and more remarkable for contortion of features,
multiplicity of arms, and obesity of body, than for any other
characteristic, visible or symbolical. Fertility of soil was manifest
everywhere, each square foot of earth bearing its tribute of rice,
millet, or vegetables, the rice crop predominating. The fertilizing
process is strictly observed and appreciated here, being the enrichment
of the soil almost universally applied in liquid form.

A trip to Kamakura, fifteen or eighteen miles from Yokohama, and near
where is located the wonderful statue of Dai-Butsu, was one affording
much satisfaction. We traveled by jinrikishas, the men drawing us
thither, one passenger in each vehicle, in three hours and a half, and
back again towards night in the same length of time. The road is mostly
located along the sea-coast, or rather in sight of it, so that in many
places the ocean comes in to give additional interest and beauty to the
scenery of green valleys, well-wooded hills, and richly tilled land,
Fujiyama, the one volcanic mountain of Japan, nearly always in sight.
Rarely is such rich and varied vegetation to be seen, combined with
beautiful outlines of hill-side and mountain top, here covered with an
infinite variety of firs. The ancient town of Kamakura was once the
political capital of the country, but is now composed of only a few
straggling tea-houses or small inns, and half a dozen native dwellings.
Here is the famous and deeply interesting Shinto temple of Hachiman,
one of the deified heroes of Japan. Some of the trees which cluster
about it are a thousand years old; while within the structure are
historical emblems, rich, rare, and equally old, composed of warlike
implements, sovereign's gifts, ecclesiastical relics, bronzes of
priceless value, and the like. Time consecrates; and what is gray with
age becomes religious, says Schiller. The temple is built upon a lofty
plateau, reached by climbing many broad stone steps, slippery,
moss-grown, and of centuries in age. Here was pointed out a fine, lofty
specimen of the umbrella tree, of the pine family, with broad leaves of
a deep green. The general form was conical, with branches and leaves so
dense as to hide the stem.

Less than two miles from this temple is situated the great Buddha image,
composed of gold, silver, and copper, forming a bronze figure of great
size, nearly sixty feet in height, within which a hundred persons may
stand together, the interior being fitte