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ed to be a long straggling village off which were anchored 25 Junks. Ota-Shutz to Isoya distance 6 miles.
The bridle-road leads along the beach which is thickly lined with cottages, fish houses, seaweed, sheds, &c., &c.
The coast is formed of conglomerate, scoria, and volvanic ash; a bold headland bears N. N. W.
A fork with long wooden prongs is used for catching or entangling the seaweed, boat loads of which were being landed and spread out on the beach to dry.
The weed here is said to be of finer quantity than that gathered in Volcano bay. It is certainly much smaller, as here it does not exceed four feet in length, while that in Volcano bay measures 18 or 20 feet.
Observed some women preparing wild hemp.
Sea slug is caught here, it is smoke-dried and exported.
At Isoya is a picturesque islet on which is built a small temple held in great veneration by the fishermen; the islet is connected with the shore by a long bridge of many spans, built in the usual Japanese fashion.
Three quarters of a mile further on, at village called Shima kotan, we embarked in a ferry boat for Iwanai, distant 15 miles, so as to avoid travelling by the road which leads over some very bad mountain passes.
Soon after starting in the boat we rounded a small headland and opened the mouth of a river in which lay 8 junks at anchor, and came in view of a small village on the left bank, then passed a long stretch of sandy beach, and a fine rugged headland, basaltic in character and interspersed with layers of scoria, the summit of which was thickly covered with wood. For the next 6 miles the cliffs presented the most picturesque outlines, and there was herbage and timber on every possible ledge. Some of the gorges opening towards the sea were lovely, and from them miniature cascades poured over the cliffs.
After passing an overhanging cliff named the “Cliff of the Falling Sword,” the coast changed in character, and a gradual slope extended from the shore to the foot of the hills, which gradually retreated from the sea. This slope
