Sakurajima dominates all the town with its shapely cone. It stands in the end of every street and every vista; you cannot get away from it. And lest the cownsfolk should ever, by mere force of familiarity, come to forget its existence, the mountain bursts into flame every few years and consumes more or less of Kagoshima and the district around. I had not time to grow used to it, and felt challenge in the continually obtruded presence. Therefore, one tine morning, I went on board a sailing-boat of preternatural cleanliness, (what a change from steam launches!) and was soon skirting the shattered rocks that girdle the voleano's base. Stunted pines grew about the shore; higher up were fields yellow for the reaper, higher ill brushwood. At places the bristling ge of rocks was broken by a quiet, cove with hamlet at the further end. Into one of these we steered at last. While the boatman enquired after a guide for the ascent, I sat down in a tea-house verandah. As I waited there a youth of pleasing open features came up and saluted, dofiing his straw hat. ' Ohayo gozarimasu," said I, with my best bow. "Good. morning, Sir," returned the youth in clear staccato English, "T have the honour to make your acquaintance." From a tiny leather bag slung strap across his grey kimono he produced a catd, inscribed with what was no doubt a good enough name, though T have forgotten it. When he had' my card in return, and had asked my nationality, and whether I had been to Tokio, the stream of conversation was started.
All the young people of Japan want to know if you have been in Tokio, which is their Paradise. He had been in Tokio himself, and learned Engl ish there from a Mr, Gregory. Did I know Mr. Gregory How had I found the people of Kagoshima. I must not think them rufe if they stared at me a little; they were not used to seeing foreigners. (I had found them the very contrary of rude, I could assure him with trath.) "He was out on the island for holiday. He belonged to Kagoshima and had been here times without number but had never thought of climbing the mountain. Was I going up? He would like to come with me if he might. He had a friend—and with that he called, and at the call there emerged from somewhere singular-looking
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.