The early start by the first morning train was thus postponed until the 10.40, in the hope that Jupiter Pluvius would rest from his labours.
The hope, however, proved vain as although the weather cleared up for a short spell, enabling a dry departure to be made and giving rise to an optimism that was doomed to disappointment; soon after passing Kikitsu, the rain came down with redoubled intensity, as if to make up for the couple of hours' or so lost time.
At Isahaya, in the same compartment (a prolonged search for “a first class” proving fruitless), was a party of Shanghailanders - members of the S. M. P. and their wives, en route for Unzen.
A S.M.P. Comedy
While awaiting the departure of the Shimabara train, the gentlemen of the party were enjoying a smoke on the platform, the ladies being inside the carriage. One of the later suddenly jumped up claiming “Oh! I've left my bag, with all my money and my passport inside it, in the other train. What shall I do?” This startling intelligence was communicated to the gentlemen of their party and various suggestions were proffered for dealing with the emergency, the most practical being to interview the station master, who would wire along to Omura and have the missing bag returned.
After some discussion, this plan was adopted and, just as it was on the point of being put into execution and the ladies began to gather up their luggage (as the delay would entail the party missing the train); a waggish member of the party produced the missing bag, which he had seen the fair owner leave behind her on leaving the other train.
Tableau! Universal joy. Ejaculations of “Oh you wretch!” mingled with promises of reward in the form of unlimited refreshments, followed by a demand for rope, chain, or even string, on the part of the fair owner, in order that she could lash the bag to her wrist and so avoid any possible repetition of the incident.
At Nampuro Ryokwan
On arrival at Joka, the Clerk-of-the-weather, seemingly, had made up his mind to behave himself, thus enabling the pilgrim and his companion to call on a mutual friend who resided there and whom subsequently joined in the trip to Miike the following day.
The spell of fine weather, however, did not last for long, as towards nightfall, the rain came down in torrents and, after dining with the resident friend and evading with great difficulty his hospitable demand that the pilgrim and his travelling companion quarter themselves upon him for the night; the travellers procured rickshaws and proceeded to the Nampuro Hotel, whither their luggage had preceded them.
After putting up at this cosy hostel, which caters for Foreigners, strict injunctions were given for an early call, in order to catch the steamer which leaves Minato for Miike daily and the travellers retired to rest.
Miike
1 September 25th
The two-and-a-half hours’ trip, from Minato to Miike was marred by the heavy rain which prevailed throughout the passage and, under the scanty protection afforded by leaky awnings; the party, now increased to three, huddled together with some thirty other passengers onboard the small steamer which makes the crossing.
A considerable period before arriving at Miike and while out of sight of land, what in the distance had been assumed to be a steamer at anchor, proved on closer approach, to be a platform built upon screw piles on which a derrick was erected.
This amphibious mining plant was understood to be, either an experimental boring for a new shaft, or an attempt to ascertain the distance the coal seam extended under the sea.
On arrival at Miike, the pilgrim could not but admire the skill and enterprise displayed by the Mitsui Co. in the development of a flat shore, with shallow water and extensive mud banks, into a magnificent wet dock and half-tide basin, the latter 127 acres in area from which two parallel breakwaters, each 9,000 feet long from the dock gates, form a channel having a minimum depth of 18 feet at L.W., M.S.T.
The dock gates are a fine piece of engineering, maintaining a minimum depth of 28 feet within the dock, which latter is 32 acres in area.
The entrance is 66 feet wide, each gate weighs 90 tons and is operated by hydraulic power.
An extensive scheme of reclamation has already been completed and further efforts in this direction are in progress, dredgings and waste material from the mines being utilised for filling in.
The port of Miike, the very ground it occupies, is entirely the result of Man's labour, Nature merely providing the raw material, so to speak.
Picturesqueness here has been sacrified upon the altar of Utility but even under such adverse conditions, Nature cannot be entirely suppressed and trees, plant-life and vegetation spring up from piles of slag, or amid other unpromising conditions.
To the right, a short distance away, are the four peaks of Yotsuyama, on the summit of one being the cairn which marks the boundary between Chikugo and Fukuoka kens. Yotsuyama serves to relieve an otherwise flat landscape while in the hinterland of Miike, a stretch of cultivated ground, bearing an abundant rice-crop, extends to the slopes of the foot-hills and from thence to the mountains which close in the horrizon.
On the dock quays are installed coal tips of the latest and most efficient type, each capable of handling 15,000 tons per diem, could the supply of trucks and trimming keep pace with them. Electricity is the motive power, instead of hydraulic, as is usually the case.
Along the quays and on adjoining tracks, several miles of railway track have been laid all of standard guage, the locomotives being operated by the overhead trolley system, each being sufficiently powerful to draw as many as twenty fully-laden trucks. Spur tracks branch off to the mines, of which the Mitsui Co. at present operate six and sidings and switches at various points lead to the Government railway track.
Each coal tip on the quay can be operated at the rate of one wagon load per minute and as each wagon averages eight tons, it is evident that these tips cannot be worked at their full capacity, on account of the delay due to trimming. This rate of loading, it may be remarked, was ascertained by personal observation and it was understood that the speed can be accelerated in case of necessity.
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