KIUSHIU, kyooNlifft3'. Krysllu, or Kw-siu (Sinico-Japanese, Nine Provinces). One of the live large islands which form the main part of the Empire of .Tapan, and the most southerly of the three which form ,Ta pan proper. It is sepa rated from Hondo, or the main island, by the Straits of Shimonoseki, and from Shikok, the smallest of the three, IT the Straits of Bungo (Map: Japan, B 7). Area. 13,778 square miles; population, in 1898, 9,357,551. It takes its name from the fact that it consists of nine provinces: Chiknzen. Chikuro, Buzen. Bongo. Higo, Hitaga. Osumi, and Satsuma. For administrative purposes it has been divided since 1874 into seven ken or prefectures: Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Oita, Saga, Kumamoto, 'Miyazaki, and Kago shima.
The island is mountainous and volcanic; the highest peak, Aso-yama. in Higo, has a height of 5240 feet, and is an active volcano. Many hot springs and solfataras are found in the island. Coal is found in many places, and is extensively mined at Takashima, Karatsu, etc. Copper and antiniony are also found. 1Iizen and Satsuma are noted for their potteries, and Arita and Imari ware are well known. Besides the usual rice, wheat, millet, hemp. and beans, Kiushiu produces tea, tobacco, and vegetable wax. The
island is remarkable for the broken character of its coasts. especially on the west side. It has many good harbors. Nagasaki (q.v.) is the treaty port, but in 188!) five special ports of export were opened: :M.P. }Takata, Karatsu. Mismni, and kttehinotsn. Railways have been introduced, and run from Moji, a new town built by the rail way. opposite Shimonoseki, to Kumamoto and Kagoshima. with several short branch lines, •hietl• coal roads, that to Nagasaki (SO miles) being the longest. Kin-hitt is rich in historical associations. It was from Hiuga that .1 i :um 11 Tenno (q.v.) set out on his conquering and civiliz mission; Jingo-Kogo (q.v.) started from Kiushiu on her expedition to Korea; and it was from this island that Taikosama's expedi tion for the conquest of Korea and China set out in 1592. In 1542, when Pinto discovered Japan, it was into a Kiushiu harbor he sailed. Chris tianity was first proclaimed here by the Jesuits. and here was their sorest persecution: and until the opening of the country by treaty, Japan's pommel-eh)] transactions with Europe were eon• ducted here. •