What he imagined fumigation was it is impossible to say, but he warned the authorities that if they attempted it, the Emperor of China would declare war on England.

The unfortunate officials did not know what to do, and waited in a great state of anxiety for orders from the Government.

The story does not say how the matter was arranged, but as His Excellency is now in New York, and war has not been declared by China, it is to be supposed that he was not fumigated.

* * * * *

The Japanese are a very progressive people.

A generation ago the inhabitants of Japan were not allowed to leave their country, nor were foreigners permitted to enter it.

Since the war with China Japan has taken a wonderful start; her commerce and manufactures have greatly increased, and her people have begun to seek a better market for their labors, and emigrate to foreign countries.

Japan is a densely populated land, and the inhabitants have not been slow to see that an overcrowded country, where thousands of people are constantly unemployed, is not a good place to make money in.

Since the Japanese have been permitted to seek their fortunes in other lands, they have emigrated in vast numbers.

They are now to be found all over the world.

We have spoken about them in Hawaii, but the Sandwich Islanders are not the only people to protest against them as colonists.

In British Columbia they have arrived in such hordes that the Government has been considering laws to keep them out in future.

In California there is a strong opposition to them.  They are not desired in Australia, nor in the English colonies in the Pacific Ocean.

With all these countries making laws against them, and Hawaii sending them back from her shores, it would seem that the thrifty Japanese would have to stay in their own country.  However, a haven has just been offered to them in Mexico.

A Japanese syndicate has secured 300,000 acres in the Mexican State of Chiapas, on which a Japanese colony is to be established.  The land is to be divided into lots of 20 acres, one lot to be assigned to each family.

The immigrants are to raise coffee, cotton, tobacco, and sugar, and to introduce certain Japanese industries.

The first party of colonists are now on their way to Mexico, and it is thought that thousands will follow them.

The Mexicans are said to be quite pleased with the prospect of the Japanese settling among them.  They need a great many laborers; these they find it very difficult to obtain, and they expect the new immigrants to be a great help to them.

It will be interesting to watch how the amiable, active Japanese get along with the fiery, indolent Mexicans.

* * * * *

Hawaii is disturbed over the news that the Japanese cruiser Naniwa is on its way to Honolulu.