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trending a little East, and before leaving the plain crosses a considerable sized river known as Natsi-kawa, flowing eastward, probably the principal drain of this basin. After this there is another deep, but smaller stream called Nidawa, some distance beyond which the road strikes the sea coast on the village of Yotsukawa, distant three ri from Taira. Here I dismissed my horse and guide, and putting my baggage on a pack horse led by a woman who was returning from market, continued on foot over some moderate hills of white sandstone, and along the sea beach for another ri, reaching the village of Sta-no-hama just before dark, where I was pretty decently lodged, and ordered horses to be ready at an early hour next day.
When I awoke in the morning I was hardly surprised to find the next room to mine occupied by two yakunins, who had come post haste during the night to overtake me. We made acquaintance by the usual morning salutation, after which Mr. Itou, for so the chief was named, asked me if I had a travelling permit, which I quietly answered in the negative. Nor did I appear interested about the matter, for I suspected they had been sent to get me to Taira, and abandon my projected northern journey. He then produced a Japanese document which was unintelligible to me, and said that if I was going on, he had been deputed by the chief official at Taira to accompany me. I notified him that such was my determination, and that I trusted we should travel agreeably together. We then became the best of friends, and after we had had breakfast, the horses making their appearance, we then set off together.
A general northerly direction carried us partly inland, and sometimes along the shore under clay-rock cliffs nearly pure white. The streams we crossed contained some granite stones, indicating the probability that a range of mountains running parallel to the coast, and about 10 to 15 miles distant, was of primitive foundation. These mountains were not so much wooded as the lower hills. I observed also some coarse sandstone and conglomerate. The rollers coming in on the beach were very heavy, and
