New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-12
The day had worn away in our long ride; just at

high palings and tall hedge-rows screened the nte-
riOr, into which no foreigner has been permitted to
enter From observation we could see only the
! leafy heads of venerable shade-trees and rows Of
| Towering aitheas as we passed by.
Night again overlook US in the streets while we
had yet walk of n couple of miles from where our
horses were stabbed to the boat landing. In the
narrow street that divides one of the Prince of
Satsuma's places, and which is flanked on either
side by his long white barracks, II. and myself, who
had fallen behind the rest of our party, encountered
4 trio of drunken soldiers who seemed disposed to
molest US, aud made show of disputing the road
Our Yakunin escort begged us to quicken our steps
out OF harms way, putting their hands on our
shoulders. Haste is undignied IN Japan, so we
lOosened our reyOlyers rather than our hmDs; yet
how foolish would be resistance where the hrst pls-
tol shot would bring upon us swarm oil tleir c1ih-
rades. They were content, however with drunken
shouts and threatening gestures, and so were We
few minutes more aud we were out OF dark lanes
and crowded streets in the little court OF the Gus
tOmIIouse, awaiting the boat that was to put us on
shipbOard.
Each day there was some new route 70 explore,
and we could not be idle. So the day after our ride
TO Ogee, H. and myself, accompanied Dy TWO
mounted officers aud our betOs started for the south
eastern suburbs, portion OF the city almost excu-
sivcly occupied by merchants and shopkeepers. We
rode past the Imperial Citadel once more, stopped
for q moment again at the little tea-hOuse, then
plunpnp down the hill rode for several miles under
the walls aud by the mOat. In close proximity TO
the Citadel walls and separated from them by the
moat's breadth only, were several streets ol mean
bouses and dingy shops which c0ntrasted lily with
this aristocratic neigb6orhood. Wondered atseeiDg
them thus under the nose of royalty. from this We
emerged into thckly Inhabited, well built quarter,
much of which had been newly rebuilt, after the de-
vastatiOns of one of those large fires 10 Wmch ledo
is liable Main street." through which We passed,
long, handsome street, well paved ana severed
the finest street in the business part OF iedO, Is the
great matt for cotton goods. Nor is it wholly gwen
up TO cotton for there were book stores ana PRINT
shops Haunting with highcOlOred prints OF NlpOn
Saints heroes and distinguished cOurtezans, the
latter by far the most numerous, toy shops crammed
with an :neXhaustble variety of small wares Tor
small people shops for the sale OF head and halr
ornaments writing materials, tobacco ana pipe
pouches, sake shops redoent OF strong 0dOrs, each
business separately conducted. In the different
shops were many foreign imported goods, such as
glassware, medicines camlets, muslns, and bright
coored calicoes and handkcrcheis. One large es-
tablishment on a corner, in which at least 2UO per-
sons we're buying and selling is the largest retail es-
Enlistment in icdo
We were now approaching the river again, which
we must cross. The street leading 10 the bridge
of the two provinces" was more crowded WIN peO-
pie than any We had hitherto seen. We were COM
pelled 10 walk our horses for the greatness at the
passing throng. 1t was Il wide street aud its center
was taken up by movable stands Tor the sale OF
every variety Of japanese edibles, both cooked and
unc0Oked. SauatOns of foreigner" China
man, l." and foreign fool, were plentiful from the
rabble, which was made up OF the lowest orders OF
the population. Beggars were soliciting aims, but
japanese brggars are not 50 much the dsgustlng00-
iects as seen IN many other lands. For the most
part they are able bodied, capable, apparently, of
earning their own rice, would they set about 1t.
The lame and the halt are few n cripple Is rafty,
and the blind are provided tor by their trade, as
shanpOOers, wandering from house to house. l
make no mention OF the begging priests and nuns
who are an established institution, as much 80 as
Charity Fairs in Christian lands.
A police force from the neighbOrhood joined us to
assist our Yakunins in opening path through the
crowd 10 the bridge. As we crossed over we had
n good view of the stream that flowed beneath
everywhere enliyened by the passing and rcpasslng
boats Over the bridge, We were in the south
eastern suburbs, where are cOngregated the heaviest
merchants of the city, the great dealers IN rlce
grain, and all raw produce. Their fre-proof ware
houses are built on canals that lead out of the river
and boats load and unload their cagoes at the DOORS
a motley crowd were collected about the southern
end of the bridge. The scene was like country
fair where every device IL employed tO lure the idle
.
of one of which was n tempting display of game; a
deer lay on board, and above 1t hung ducks pheas-
ants, plOyer, and with them was great winged baf
large as barn-door fowl. There were siug-sOng
booths, dancing girls, play-actOrs gamblers, peep
shows iugglcrs, tumblers, harlequns, and al sorts
of merry trcksers, to the great delight of young
Nipon which was present IN force. Leaving the
bridge and its pleasurng crowds We kept to The
streets near the rivers bank. On our lett was
temple famous as the burial place Of the bones of
los 600 persons who persisted in earthquake
many wears ago. Those not killed by the falling
timbers and tiles were consumed in the fires that
were ignited among the ruins. Again, on our right
were fifteen or twenty large buildings, near the
waters edge, containing the Imperial bargcs; ships
made for show whose keels never touch the yielding
wave. Through the open windows We had gbmpses
of these royal toys, respondent with yemiilon aud
gold.
We drew mp at the temple Of llachman. There
was nothing wonderful Or curious about this temple,
though our Yakunin guides had brought Us good
twelve miles TO sec il, unless il was q colossal idol
of bronze, sitting on a high pedestal with hat on
hs head of the size and smllitnde OF an umbrella.
This was the second time any foreigners had pene-
trated to this usually quiet nelghborhood, and the
yelest sensation was excited among the street ours
and the people who swamod out of their houses
Ike bees. I'VE sheltered our stared-at mOlesty in
one of tue Quetest Of little tea-rOoms us. within
the temple gates which we closed aud barred against
the crowd They were not 10 be- 50 easily baked.
The adults clambered the fences and gates and
climbed the trees, while swarm ot youngsters
sacriegiously mounted the grim god of brass, clus
tcring like flies about his head and big hat, standing
on his shoulders asridc of his nose embracing his
neck hanging on by his ears. Never was brazen
divinity more irreyerently treated expected 10