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Narrative of the Earl of Elgin's Mission to China and Japan in 1857, '58, '59
Narrative of the Earl of Elgin's Mission to China and Japan in 1857 '58 '59 Author:Laurence Oliphant General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1860 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER III. A SURFEIT OF SENSATIONS THE DUTCII AND RUSSIAN BAZAARS MONEY - CHANGERS -- TEMPTING INVESTMENTS VISIT FROM THE VICE-GOVERNOR -- A RIDING-SCHOOL -- SURROUNDING COUNTRY -- A VISIT TO A TEA-GARDEN FEASTING AND MUSIC PRODUCTIONS OF FIZEN COAL-MINES PRINCE OF 8ATSUMA JAPANESE CLASSES AT NAGASAKI MILITARY ORGANISATION A GALE OF WIND VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS PLACES OF FUTURE PUNISHMENT -- A STORMY NIGHT -- ARRIVAL AT 8IMODA -- DANGEROUS HARBOUR. I Find it difficult, in attempting to convey our first impressions of Japan, to avoid presenting a too highly coloured picture to the mind of the reader. The contrast with China was so striking, the evidences of a high state of civilisation so unexpected, the circumstances of our visit were so full of novelty and interest, that we abandoned ourselves to the excitement and enthusiasm they produced. There exists not a single disagreeable association to cloud our reminiscences of that delightful country. Each day gave us fresh proofs of the amiable and generous character of the people amongst whom we were. Each moment of the day furnished us with some new fact worthy of notice. Our powers of observation were kept constantly on the stretch, but one felt they were over- 52 A SURFEIT OF SENSATIONS. taxed; the time was too short; sights and impressions crowded on each other with a painful rapidity and variety. It was like being compelled to eat a whole pate de fois cjras at a sitting ; the dish was too rich and highly charged with truffles for one's mental digestion. At the time it was delicious; it is only afterwards when you try to arrange the facts and ...« less