JOTTINGS FROM JAPAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 259, 8 November 1878, Page 2

JOTTINGS FROM JAPAN.

[Own Correspondent, Press Agency.] Yokohama; August 13. The question of discouraging the cultivation of the silkworm, and the raising of more wheat, barley, maize, rice, etc., is being strongly urged ou the consideration of the Government by a number of influential Japanese geptlemeu. i 2,000,000 cards of silkworms' eggs are to be prepared for export this season, and the appearance of graineurs is looked for in greater force thau formerly. The unwisdom of extending or of continuing this branch of the trade has been commented on by the native and foreign Press alike, but the desire for temporary gain, even at the expense of future severe loss, is more thau sufficient inducement to hundreds to adopt the suicidal policy of keeping in full activity in Europe the production of silk to compete on terms decidedly against the Japanese silkgrowers with the most important export of this country.— Last auduight, about 800 men of the Imperial Guards, consisting of infantry and artillery, stationed at the barracks within the Gate of Takebashi, deserted, all armed with rifles. To create confusion, they set the stable on fire before their departure. Five cannons were immediately fired to inform the capital that an extraordinary event had occurred. All the police in Takio assembled at the Central Police Station from the various quarters, and detachments were told off to guard the residence of Diagiu aud Sangi, while some of the Takio garrison troops hastened to the palace of Akasaka, and to every gate of the ca9tle. The soldiers who had deserted fired their rifles as they passed through Ogawa Machi andNishikicho. The confusion became general. Men and women, old and youug, ran about hither aud thither, crying for help. Many of the deserters aud the police are said to have been wounded. All the civil officials repaired to the offices of their departments. A notification since issued by the Governor of Kauagawa, informs the public of the affair, and adds that good order was restored by 3 o'clock in the morning. — A foreigner, residing in Tokia, close to the Takebashi, who witnessed the progress of the riotous soldiery through the streets, and who ia well acquainted with the Japanese language, affirms that the riot cannot be traced to a political origin. According to (bis version, it arose out of a quarrel of long standing between two regiments, the one composed of Samurai, and the other of Heimin. So serious had the aspect of the feud become that officers of the respective corps had been for several nights sleeping in the soldiers quarters in order to be present to quell any incipient disturbance.