JAPAN.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 367, 3 October 1868, Page 3

JAPAN.

The favorite steam-ship Albion, formerly belonging to the now defunct Otago Steam Shipping Company, and purchased by the Messrs Hoyt and Captain A. M'Kinnon, arrived at Yokohama, Japan,from Sydney via the Eijis, on the 16th June, after a remarkably fine passage of thirty-five days, including three days stoppage at the Eijis. The " Otago Daily Times" of the 12th, publishes an interesting letter from Mr Hoyt, late of Dunedin, and now of the steam-ship Albion, from which we make a few extracts. After describing their short sty at the Fijis, Mr Hoyta continues : — '-'. We left Levuka 25th May. The voyage to Yokohama occupying 22 days, with nothing to break the monotony of the passage except a stay of two hours at Pleasant Island, Greg. 20min. south of the Equator, where we got some pigs, fowls, &c , from the natives, and two white men (sailors), who had been there eighteen and twenty-one years respectively. A splendid run the Albion has made, delighting all of us. The trip has been like a yachting excursion, nothing to mar our pleasure. The passengers all agreeable; every confidence felt in our officers; the noble ship, as if proud of her new fitout —for she was put in splendid trim at Sydney —behaved in such a manner as to more than eclipse her former reputation. Most of the passage was done with only one boiler; the consumption of coal was small considering the distance, and we arrived here with 270 tons of coal on board. On the afternoon of the 17th instant we sighted the main island of Japan. That great land mark to mariners on the coast, Mount Eusi Yama, 50 miles inland—rising 12,450 feet high; its cloud-capped summit and snow lined sides, lying in broad belts far down, gleamed in the sun like bands of silver, while from the mouth of the crater —for it is a volcano —issued wreaths of smoke. It presented as grand a sight as could be witnessed. We picked up a pilot at the entrance of the gulf of Yeddo, and at 10 p.m. dropped anchor opposite Yokohama. At early morn we were out to get the first glimpse of the city and country. It was a beautiful sight:—the rich green of the shrubbery and cultivated hills rising at the back of the town was pleasing to our ocean-tried eyes. The Europeans, numbering about 600, occupy thepartof the town frontingthe harbor ; the Japanese, to the number of several thousands, occupy the town to the rear ; and along the north side of the harbor are to be seen several villages. Yeddo, at the head of the bay, containing, as near as can be ascertained, over two millions of people, is about 20 miles by sea, and 18 by land. Eoreigners are restricted, as yet, from settling there. I have met several people who have been there, and two or three of us are going there this week. It is outside the limit, and the different Consuls here have issued proclamations that they will not seek redress for any injury done to their subjects, if that limit is passed. The harbor is dotted with men-of-war and merchant ships, as you will see by the newspapers accompanying this. There are several steamers here either for sale or employment. There seems to be but little demand ; for either. As regards business, there is little to be done. There are immensely wealthy firms here, branches of business houses in China, long established, who do all that is to be done. The currency for all commercial trans- j actions is the Mexican dollar. With the natives you have to use your own coinage. English sovereigns are at a frightful discount, four dollars and thirty-five cents being their current price, and not easy to exchange at that. Living at a good hotel costs 100 dollars per month—rather expensive. House rent is also high, a comfortable tenement rents at from 50 to 100 dollars a month. The servants are all Japanese and Chinamen. The living is much in the style followed in India. The servants are numerous enough, if that is all. If you go for a ride or drive, there is always an attendant following you, called a "Beto." Their power of endurance is wonderful. That this country is wealthy, there cannot be the slightestjloubt. There is, however, but little room for foreigners; and it will take many years yet to penetrate the interior. The news went to the world at large that such and sueh ports were to be opened on January Ist. Then it was

defered to April Ist, but they are not opened yet ] and now there is no time set at all. Our passengers here were of the better -class, and represented many kinds of employment. Not one of them yet, that I knew of, has been fortunate enough to get a situation, and a stranger in a strange land with a low exchequer, is not in a pleasant positionThe climate here, is, we are told, genial; but May and June are the rainy months, and even Dunedin would lose the palm for moisture, at this time of the year. The Albion's cargo comprised goods of nearly every description, and some stock. No sale as been effected yefc. I apologise for the length of my letter, and wish the news could have been more cheering; but if it prevents any of your readers from coming here, where they must meet but disapointment, I am amply repaid for my trouble,