interest as clearly as we would have liked ; other wise, it "was an advantage, as tho soft luminary of the night had toned down the rough edges of the" surrounding landscape, while the town itself, with its myriads of lamps and the bright illuminations from the men-of-war and merchant steamers in the harbor, to the lights of the numerous sampans as each owner dance i his solitary skiff over the moon-reflected waters, looking like so mauy fireflies as they darted to and fro, made a scene worthy of the ' Arabian Nights.' The few hours of our stay here were spent in coaling, which is done in a very clean an.l orderly manner, principally by women. The lighters come alongside, and, after being duly fastened, planks are put down which leal from them into the steamer, and a string of robust-looking maidens take their places as far as the coal bunkers. Those left on the lighter imme diately begin to shovel the coal into small baskets, which are passed from hand to hand along this string, and it is surprising how soon the lighter is emptied, when another one takes its place, and so on. At two o'clock next morning, when Nagaaki and its inhabitants were enjoying the sweet ness of repose, and around the harbor a profound stillness reigned, we up anchor and quietly slipped out into the still deeper silence and loneliness of the broad expanse of waters. About one o'clock iu the after noon of the same day we were off Shiinon oseki, the eutrance to the celebrated Inland Sea, which is really an immense salt-water lake, being 200 miles long, with numerous islands scattered over its expanse. The strait is very narrow, and on either side arc tall ranges of hills, from which loom out the batteries of the Japanese, ready for imme diate service. On the left as you enter, the town of Shimonoseki opens itself out to you; while on your right Moji lies snugly under a tall, precipitous mount, that overhangs it. 