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EAST ASIA.
occupies on the south side a commanding site, whence is afforded a magnificent
panorama of the island of Avadzi and the two fine it. bays surrounding Farther
lies at the outlet of an
on Himedzi, associated with the memory of Ta'ikosama,
extremely fertile valley, and at the junction of several routes, one of which, built
by French engineers, is the best in Japan. It leads to the interior of the peninsula
and to the productive mines of Ikuno, the chief metallurgic establishment in the
Empire. The French directors, by whom it is managed, reduce the gold and silver
ores for the imperial mint at Ohosaka, but they have not yet begun to smelt the rich
copper ores of the same district. The chief industry
of Himedzi is the leather ware
still prepared according to the old Japanese method, and rivalling in beauty and
durability that formerly produced in Cordova.
The inland town of Tm-yama is occupied chiefly with spinning, dyeing, and
ironmongery. Both Oka-yama and Fukit-yama, which lie on deep inlets or creeks of
the Inland Sea, were the former residences of powerful daimios. But they have
now been outstripped bv the commercial port of Onomitsi, one of the chief stations
of the coast steamers plying between the two sides of the winding Inland
Sea.
East of Ohosaka and Hiogo-Kobe the most important port in these waters is
Hiro-sima, which, like Ohosaka itself, lies at the northern extremity of a crescentshaped
bay, and on the mouths of a river winding through a fertile plain. With
its numerous winding canals, bridges, and boats plying in all directions, this place
might also claim to be regarded as a sort of Japanese Venice. On one of the islands
studding the bay over against Hiro-sima stands another of the " three wonders " of
Japan, the much frequented Shinto temple of Itsku-sima, or " Isle of Light," con-
secrated to the three divine virgins sprung from the broken sword of the God of the
Winds. The sanctuary contains some curious antique wood carvings, but the
finest objects in the island are the magnificent woods, which are never touched by
the axe. Previous to the revolution of 1868 no food was allowed to be consumed
on the island, where all burials were also interdicted. At the death of any of the
priests, pilgrims, innkeepers, or fishers, who form the whole population of the island,
those engaged in removing the body to the mainland were obliged to remain away
for fifty days, and on their return were confined in a sort of quarantine for the same
period. It is still forbidden to cultivate the soil of this holy island of Itsku-sima,
so that all provisions have to be brought every morning from across the water.
On the arrival of the boats hundreds of tame deer collect from the depths of the
forests, to receive their share in the distribution of the food.
Beyond Hiro-sima, and on the west side of the bay, stands the industrial town of
Imkuni, noted for its paper, matting, and woven goods manufactures. Farther on
several less important places follow from inlet to inlet as far as the Simono-seki
(Akamaga-seki) channel, the north side of which is occupied by the straggling
town of like name. Enclosed between wooded hills and the sea, Simono-seki has
been called the Constantinople of the Japanese Bosphorus, although occupying a
secondary place amongst the cities of the Empire. The neighbouring shores yield
the edible sea-weed of commerce. The large city of Hagi, standing on a roadstead