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 It is cast in pieces, and these pieces are joined together by a kind of solder which is called handaroo, and which answers its purpose very satisfactorily. A few of the dimensions of the figure may be of interest.

The image is surrounded by a glory or halo 78 feet in diameter on which 16 images 8 feet long are cast.

There are two images standing in front of the larger idol each of which is 25 feet high.

The whole is enclosed in a temple 292 feet by 170 feet, and 156 feet high, the roof of which is supported by 176 pillars.

The various pieces composing the image are not fitted together in a very finished manner, but the cement keeps the joints perfectly tight and close. The whole construction is one which shows great skill and original genius in the mixuremixture [sic] of the metals and in the methods of casting them, and it is further one which will, no doubt, be a source of pride and gratification to the Japanese people for many centuries to come.

In the beginning of this paper I referred to the conspicuous absence in this country of artificial improvements. These form, to a great extent, the work of the civil engineer, and it is interesting to examine to what extent the Japanese have mastered the various branches of science which are connected with that profession. In the means of internal communication the country is sadly deficient, and as these may be taken as the measure of a nation’s advance in civilization it seems remarkable that so little has been done by the present progressive race of Japanese to improve them. The roads throughout the