The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1860-06-08
Oar Japanese Visitors.

The Washington correspondent of
| the New York Commercial Advertiser
gives the following particulars Of the
looks, movements and habits of the Em.
Ibassy
1t is said to be the desire Of the Am
bassadors, after the conclusion of the
formalities, 70 inspect our private man
ufactories, and to purchase such ma
chimes, implements and tools as they
may think it advantageous to have in
troduced into Japan. Their artists
will also be kept busily occupied, and
very rapidly do they sketch, using fine
camels' hair brushes, and what we term
India ink" rubbed into paste, which
is carried in a tiny Jar, the long handle
Of which is held between the fingers of
the hand which holds the sketch book.
The artists ofthe New York Illustrated
papers acknowledge themselves beaten
by these rivals.
Each of the twenty officials of the
party wear asword. These are short,
straight, and thrust through their. CIR
die on the left side horrizontally.-
There is no guard to the hilt which is
of metal, inlaid with gold, or silver in
figures, or Of shagreen. The scabbards
are of wood, laquered.
Their pipes are wooden stems with
metallic mouth pieces and tiny bowls,
not much larger than an inverted Thin
bic. They carry them in grass cloth
pouches, to which are attached their
tobacco bags, containing what smoking
Americans term vile stuff, resembling
the Persian tobacco sold in the Bazars
| of Constantinople. About three whiffs
Eempties the bowl, which has to be FREE
quently replenished.
The Marylanders and Viginians (of
course no Yankey would do such a
thing) are already sending samples of
their 'weed,' which is gracioualy ac-
cepted, but evidently is, not considered
equal to their native production. They
accept cigars, but after smoking them
awhile, courleously return them, light
ed, to the donors.
The Japanese flag, which We see
floating here in every direction, IS a
large red ball on a white field, repre-
senting the sun. This is the imperial
or national standard, and is embIematic
ofthe supreme Sun Goddess, Ten7sio-
da-sin;; BY the "Sin-Syus," who are said
/ to be more humorous sect than the
Buddhist.
/ The private ensigns of the Ambassa-
doris, arriedinthe procession, bear their
heraldic devices, some Of them much
resembling the masonic emblems of the
Scotch rite. Inaddition, each Ambas-
sador wears the insignia of the Tycoon,
designed on small bit Of white cloth,
sewed on his apparel, either on one
shoulder or on the back, and the re-
tainers were the insignia of their lord
and masters.
The pixies and halberds carried by the
retainers are of an antique pattern
They are only used on occasions of GER
emory, and the weapons of the army
are said to be Of the latest style. Col.
Colt, and other manufacturers ofpatent
FIRE arms are here, with specimens Of
their weapons, and Col. Colt hopes they
will inspect his manufnctory at Hart
| ford.
Where we use cloth prepared with
India rubber, they use paper papered
with vegetable wax (Rh3s succedanea)
which ] suppose is of the same species
as the plants from which the converted
y
Indians Of Maine obtained to make
Father Rale's altar candles. Anyhow
it makes paper prepared from mulberry
bark waterproof, and nauruse Gensire
has an overcoat made out of this new
water proof stuff. 1t is very light, Of
course, and turns water.
They go bare-headed, but hats hang
in several rooms-huge straw affairs,
some of them waxad on the unner nor