MATSUE, September, 1890.
DEAR PROFESSOR,--On second thought I have set to work to
obtain the information you wish as fully as possible from trustworthy
Japanese,--as I fear it could only be gathered by my own exertions
alone, too late to be serviceable. I shall send as soon as possible, and
if there be time I will supplement the notes with some observations of
my own.
I think I shall be very happy in Matsue, and every one assures me it is
not so cold as in Tōkyō in winter, although there is more snow.
On the way here I stopped at a very primitive village where there are
volcanic springs, and nearly every house has a "natural bathtub" always
hot and fresh. And the good old man in whose house I stopped said he
only once before in all his life saw a European,--but he did not know
whether the European was a man or a woman. The European had very long
hair, of a curious colour, and wore a long dress reaching its feet,
and its manners were gentle and kind. I found out afterwards it was a
Norwegian missionary-girl, having the courage to travel alone.