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retired spot in a corner of the graveyard of the principal temple of of Sakata, and there are only one or two recent graves in the immediate neighbourhood. The tomb is fenced in with a wooden railing, and a simple slab of stone with the name, age and residence in Japan of the deceased marks the head of the grave. We were conducted to the spot by the head-priest of the temple who seemed to take a certain pride in pointing out that every thing was kept in excellent order.
Murakami lies just at the point where the defile leads out into a broad valley which is shut in on the north and east sides, but is open on the west and south. Also an old castle town it has a very deserted appearance. The castle is in ruins, though some portions of it here and there are still standing. The Meibutsu of Murakami are Lacquer (though lacquer ware is not made here in any quantity) salmon and tea, the latter having improved much in quality during the last few years. A great deal of pine-wood from the adjacent forests is cut into lengths and sent to Niigata and even to Yedo to be made into chopsticks, so this may also be included among the Meibutsu.
Niigata is so well known that little need be said of the town itself. Everybody is aware what difficulties in the shape of insecure harborage and imperfect road communication with the capital have stood in the way of the development of its trade, and how, in spite of these drawbacks, the town has gradually increased. It is also known how much the town has gained by the appointment of the present governor, how a prison, a hospital, a school conducted on the new system, and barracks have sprung up, and with what good results the care bestowed in laying out new streets, in restoring the old ones, and in cleansing and improving the network of canals which intersects the town, has been attended.
Under the energetic administration of the present Governor the town has made evident progress, and if the necessary works which are required for the formation of a good harbour were only carried out, if the road
