7 One of the most notable of these is that which occurred in 1596 when Hideyoshi was at Fushimi. In 1854 a series of shocks followed by tidal waves occurred on the east coast of the Main island. The town of Shimoda, which had been opened as a port for foreign trade was almost destroyed, and the Russian frigate _Diana_ which was lying there was so injured that she had to be abandoned. In 1855 a severe earthquake occurred at Yedo, which was accompanied by a great fire. About 16,000 dwelling-houses and other buildings are said to have been destroyed, and a large number of lives were lost. _Transactions of Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. vi., p. 249. 8 Rein’s _Japan_, p. 44. In _Things Japanese_ second edition, p. 122, Japan is credited with no less than fifty-one active volcanoes. 9 The word _gawa_ (river) takes the form _kawa_ when euphony so requires. 10 Dr. Rein was the first clearly to apprehend and state the influence of the northeast monsoon on the climate of Japan. See Rein’s _Japan_, p. 104. 11 Camellia trees are frequently found from twenty to twenty-five feet high. 12 Chamberlain, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. xi., p. 162. 13 These details of the population, area, etc., are taken from the government publication, _Résumé Statistique de l’Empire du Japon_, 1892. 14 In the population of the imperial cities is included that of the suburban districts politically attached to them. _ 15 Résumé Statistique_ (Government publication), 1892, p. 11. _ 16 Asiatic Society Transactions_, supplement to vol. x., p. 213. 17 Batchelor, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. x., p. 211. 18 Batchelor, _Asiatic Society Transactions_, vol. x., p. 216. 19 Miss Bird’s _Unbeaten Tracks in Japan_, vol. ii., p. 96. 20 Professor E. S. Morse, _Memoirs of the University of Tokio_, vol. i., part i. 21 Henry von Siebold, _Notes on Japanese Archæology_, p. 14. 22 “But I must tell you one thing still concerning that island (Japan) (and ’tis the same with the other Indian Islands), that if the natives take prisoner an enemy who cannot pay a ransom, he who hath the prisoner summons all his friends and relations, and they put the prisoner to death, and then they cook him and eat him, and they say there is no meat in the world so good!”—_The Book of Ser Marco Polo_, London, 1875, vol. ii., p. 245. 23 Professor Milne, _Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. viii., p. 82. 24 Rev. John Batchelor, _Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan_, vol. x., p. 209. 25 Hildreth’s _Japan_, etc., p. 337. _ 26 Mittheilungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft_, etc., as reviewed in _The Chrisanthemum_, May, 1883. 27 Rein’s _Japan_, p. 383.