OSHIMA, (Jap., Big Island). The name of at least twenty places in Japan. The two most important are: (1) The most northerly of the "Seven Islands of Idzu," which stretch southward for 100 miles toward the Ponin Islands, and is best known to foreigners as Vries Island. It is of volcanic origin, is eight miles long and five wide, has a good harbor, and an ever-smoking volcano, M ihara-Yama. It has a population of about 5000, living in six villages along the coast. No rice is pro duced, as the people live principally by fish ing and exporting cherry-tree wood to the main islands of Japan. A little corn and sweet pota toes are raised. The women do most of the work, and, as in the Loochoos, carry their burdens on their heads. Their dress differs considerably from the dress of the women of the mainland; they wear petticoats, dress their hair differently, and do not blacken their teeth. The men dress
as other Japanese. Coneubinage does not exist; musical instruments are not found, and dancing is unknown. (2) Anami-Oshima, one of the large islands of the Loochoo Archipelago (see Lou cnoo), which came under the control of the Dai mio of Satsuma in 1609. It is 34 miles and 17 wide; is of volcanic origin, with steep shores, and hills rising to heights of 1400 to 1500 feet. Here in 1867 a modern sugar-refining plant was erected by some 'foreigners for the Daimio of Satsuma, but, not proving remunerative, it was later removed. The port is Naze. with a good harbor, on the north coast, latitude 28° 23' N., longitude 129° 30' E. The inhabitants suffer much from very poisonous snakes of the genus Trimeresm•ns, which infest even the houses.