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that we find lurking the special charm attaching to Japanese scenery, and to us there is some new beauty in each peculiarly its own. However much the principal features of valley scenery are repeated, and it by no means follows that they always are, there is ever some new accessory of mountain, forest or river, which lends a special interest to each, and which is easily discernible by those who are in any way close observers of nature. Hirozaki, Kubôta, Sakata, and Murakami are all situated in valleys, but beyond a certain similarity which is always to be met with in the same geological formations the valleys in which these towns lie are far from being counterparts one of another. The valley of Kubota presents a striking contrast to the others on account of its vast extent, and in each of the three others the prominent features of the landscapes, not to speak of the positions of the towns which differ in each case, have a distinct individuality which forbids the idea of any monotony or sameness pervading them. We must plead guilty to a fondness for Japanese scenery. In spring when everything appears dressed in its brightest colours fairer landscapes are to be seen here perhaps than in any other country. In autumn there is also as much variety, and the many coloured tints which light up the hillsides and bring the woods out in their sombre richness of colouring have more attractions for some than the brighter views of springtime. But this is digressing.
The town of Sakata like all Japanese towns is a very straggling place. It holds about 12,000 inhabitants. Though a considerable trade is carried on in the place it has no meibutsu, nor is any special industry as far as we could learn carried on in it. The principal street deserves a word said about it. The houses forming it stand each in a separate enclosure, and as these enclosures are planted with evergreens and other trees, the effect is singular—giving the town the appearance rather of a big village than of a town.
When there we did not lose the opportunity of visiting the grave of Mr. Smith. The site chosen for it is a quiet
