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sion, at a greater or less distance, some picturesque site, some torrent or remarkable wood may be found, but the environs are but little known. The celebrated volcano, Asamayama, the crater of which, always emitting smoke, is to be seen at a distance of 6 ri, and the lurid glare from which may be seen on dark nights, is a further attraction to the tourist. The ascent has been made several times; it offers some few difficulties but attracts the natives but little.
In 1870 (or 1871?) the volcano ejected stones to a distance of 2 ri. Several houses were destroyed and lives lost. In the neighbouring mountains there are certain peaks which may easily be ascended, among others Shiraneyama, but they afford only a small interest, the weather being rarely clear enough to afford a fine distant view.
It remains for me to speak of the warm waters, their composition and effects as well as the manner in which they are taken.
The subject, indeed, is wholly within the domain of medical science, and I can only be expected to give uncertain information upon it. There exists in the country a very old work entitled “Niutô annaiki” which may be translated “the bather’s guide,” containing the names of the principal springs and the disease which should respectively be treated at them, as well as a series of precepts for the use of the waters, precepts which contain among many false ideas some sound and wise counsels the justice of which I have learned by experience. Even in default of science the practice of several conturies has enabled these people, themselves ignorant, to discover some useful rules. I have deemed it useful to give as accurate a translation as I could of this little work, only adding to it a few observations and the registered temperatures.
Before entering upon this technical portion of my task which may not interest all my readers, I shall conclude this paper by observing that according to the national traditions these waters of Kusatsu and their virtues were discovered from 1000 to 1100 years back. The peasants
