peculiar to this region of the world. It is the voice of summer in
these islands; it is the song of unconscious rejoicing, always content
with itself and always appearing to inflate, to rise upwards, in a
greater and greater exultation at the sheer happiness of living.

It is to me the noise characteristic of this country,--this, and the
cry of the falcon, which had in like manner greeted our entry into
Japan. Over the valleys and the deep bay sail these birds, uttering
from time to time their three cries, "Han! han! han!" in a key of
sadness, which seems the extreme of painful astonishment. And the
mountains around re-echo their cry.




XVIII.


Yves, Chrysanthème, and little Oyouki have struck up a friendship so
great that it amuses me: I even think, that in my home life, this
intimacy is what affords me the greatest entertainment. They form a
contrast which gives rise to the most absurd jokes, and most
unforeseen situations. He brings into this fragile little paper house,
his sailor's freedom and ease of manner, and his Breton accent; side
by side with these tiny mousmés of affected manners and bird-like
voices, who, small as they are, rule the big fellow as they please;
make him eat with chopsticks; teach him Japanese "_pigeon-vole_,"--and
cheat him, and quarrel, and almost die of laughter over it all.

Certainly he and Chrysanthème take a pleasure in each other's company.