon; and is divided into eight departments, viz., Tango, Tanba, 'Tasima, Inaba, Foki, Idsumo, Iwami, and Oki, which consists of two islands.

6. Sanyo lives directly south of Sanin, and contains eight departments; namely, Farima, Mimasaki, Bizen, Bitsiu, Bingo, Aki, Suwo, and Nagata.

7. Nankaï has six departments; viz., Awa, Sanuki, Iyo, Tosa, which constitute the island of Sikokf, Awasi, au island which is situated due east of Sikokf, and Kiï or Kiï-no-kuni, which lies still farther east, and forms the southern extremity of Nippon.

8. Saïkaï comprehends the whole island of Kiusiu, and is divided into nine departments; Tsikoozen, Tsikungo, Buzen, Bungo, Fizen, Figo, Fiuga, Osumi, and Satsuma. Firando and Nangasaki both belong to this province; the first is well known from its having been one of the first and principal places visited by the Roman Catholics; the other is famous for its harbor, being the only one in which foreign ships are allowed to anchor.-The islands Iki and Tsusima, between Corea and Japan, are considered by Kampfer as kokfs, and complete the number sixty-eight.

The only islands which we shall notice, in addition to those already mentioned, are, Fatsisio, a place of banishment, on the southeast of the empire; Tanega, lying south of Kiusiu; and on the north, Yeso or Matsmaï, Kunashir, Eetooroop and Sagalien, which Golownin considers as Japanese colonies. The island of Matsmaï and the Kuriles deserve farther consideration than we can give them in this article.

Japan is a mountainous and hilly country, and its coasts are lined with steep rocks. Nippon is traversed in its whole length by a chain almost of uniform elevation, and in many places crowned with peaks covered with perpetual snow. This chain divides the streams which flow to the south and east, and which fall into the Pacific ocean, from those which pursue a northerly course to the sea of Japan. Very many of the mountains of the country are volcanic. A full, and as far as we know, accurate account of these was published by Klaproth in the Asiatic Journal for January, 1831. The volcanic chain, of which the first southern links are found in the island of Formosa, extends by the way of the Lewchew islands to Japan, and thence along the Kurile Archipelago as far as Kamtschatka. On the great island of Kiusiu, in the department of Fisen, and south-east from

Nangasaki, is the Oun-zen ga-da, or high mountain of warm springs,' which has several craters. In the early part of the year 1793, the summit of the mountain sunk entirely down torrents of boiling water issued from all parts of the deep cavity, which was thus formed, and the vapor arose like thick smoke. Three weeks afterwards there was an eruption of the volcano Bivo-no-kubi, about half a league from the summit; the flames rose to a vast height; the lava which flowed out extended itself with great rapidity, and in a few days the whole country was in flames for several miles around. A month after this there was a horrible earthquake throughout the whole island, which was principally felt in the district of Simabara : the shocks were repeated several times, and the whole ended by a terrible eruption of Miyiyama. In the interior of Figo is the volcano Aso, which emits stones and flames, the latter of a blue, yellow, and red color. Satsuma, which is the southernmost department of Kiusiu, is entirely volcanic and impregnated with sulphur. Eruptions there are frequent. In 764 of our era, three new islands arose out of the sea; they are now inhabited. At the south extremity of Satsuma is Ivoo-sima, or 'Sulphur island,' which burns incessantly.

The most memorable volcanic phenomenon in Japan occurred in the year 285 B. C., when an immense land-lapse formed, in a single night, the great lake Mitsu. At the very time when this took place, Foosi, the highest mountain in Japan, rose from the surface of the earth. Foosi is an enormous pyramid, covered with perpetual snow, situated in the department of Suruga, and near the borders of that of Kaï. It is the largest and most active volcano in Japan. There was an eruption of it in 799, A. D., which lasted thirty-four days; it was frightful; the ashes covered the whole base of the mountain, and the streams of water in the vicinity assumed a red hue. The eruption in the year 800 was without earthquakes, which preceded those in 863 and 864. The latter was most violent; on all sides of the mountain the flames rose high, and were accompanied with the most frightful reports of thunder. Three several shocks of earthquakes were felt, and the mountain was on fire for ten days, till at length its lower part burst; the explosion was tremendous; the devastation extended over a space of thirty leagues, and the lava ran to a distance of three or four, principally towards the frontiers of Kaï. Again in 1707, on the night of the 23d day of the 11th moon, two violent shocks of an earthquake were felt: mount Foosi opened, vomited flames, and hurled cinders to the distance of ten leagues. Next day the eruption ceased; but it was revived with greater violence on the 25th and 26th. Enormous masses of rock, sand reddened by heat, and an immense quantity of ashes, covered all the neighboring plateau. The ashes were driven to a great distance, and fell several inches thick at Yedo.

Another volcano, called the Sirayama, 'white mountain,' and covered with perpetual snow, is situated in the department of Kaga, about a degree and a half north of Miyako. Its most remarkable eruptions took place in 1239 and 1554. Another, and a very active

volcano is Asama, which is situated in Sinano, near the center of Nippon. It is, very high, burning from midway to the crest, and throws out an extremely dense smoke. It vomits flames and stones, and frequently covers the neighboring country with ashes. One of its last eruptions was that of 1783, which was preceded by an alarming earthquake. A vast number of villages were swallowed up by the earth, or burnt and overwhelmed by the lava. The number of persons who perished by this disaster it is impossible to determine; the devastation was incalculable. Yake, in the department of Moots, is the most northeru volcano in Japan. The lofty mountains between Moots and Dewa, likewise contain several volcanoes.

