In these parts at least, and even a hundred and fifty li from the coast, matches are fast taking the place of flintand steel. And the European article has given place to the cheaper and better one "made in Japan." Tapanese merchants are travelling here and there in E. Shantung to find out the trade-wants of the people. Last summer, at two different places, one of which was two hundred li from Weihai, we fell in with two or three Japanese merchants. They spoke very little Chinese but managed to get along. One admired their pluck in travelling alone through the very district that a. year an half before their victorious countrymen had marched thro on their way to Weihai. 1 All honour to the push and pluck of these interesting little islanders!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.