39
meeting in its flattish double-looking top. On enquiry I ascertained that it was possible to get there, but the inhabitants at Owasi knew little or nothing about it, beyond fabulous stories of wild beasts, and the wonderful distance to be seen from its summit.
Having made arrangements for a ten days’ trip, I started to make the ascent on the 15th October 1874. The first five miles led up the course of a beautiful clear stream, which winds down between steep abrupt mountains, 2000 feet high, and falls into one part of Owasi Bay.
We soon left the level,—for in this five miles we had not ascended 50 feet—and for 512 miles toiled up a single mass of mountain, to a height of 3113 feet. Of course the path zig-zagged, turned boulders, crossed streams, sometimes found a flattish spot, then wound round spurs, and, lastly, emerging on the Peak, opened on a magnificent view. What surprised me regarding these mountains was the mass of rock, the huge stones and little soil of which they are composed, and at the same time the wonderful exuberance of the flora.
Lowest down and particularly in sheltered valleys or dips, the sugi trees flourish, growing so thick and close together that it is all but perpetual night underneath their yellowish green tops. The sugi vies with the wo matsu (Pinus massoniana), which is the commonest and most utilized tree in Japan. The hinoki appreciates the same sheltered situations, but is never grown so thickly together. It also flourishes at the very summit of the hills and mountains, as high at last as 5000 feet. But these trees are self-sown, and always isolated, growing straight and strongly, having evidently outrun or beaten their immediate neighbours, which appear stunted and twisted. Next to these,—I am speaking of the coniferæ—comes that lovely tree Picea Firma, the native momi. It is a true cedar in every way, and in appearance resembles that of Lebanon. Only one more beautiful species do I know out here, that is the Abies Iezoniensis. This magnificent tree I found flourishing in the far East of Yeso, and on the S. W. end of Kunishir Island. Adies microsperma, a pic-
