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In general they are a very good-natured kind of people, and though “uncivilized,” as some call them, I think many of our own civilized races in Europe might take them as an example for their kind and polite manners towards each other. I remember a young coolie inviting an “O-ji-san” (old man) who walked before him, to change burdens, his, (the O-ji-san’s) being far the heavier of the two, which offer was gratefully accepted after the necessary courtesies and compliments.
However not only the coolies, but all other people I came in contact with, seemed to me equally kind and well-disposed to foreigners; all over the way I never met with the least ill-will.
It struck me that the inhabitants of Echigo and particularly of Niigata were generally better looking and of larger stature than those of Yedo, many of them having the Jewish type; the girls too, are undoubtedly better looking, and Echigo used to be the principal recruiting-place to fill the Yoshiwaras at Yedo and Osaka.
I have had much assistance during this trip from 2 Japanese maps; one is the generally known: “Fujimi Jusan Shiu Yochi Zènsu” (map of the 13 Province, which are to be seen from the top of the Fuji-Yama); the other is named “Echigo Shiu Shikiyenshi” (being the Echigo-sheet of a map of the whole of Japan). I found the first to be pretty accurate as to the direction of the road and the distances from place to place; the second one is merely descriptive and has not the least claim to any accuracy as to measures or directions.
For the rest, though To have given here some details which may prove interesting, I could have given many more if I had been acquainted with the Japanese language. This not being the case, I entirely depended upon my interpreter, who never told me anything I did not ask for, and whose answers I had, as it, were, to draw from his mouth, though I must do him the justice to say that he took more interest in the incidents of the journey than Japanese generally do.
