. The playground of the Far East . eatage over 10,000 ft. in height. The mountain hasrecently attracted popular attention as the scene ofan exploit by a company of Japanese infantry, whoclimbed to the summit in extraordinarily quick timein the summer of 1917. A photograph shows themgreeting, with the salute of uplifted rifles, the risingsun, and shouting their banzai in the Emperorsname. E-ound the public tanks in the onsen buildingsmay be seen large boulders from the neighbouringravine. They are used by the hardened habitues ofthe soothing waters who place them on their kneesat night to save
. The playground of the Far East . eatage over 10,000 ft. in height. The mountain hasrecently attracted popular attention as the scene ofan exploit by a company of Japanese infantry, whoclimbed to the summit in extraordinarily quick timein the summer of 1917. A photograph shows themgreeting, with the salute of uplifted rifles, the risingsun, and shouting their banzai in the Emperorsname. E-ound the public tanks in the onsen buildingsmay be seen large boulders from the neighbouringravine. They are used by the hardened habitues ofthe soothing waters who place them on their kneesat night to save them from turning turtle, anddrowning in their sleep! Such persons will oftenspend three or four weeks in succession in the baths,and that, practically, without a break. My friendProfessor Chamberlain mentions the case of a similarkind, near Ikao, where the old caretaker stays inthe bath the whole winter through. The genial oldSaito Shidzuma, the proprietor of Shirahone, did thehonours for us with exceeding courtesy and attention,. 0. M. Foole, Phot.] Shirahone Onsen. [To face p. 216. THE GOOD OLD WAY 217 and enthusiastically announced that a recent visitor,an official of the Home Department, had assured the healing springs were undoubtedly impreg-nated with radium. The gentleman in question wasknown by a name signifying the silk hat of affluence,and doubtless this title was regarded as of happyomen when the cheering declaration was made ! Atany rate, it was possible to assure our old friend thatits main constituent was calcium sulphides, and thatits temperature near the source was 130°. As weleft he gave us his benediction in the form of anotherAlpine staff, duly branded with the onsen mark. Hetold us that my old route via Onogawa was somemiles the longer of the two available, and with abetter path, but if we cared to go by the shorter,15 miles to Shimajima, we should find its scenerymore romantic, although the gake (precipices) werea thing not to trifle with. Soon w
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booki, booksubjectmountaineering
