Page:TASJ-1-1-2.djvu/172

 of the chains of distant mountains which rise upon the horizon towards the W. and N. W.

The road traversed bears the general name of Nakasendo. It is the main line of communication from the centre of Nippon between Yedo, Kiôto and Ôsaka. At Itabashi there is a small stream flowing into the large river known in Yedo as Ôgawa or Sumidagawa. Before arriving at Uwarabi this large river must be crossed. It is there called the Todagawa. Its source is to the East of Mount Komposan, which seems to be the starting point of several considerable streams, and from this point as far as Kumagae it bears the name of Aragawa. It flows from its source to Kumagae in a north-easterly direction, and from that point to Yedo in a south-easterly direction, passing through Yedo and falling into Yedo Bay.

From Monnt Komposan flow: on the north, the river Chikumagawa which runs northward and empties itself in the Sea of Japan; and on the south, the Fujikawa which runs southward into the Bay of Suruga, passing to the west Fusiyama. This massive mountain becomes therefore remarkable as the dividing point between the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Japan Sea. To the south-east of these mountains the Temmokusan is also the point of departure of several streams which form a secondary basin represented by the river Tamagawa, which flows from the W. to E. and runs into the Bay of Yedo at Kawasaki. Another secondary basin is formed by several streams which, rising on the N. E. slopes of Fusiyama, flow into the Bay of Sagami after a course mostly south-east.

From Uwarabi to Kumagae the road takes the left Bank of Todagawa. Kumagae is an important producing centre. A large trade in cotton and silk-worms’ eggs is carried on there and the number of houses is estimated at from 1000 to 1200.