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surely be made navigable for ships of 5 or 6 feet draught up to the mouth of the Kanagawa, and probably still higher up.
A great portion of the lands between the different rivers which ran through this part of Echigo, is situated much below the ordinary level of the surrounding rivers, which causes every year great injury to the crops; several lakes or pools of greater or lesser extent lie in this otherwise prosperous district, which might, when properly drained, add a considerable portion of paddy-field to the existing one. Much is to be done here in the course of time; unfortunately money has hitherto been wanting.
A remarkable instance of Japanese engineering skill may be seen at Uchino, which is about 212 ri S. of Niigata, between the Nishikawa and the sea, which are here close to each other. At this place a considerable area of the lands between the Shinano, Nakanokuchi and Nishikawa, and moreover the extensive lakes which are situated in this part, throw their superfluous water into the sea, the water flowing on through several channels. The Hishikawa, serving for irrigation, for which purpose from distance to distance a dam is laid through its bed, its level is much higher than that of the lands around it; so that the superfluous water coming from the low lying lands, has to pass underneath the bed of the Nishikawa. For this purpose a large wooden lock, shut at both sides by self-acting gates, is constructed; there are 5 of these gateways adjoining each other; each of them has a length of 210 feet, and 18 feet in width; 4 of them have a height of 6 feet and one of 4 feet. Perhaps some more will be constructed, as after heavy rain-falls the locks prove not to be sufficiently large.
I believe I have now sketched the chief features of the lower part of the Shinanogawa valley, partly in connection with the commercial interests which adhere to it.
I will now give a description of the home-road which led over the Mikuni pass. I reached Okodz on foot along the Nishikawa embankments, passing through a very prosperous district. From Okodz I went by boat up the
