File:Narrative of the Earl of Elgin's mission to China and Japan in the years 1857, '58, '59 (1859) (14587416280).jpg

Identifier: narrativeofearlo02olip (find matches)
Title: Narrative of the Earl of Elgin's mission to China and Japan in the years 1857, '58, '59
Year: 1859 (1850s)
Authors: Oliphant, Laurence, 1829-1888
Subjects: Elgin, James Bruce, Earl of, 1811-1863
Publisher: Edinburgh W. Blackwood
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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of the water to an even greater eleva-tion than that at which we were standing. Groupsof trees fringed the water, and drooped their boughsinto it; while a massive wall, constructed of blocks ofstone almost Cyclopean in their proportions, crownedthe high bank. This wall was in its turn surmountedby a wooden palisade—the spreading branches of gi-gantic cedars, and the leafy crowns of numerous talltrees appearing above it, gave evidence of gardensand pleasure-grounds within. Following along the margin of this gigantic ditch,the largest artificial work of the sort I ever saw, wereached the narrow causeway which affords ingress tothis riis in urhe, for from this point we were empha-tically reminded that we were indeed in the centreof a vast city. AVe had now attained a considerableelevation, and, except where the prospect was inter-rupted by the citadel itself, obtained an extensivepanoramic view over the greater part of Yedo, extend-ing in an endless series of house-tops in a southerly
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AN IMPERIAL BANQUET. 181 direction, and fully confirming the impression whichwas rapidly gaining upon us, that the capital of Japanmust take a first-class position, in point of extentand population, among the cities of the world. Thecitadel alone is said to measure eight miles in cir-cumference, and to afibrd shelter to forty thousandsouls, which it may well do, and yet leave room forspacious palaces, and scenes of rural retirement andrustic beauty. As its Imperial occupant is too greata person ever to be permitted to pass into the vulgarworld outside its walls, he is, poor man, entitled toas much space as can reasonably be afforded to himwithin them. Reluctantly turning our backs upon the entranceto these forbidden precincts, we jogged homewardsback through the quiet streets to where policemenagain waited to take us in charge, and crowds againpressed and scrambled to stare at us; and so,thoroughly exhausted by our first day in Yedo, toseek repose in the cloisters of our temple. We fo

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