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gards the means of subsistence the country furnishes little. The neighbouring fishermen bring to market good mountain trout (Yamome) and a small fish called ai—the latter but rarely. Quails (udsura) are also to be found. The land grows potatoes and beans, eggs are plentiful, but chickens or ducks are scarce. Game is found in the winter, hares, pheasants, wildboar, deer and even bears, but in summer it is almost impossible to obtain it.
Climate.
The climate of Kusatsu appears to me to answer perfectly to the wants of Europeans during the hot months. A series of more accurate observations subsequently made will give greater certainty to the assertions which I would at present make with some reserve, as I had neither the means nor the time to observe very carefully. According to approximate comparisons, having, as I have said, no more than this value, I suppose that the elevation of Kusatsu is between 1300 and 1500 metres. The mornings and evenings are cool and the nights often cold. I regret that I had no registering thermometer to give an exact idea of the temperature at night, but I imagine that it falls to 18° even in August. I did not observe any maximum over 26° when it must have been torrid in the plains.
The day breezes appear to be generally as on the coast, S.W. and S.S.W and are of almost daily occurrence. The solar rays from a clear sky have certainly the same intensity as on lower levels, but are tempered by the elevation and the pure air of these regions. They are thus bearable and even in the middle of the day walking produces no distress. There were frequent storms during the month of August, but the rains were moderate and generally short. The appetite soon becomes stimulated, remains good, exercise is felt to be agreeable, and sleep profound and restorative. Mosquitoes are unknown and flies rare in airy houses.
The springs of drinking water are numerous and very various in the midst of a confusion of waters of all kinds. Some are passable, others very good and pains must be
