re
the streams can be diverted to the rice fields. The area of land under
actual cultivation is about 12,000,000 acres. It has been estimated that
the average amount of land under cultivation is only three quarters of an
acre for each of those engaged in farming. This amount seems to us very
little and can only be explained by the character of the cultivation. The
land almost always is made to bear two crops each year. As soon as one
crop is cleared away, and often even before that, another is planted.

According to the census(15) of 1890 the population of the Japanese empire
is as follows:

Kwazoku (nobles) 3,768
Shizoku (_samurai_) 2,008,641
Heimin (common people) 38,441,052
Total 40,453,461

The areas of the several large islands and their dependencies together
with their population are given below:

Sq. m. Population.
Main island and dependencies 87,485 31,052,068
Shikoku and dependencies 7,031 2,879,260
Kyushu and dependencies 16,841 6,228,419
Yezo and dependencies 36,299 293,714
Totals 147,656 40,453,461

[Illustration]

Shintoists: Preacher

[Illustration]

Shintoists: Dancer

[Illustration]

Shintoists: Assistant

[Illustration]

Shintoists: The Mirror Dance

CHAPTER II. THE ORIGINAL AND SURVIVING RACES.

In the present population of Japan there are two distinct races, the Ainos
and the Japanese. Of the former there is only a small number now remaining
in the island of Yezo. There was also a remnant in the island of
Saghalien, but in 1875, when a treaty was made with Russia ceding the
Japanese claim to the southern half of Saghalien in exchange for the
Kurile islands, permission was granted for all Japanese subjects who
wished, to remove to the Japanese island of Yezo. Accordingly among other
Japanese subjects seven hundred and fifty Ainos removed to the valley of
the Ishikari, where they have continued to reside.

[Illustration]

Aino Family

The Ainos are probably the original race, who in early times inhabited the
Main island down to the Hakone