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was clear land and it was apparently covered with short grass; the roofs of Iwanai appeared, and the masts of some 29 large junks shewed over the low spit of land forming one side of the harbor. Soon after we entered the roadstead and moored.
The town is large and straggling and the population are all engaged in the fisheries. The bay is not well sheltered and is open to the N. and E.
Iwanai to Komomi coal mine, distance about 10 miles by bridle path along the beach for some distance, then across a ferry and over low hills dipping into a small valley where there is a very pretty junk harbour, which is sheltered by high rocks, also a few houses and patches of cultivation. The place is called Chatzu and is not far from Komomi which is situated at the foot of a large valley at the head of which are the coal mines.
Iwanai to Yoitchi, distance 35 miles by bridle road over several ranges of mountains. The highest point attained by the road is 1,100 feet above the sea. The country is entirely covered with forest, but the soil appeared to be very poor and rocky. There are magnificent walnut, oak, elm, Yodo (fir), ash and maple trees. Many streams intersect the ravines and valleys (several were forded) and the bottoms are full of swamps and very thick bamboo brush. The road was planked in parts, but in some parts was very bad indeed.
Only fourteen huts with small clearings were passed along the whole route.
Near Yoitchi and for a distance of some 312 miles, the whole forest had been fired, most probably by the wood-cutters so as to facilitate their proceedings. The soil on the hills is but five or six inches in depth and rested on coarse sandstone. Larkspur was in bloom and hart’s tongue ferns were seen in abundance.
Yoitchi is a town of considerable size and is situated on the shores of a very open bay. The honjin is separated from the town by a projecting spar of rock through which a passage is cut.
Yoitchi to Otaronai, distance 15 miles by bridle road.
