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join, being only separated by narrow ridges. I am unaware what distinguishes an Island from a rock with the Japanese, but considering those that have trees or herbage of some kind on them, as Islands the number 808 cannot be far out.
The foundation of these Islands is either a yellow sandstone rock of soft texture, or grey grit, closely approaching conglomerate. The stratification is very distinct and horizontal; a few slips and faults I observed, but they were rare. The surface soil is a rich vegetable mould mixed with an arenaceous compost. At the head of most of these creeks, there are a few small paddy-fields; but excepting these patches there is hardly any cultivation. This of course is easily accounted for by the scarcity of inhabitants. The principal village, speaking of this group of Islands and the main shore, in their immediate neighbourhood—in other words the West portion of Sendai Bay, is Ishibama, consisting of about 100 houses, and built on one of the Islands; it has an anchorage capable of holding half a dozen small vessels, between the Island on which it is situated and the one next to it, and is in consequence considered the Port of Sendai. The next most important village is Sabusawa about one mile from Ishibama, consisting of about 150 houses; it is situated on another Island. Siwo Kama with about 600 inhabitants built in the S.W. corner of the lagoon on the mainland, is 5 ri from Sendai, and 212 from Ishibama, it is the nearest village on the coast to Sendai. From here the produce of that large town and rice district is carried across in small boats to Ishibama and there shipped for further transit in junks and other Japanese craft. Matsu-Sima, a village on the mainland 5 miles west of Ishibama, has a population of about 500. Yöona another village on the mainland, built on a low spit of land, running out from the northern side of the lagoon, produces salt, as well as being a fishing establishment. With the exception of these few insignificant villages, there appears no where else a sufficient number of houses huddled together to deserve that name.