There are among the volcanic mountains of Japan a vast number of warm springs. Many of these springs are found in Sinano. In the department of Yetsingo, situated to the north of Sinano, there is, near the village of Kuru-gawa-mura, a well abounding with naphtha, which the inhabitants burn in their lamps. In the district of Gazivara there is a spot, the stony soil of which exhales inflammable gas. The natives make use of this gas, by running a pipe into the earth, and lighting the end like a torch. Klaproth, in concluding his paper on this subject, remarks that six of the volcanoes of Japan and four of the mountains from whence issue warm springs, are, according to the Japanese, the ten hells of the country.

Of the rivers and lakes of Japan we can say but little. None are remarkable for their size. The rivers seem to be numerous, and most of them rapid in their course. The river of Yodo has already been sufficiently described. The Tenrio-gawa, or river of the Heavenly Dragon, takes its rise in Sinano, and passing through Toötomi disembogues itself by three mouths into the sea. The sources of the Ara are in the mountainous country between Kootsuke and Musasi. It flows through the latter, and soon separates into two branches; the western, receiving the name of Toda, falls into the gulf of Yedo, to the eastward of the city of that name, which is watered by branches and canals from the Todo. Upon one of these canals is the celebrated Nippon-bas, or Bridge of Japan, from whence distances are computed throughout the empire. Over some of the rivers bridges have been built; there are others which are passed by boats; others are forded. The lake Mitsu, or Oits, already noticed as the largest in the empire, is only about seventy English miles long and twenty-two

broad.

The climate of Japan is healthful. In winter the north and northwest winds are exceedingly sharp, and bring with them an intense frost. The summer heat is frequently alleviated by sea breezes; and throughout the whole year it rains frequently the most abundant rains are in June and July, and hence they are called the water mouths.' In winter, snow frequently falls, and sometimes lies several days, even in the southern part of the empire. Thunder is often heard during the hot season; and storms, hurricanes, and earthquakes áre frequent. Golownin, who it is true never visited Nippon,' gives Japan a gloomy aspect, and thinks it truly an empire of fogs.

In

the summer months,' he says, 'the fog often lasts three or four days without interruption, and there seldom passes a day in which it is not, for some hours, gloomy, rainy, or foggy. These fogs and this gloomy weather make the air cold and damp, and hinder the beams of the sun from producing so much effect as in other countries, which enjoy a clear sky,'

The natural productions of Japan are rich and abundant. In the mineral kingdom there are found rock-crystals, diamonds, amber, topaz, iron, lead, tin, copper, silver and gold; also coal, lime, saltpetre, salt, and sulphur. The greatest part of the sulphur is brought from Satsuma, or rather from the sulphur island lying off that department. 'It is not above one hundred years,' says Kæmpfer, who published his work more than a century ago, since the Japanese first ventured thither. Before that time the island was thought to be wholly inaccessible, and by reason of the thick smoke, which was observed continually to rise from it, and of the several spectres, and other frightful apparitions, people fancied to see there chiefly by night, it was believed to be a dwelling-place of devils; but at last a resolute man obtained permission to go and examine it. He chose fifty bold fellows for this expedition; upon going on shore they found neither hell nor devils, but a large flat piece of ground at the top of the island, which was so thoroughly covered with sulphur, that wherever they walked, a thick smoke issued from under their feet. Ever since that time, this island brings into the prince of Satsuma about twenty chests of silver per annum.' Gold is found in several parts of the empire; some of it is washed out of golden sands; but the greatest part is obtained from ore. Silver is found chiefly in the north, and seenis not to be very abundant. Some of the Japanese copper is the best in the world. The tin is exceedingly fine and white. Brass is scarce and dear. Iron is found in large quantities. In Kampfer's time an extensive trade was carried on in pearls and other sea-shells; and every body was allowed to fish for them. The Chinese were the chief purchasers of these articles. All sorts of submarine plants, corals, &c., are found in the Japanese seas, noways inferior to those found on the Spice islands and Amboyna.

Writers on Japan have described its vegetable productions as being rich in kind, and almost infinite in variety. Of forest trees there are found the oak, walnut, chestnut, maple, and fir; there are also mulberry, varnish, paper, camphor, cinnamon, fig, quince, peach, pear, plum, and cherry trees. Oranges and lemons grow plentifully, and of different sorts. They plant but few vines; and their raspberries, strawberries, &c., are very insipid. The tea shrub is cultivated, but not extensively the bamboo is common and is applied to a great variety of uses. Hemp and cotton are cultivated; and likewise rice, corn, wheat, buckwheat, peas, pulse, potatoes, turnips, yams, melons, ginger, ginseng, mustard, tobacco, &c. There are several varieties of rice, and some of them very excellent. The people of Japan imitate the Chinese in agricultural pursuits. Not only their fields and flat country, but their hills and mountains, are made to produce