Theirshoeswerealwayscominguntied，andtheyworeouttwosetsinfourmiles。Thetopofthepass，likethatofagreatmanyothers，isanarrowridge，onthefarthersideofwhichthetrackdipsabruptlyintoatremendousravine，alongwhosesidewedescendedforamileorsoincompanywithariverwhosereverberatingthunderdrownedallattemptsatspeech。Agloriousviewitwas，lookingdownbetweenthewoodedprecipicestoarollingwoodedplain，lyingindepthsofindigoshadow，boundedbyrangesofwoodedmountains，andovertoppedbyheightsheavilysplotchedwithsnow！Thevegetationwassignificantofamilderclimate。Themagnoliaandbamboore-appeared，andtropicalfernsmingledwiththebeautifulbluehydrangea，theyellowJapanlily，andthegreatbluecampanula。TherewasanoceanoftreesentangledwithabeautifultrailerActinidiapolygamawithaprofusionofwhiteleaves，which，atadistance，looklikegreatclustersofwhiteblossoms。Buttherankundergrowthoftheforestsofthisregionisnotattractive。Manyofitscomponentpartsdeservethenameofweeds，beinggawky，raggedumbels，coarsedocks，ranknettles，andmanyotherthingswhichIdon’tknow，andneverwishtoseeagain。Neartheendofthisdescentmymaretookthebitbetweenherteethandcarriedmeatanungainlygallopintothebeautifullysituated，precipitousvillageofIchikawa，whichisabsolutelysaturatedwithmoisturebythesprayofafinewaterfallwhichtumblesthroughthemiddleofit，anditstreesandroad-sidearegreenwiththeProtococcusviridis。TheTransportAgenttherewasawoman。Womenkeepyadoyasandshops，andcultivatefarmsasfreelyasmen。Boardsgivingthenumberofinhabitants，maleandfemale，andthenumberofhorsesandbullocks，areputupineachvillage，andInoticedinIchikawa，aseverywherehitherto，thatmenpreponderate。{12}I。L。B。
ThePlainofWakamatsu——LightCostume——TheTakataCrowd——ACongressofSchoolmasters——TimidityofaCrowd——BadRoads——ViciousHorses——
MountainScenery——APicturesqueInn——SwallowingaFish-bone——
PovertyandSuicide——AnInn-kitchen——EnglandUnknown！——MyBreakfastDisappears。
AshortridetookusfromIchikawatoaplainaboutelevenmilesbroadbyeighteenlong。ThelargetownofWakamatsustandsnearitssouthernend，anditissprinkledwithtownsandvillages。ThegreatlakeofIniwashiroisnotfaroff。Theplainisrichandfertile。Inthedistancethesteeproofsofitsvillages，withtheirgroves，lookverypicturesque。Asusualnotafenceorgateistobeseen，oranyotherhedgethanthetalloneusedasascreenforthedwellingsofthericherfarmers。