lly supplied by the steam-yacht
'Emperor,' which he had to present to the Tycoon as a gift from her
Majesty; and the duties of interpreter were discharged for him throughout
in the most efficient manner by the gentleman above referred to, Mr.
Heusken, the American Secretary, whom he found 'not only competent for his
special work, but also in the highest degree intelligent and obliging.'

[Sidenote: Amiability.]
[Sidenote: Cleanliness.]
[Sidenote: Temples.]

_Same date._--Simoda is a pretty place, lying on flat ground at the
head of a short bay, with rocky volcanic-looking hills, covered with
fine trees and intersected by valleys all around. The people seem the
most amiable on earth. Crime and pauperism seem little known. All
anxious to do kindnesses to strangers, and steadily refusing pay.
There are innumerable officials with their double-swords, but they
appear to be on the most easy terms with the people. To judge from the
amount of clothing worn by both sexes, it does not seem likely that
there will be any great demand for Manchester cotton goods. I cannot
say what it may be in winter, but in summer they seem to place a very
filial reliance on nature. They are the cleanest people too. The
floors of their houses are covered with mats which are stuffed
beneath, and which serve for beds, floors, tables, &c. It is proper to
take off the shoes or sandals on entering the houses or temples. I
looked into one or two bathing-houses, which are most unlike those I
saw at Shanghae;--an inner room which is a kind of steam-bath, and an
outer room where the process of drying goes on. The difference in
China is, that it is only the men that clean themselves there, whereas
the rights of the fair sex on this point are fully recognised in
Japan, and in order that there may be no inequality in the way they
are exercised, all bathe together. I visited some temples. Though
Buddhistic, they had not the hideous figures which are seen in the
Chinese temples. They were generally prettily situated near the foot
of the rocky and wood-covered cliffs, with flights of steps running up
to shrines among the rocks. They were surrounded by numerous monuments
to the departed, consisting generally of little pilasters, squared on
the sides, and bearing inscriptions, surrounded by a coping or ball.
On the pedestal, &c., in front of the pilaster