r
colonies prospered and the conquered races became Iberianized, such was
their masters' power of impressing their language, religion and manners
on even barbarous tribes.

CHAPTER XIV

FIFTH TOUR ABROAD

California--Honolulu--Japan--China--Singapore--Burmah
--India--Ceylon--The End.

I hope these hasty notes, so hurriedly and scantily given, may have
interested my readers enough to secure their company for one more
globe-trot, which shall be rushed through in order to bring these
reminiscences to a close.

A momentous event of 1910 was the death of King Edward VII., which threw
everybody into deep mourning; and it seemed to me Englishwomen never
looked so well as when dressed in black.

In the autumn I started for New York and Amarillo. Never before was I so
impressed with the growth and improvement and possibilities of New York
city, soon to be the most populous, wealthiest and greatest city the
world has ever seen. The incomparable beauty of the American woods and
forests in the fall again attracted me and afforded much pleasure.

From Amarillo I went on to San Francisco, stopping off to have yet one
more sight of the Grand Canon of the Colorado River. San Francisco was
now almost completely restored, and much on the old plan. Her Knob-hill
palaces are gone, but her hotels are better and more palatial than ever.

November 22nd.--Sailed on a Japanese steamer for Yokohama, via Honolulu.
These Japanese steamers are first-class, and noted for cleanliness and
the politeness of the entire ship's company. We coaled at Honolulu and
then proceeded. On approaching Yokohama we got a fine view of Fuji-San,
the great national volcano, as it may be called, its perfect cone rising
sheer from the low plain to a height of 12,700 feet. Fuji is at present
quiescent; but Japan has some active volcanoes, and earthquakes are very
frequent. My visit was at the least favourable time of the year, viz.,
in winter. The country should be seen in spring, during the
cherry-blossom season, or in the autumn, when the tree foliage is almost
more beautiful.

From Yokohama I went on to Tokio, formerly Jeddo, and now the capital.
It is a large and busy city with some fine Government modern buildings.
The palace, parks and temples form the sights. In the city proper as in
all Japanese towns, the streets are very narrow and crowded with
rickshaws, the only means of passenger conveyance. At the Anglo-Japanese
dinner, given at