Japan and the Japanese

JODO AND FUSIMI. 345
tvlso of them, and returned through the above-mentioned passage
back to our kangos. Our interpreters permitted us to walk a little
way, which gave us an opportunity to view the outside of the abovedescribed
famous castle. We then entered our kangos and were
carried back through another long street to our inn.
" Wednesday, Feb. 28, we set out by break of day on our journey
to Miako, because we intended to reach that place the same
day, it being but thirteen Japanese miles, or a good day's journey,
distant from Osaka, out of which we came by the Kiobas, or bridge
to Miako, which crosses the river just below the castle. We then
travelled about a mile through muddy rice-fields, riding along a low
dike raised on the banks of the river Jodo-gawa, which we had on
our left. Multitudes of Tsadamia trees, which grow as tall in this
country as oaks do with us, were planted along it. It had then no
leaves, because of the winter season, but its branches hung full of a
yellow fruit, out of which the natives prepare an oil. The country
hereabouts is extraordinary well inhabited, and the many villages
along the road are so near each other that there wants little towards
it making one continued street from Osaka to Miako.
" The small but famous city, Jodo, is entirely enclosed with water,
and hath besides several canals cut through the town,
all derived
from the arms of the river which encompasses it. The suburbs con-
sist of one long street, across which we rode to a stately wooden
bridge, called Jodobas, four hundred paces long, an.d supported by
forty arches, to which answer so many ballisters, adorned at the
upper end with brass buttons. At the end of this bridge is a single
well-guarded gate, through which we entered the city. The city
itself is very pleasant and agreeably situated, and hath very good
houses, though but few streets, which cut each other at right angles,
running some south, some east. Abundance of artificers and handicraftsmen
live at Jodo. On the west side lies the castle, built of
brick, in the middle of the river, with stately towers several stories
high at each corner, and in the middle of its walls. Coming out of
Jodo, we again passed over a bridge two hundred paces long, supported
by twenty arches, which brought us into a suburb, at the
end of which was a strong guard-house.
" After about two hours' riding we came, at two in the afternoon,
to Fusimi. This is a ^mall, open town, or rather village, of a few