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which stand at a temperature of 55° and upwards. The bed of the streams, the stones of the tank, and the conduits employed to conduct the waters are by turns green, yellow or white, according to the composition of the waters, of which I will speak further on.
A study of the phenomena produced by these waters, would be extremely interesting and well merits the attention of the specialists who sooner or later will devote themselves to it. The temperatures change several times a day. The maximum appears to be towards the middle of the day, the minimum at sunrise. I give this observation, as all others, under full reserve. Curious phenomena occur. The principal stream (which I shall name N. O.) received some years ago a small affluent on its right bank. This affluent was also warm and ran intermittently every other year, but for the last seven years it has disappeared. The dry bed of the torrent is now called “Sainogawara” (The dry river of souls.) A hot spring which rose vertically to the hight of one metre from below the soil also disappeared in 1870. The Japanese regard it as the place of departed infant souls. On the numerous rocks of this dry bed they superstitiously heap up small stones which produce a very singular effect. Among these rocks is one which the Japanese regard and show with much curiosity. It is a rocking stone which can be set in motion with the hand and then regains its equilibrium. It is called Irugishi. The site is wild and suggestive of superstitious legends. At a short distance there is a natural circle in a lonely and silent spot. A number of stones ranged around suggest a wrestling arena. The place is named Oni-no Sumôba, “the arena of the devil’s wrestlers.” Beyond this a path leads through the grass to a place, distant about 3 kiloms. which the Japanese glorify with the name of the Kôriba or Kôridani glacier. There are rocks exposed to the full north, and in the crevices of which lurk small remants of snow and ice, but I could not find as much as would weigh a pound. I have enlarged upon these details because they are the only curiosities of the country. Beyond this small excur-
