[13] This quotation is from Murray’s “Hand-Book for Japan” by Chamberlain and Mason. The Introduction of that book contains most valuable practical information for prospective travellers in Japan.
[14] See Appendix.
[15] See tables of measurement and coinage, in Appendix.
[16] See “The Yankees of the East” (Curtis), chap. xiii.
[17] The “Shakai Zasshi” has the following on the decrease of farmers: The causes of the phenomenon, briefly stated, are as below: (1) The current methods of farming require no intelligence in the farmer. He works very much like an animal in a purely mechanical fashion. Hence lads with minds are attracted to trade and industry. (2) The universality of education has increased the number of intelligent men among the lower classes, and this has made farmers discontented with their lot. (3) City life offers many attractions to active-minded persons; and hence in Japan, as in the Western world, there has been a steady flow of country people towards the towns. The statistics published on this matter show, that, whereas in 1889 the proportion of townspeople to the total number of inhabitants was 15 in every 100 persons, in 1898 it has risen to 18. This accounts for the scarcity of farm labor, which has constantly been complained of in recent years.—Japan Mail.
[18] See tables in Appendix.
[19] See Appendix.
[20] See tables of weights and measures in Appendix.
[21] Scidmore’s “Jinrikisha Days in Japan,” chap. xxxv., and Gribble’s paper in Transactions Asiatic Society of Japan, vol. xii. pp. 1-33.
[22] Scidmore’s “Jinrikisha Days in Japan,” chaps. xxvi., xxvii.