Japan and the Japanese

838 JAPAN. A. P. 1COO 1C92.
figures rather than living creatures. Many were noticed whosouncd
little more than girls, yet evidently the mothers of several children.
These women of Figen have the reputation of being the handsomest
in Japan, next to those of Miako. This province, though less
wealthy than that of Satsuma, is reputed to he ahout the most fer-
tile in all Japan, being particularly famous for its rice, of which it
one of which is reserved for
produces ten different sorts or qualities,
the special
use of the emperor. The rice-fields were observed
to be bordered with tea-shrubs about six feet high ; but as
they were stripped of their leaves they made but a naked and .sorry
appearance.
In the afternoon our travellers passed into the province of Tsi-
CCGO, and having traversed a small but very pleasant wood of firs,
a rare sight in the flat parts of the country, they saw at a dis-
tance the castle of Kantnie, the residence of the prince of the prov-
ince.* Friday, February 10, mountains were encountered, which they
passed in kangos, as the road was too steep for horseback riding.
This country, forming a part of the province of CHICIICUKN, struck
Kiimpfer as not unlike some mountainous and woody parts of Germany,
but no cattle were seen grazing, except a few cows and
horses for carriage and ploughing. The people were less handsome
than those of Figen, but extremely civil.
The next day (February 17), after passing, in the afternoon,
some coal-mine-;, whence the neighborhood was supplied with fuel,
they reached Kokura, capital of the province of Bfim.x, once a
large town, but now much decayed. It had a large castle of free-
stone, with a few cannon and a tower of six stories, the usual sign
of princely residences. A river passed through the town, crossed
by a bri Ige near two hundred yards long,
but it was too shallow to
admit vessels of any size. At least one hundred small bo;its were
drawn up on the banks. On leaving their inn where they had
stopped to dine, the Dutch found the square in front of it, as well
as the bridge, crowded with upwards of a thousand spectators,
* On Kampfer's second journey to Jedo (Ifi9'2), the second night vrns
of Simubtira in
pissed ;it JC-inimr, whijh they reached oy crossing the liny
bouts, thus l"ivin^ the prlncipillty of Omuru nud tin- city f Sanija on
their left. The iitit day at noon they struck iuto the road followed on the
first journey.