New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-05
JAPAN.
THE CITY OF YEDO....IU.

THE CITY OF YEDO....lU.
YRDO CoHTIEUEp-A RIDE THROUGH THE CITY
DAnaIos AND THEIR ABoDEs-FRMALE ST.
cEUaON--AN ACCOMPLISHED YOUNG LADY
Rus IN URBE-THE IMPERIAL CITADEL
ENTRANCE THERETO-YoUNG NOBILITY
rEA.HousE AND BACKGROUND I'm THE
COUNTRY AGAIN-TEA.GARDENs oP oGEE.
Esvuf Dun Own Correspondent
KANAGAwA, Japan, January, 1861.
The day following our visit to Asaksa Ramon,
We we're again mounted for q ride through the
sity to the tea-gardeus of Ogee in the north.
western Suburbs. Our way Icy through the heart
sf the city, the quarter most occupied by kamis
q both hereditary and tituar rank, and by the
Imperial Citadel The Imperial Citadel is situa
sed centrally ia that part of Yedo lying on the
sisht bank Of the O.oka, including, with the ex-
seption Of Atago-Yama, the most elevated ground
within the city. It's walls and moat inclose,
On area Of seven square miles, occupied solely by
he Imperial family, its servants, dependents, and
household troops with their families, aggregate
II fifty or sxty thousand souls THERE'S the Palace
ef whose ancient tabled grandeur we have such ac-
boants by Venetian Marco Polo and successive
chroniclers, the Halls of Audience and the noted
~Hal of q Thousand Mats" where the
great Princes Of the Empire annually as
sanble to pay their respects to the reigning
Emperor, and on important State occasions. Ac-
sxs is had over draw-bridges through massive gate
ways of stone. The Citadel has two nclOsing
lines of wall, and broad deep mOat at the foot OF
Che outer wall. Over the moat none can pass ex-
sept on Government business. Outside OF the Cit
ade walls, and with an intervening space of o mile
I'D one halt in breadth, is third wall and moat.
Between thesc walls and occupying its entire area,
h. kox.r of Of fhR
Dsimios, few of the more powerful ones, the In
penal officers about the throne, such as the GorCJo
or Council Of State of Five, the WakadOsm or the
Governors of Foreign Affairs and State Depart
ments, the Provincial and Metropolitan Governors
resident in the city. The other Dalmos live
scattered about the city, occupying spacious
Enclosures. They are not limited TO one resi-
Sence, like the Prince of Satsuma, who has
zine town residences The Citadel OF the
tycoon is the central spot from which the
sfhers radiate. Walls of solid masonry shut out
these abOdes from the streets, having access by
snposing gateways and lodges where servants are
ALWAYS i'm attendance More commonly, however,
Che street line is taken mp by long barrack-like
ranges of one-story buildings, resting on stone
foundation, which buildings are occupied by the
6eadatories Of the chiefs. Windows protected by
wooden gratings open toward the streets. behind
which as we pass one may see the faces OF women
and girls the idle samra locking out at the passers
Il ttcTing hoos of the foreigners horse have at
tracted to the window, leaving the low desks where
ehey have been burTing paper with uncOuth japanese
characters for there schools as well as families
within the walls. Within them also, is ample
room for lawns, gardens groves, pleasure grounds,
being altogether more like country seats than city
residences. Wholly inaccessible to the foreigner
Ore these Enclosures.
The different character that belongs 10 intermural
YedO was apparent the moment we rode through
the solid arch Of a gateway in the Outernost wall.
In its quiet semrural aspec it was suburban rather
shan urban. There was succession of prncely
tea, all situated in such angle breadth % Gs rround,
yfotected stTeotward by stone and succeed walls,
With miles Of hedge rows, and thick shades OF
vuarled and twisted pines and evergreen oaks, that
we could not fail to recognize the tokens Of royalty
descended wealth and power. Wide gateways
With their folding leaves of ponderous wood, em-
tossed with iron and copper, and surrounded with
che family crest were suggestive OF Oden days when
belted knight and mailed warriors issued forth from
She castle gates for feast or foray There was the
warder still looking out of his loOphOe by the cote
a. of yore, and the grizzled servant pacing the
Rrayeled walk may, for anght we know, be the Sen
eschal Of the tower.
Warriors olea in mail are yet a reality; the
gearmen the archere and the bowmen, are not Ca
kpet and almost any day servants, WIN hawK III
hand, are to be seen in their masters retnue.
Could we only the bsteinented turrets OF Stone
I1ssng above The Ndus We iuiSh ldhC VueoNe UNI
Ser a strong tower of the Rhine in FrOissart days.
The fair damsels of court and hall are no longer
visible either on their housekeeping palreys III the
ride or as shining queens of the tournament. The
SipOn dqmsels of gentle blood are more chary than
Che fair Ahces and Margarets of Olden days For
the Japanese lady of quality lives i'll the unbroken
eecIuGOn of her own home. Within the ample do
maine Of her lord she has her gardens, and her
walks and room for all pastimes. Thlther may
come the maskers, the juggers, aud AL the troop OF
xnerry-makers TO divert her. Rarely, except on
some great holiday or religious festival does she 60
forth, and then in the jealousy closed aud guarded
mormon. She has her maids in waiting, who live
with her in luxurious ease, her attendants when
she goes abroad, at home INDUCING in such light
feminine employments as embroidery, painting
screens and fans or diyerting themselves with the
harp and lutte.
A Japanese acquaintance pointed out TO me, one
Aay as we were passing the shops on the tokadO, a
Rirl whose indoor hue of c0untenance and whose
Bearings little more modest and ladylike than the
Fomping hOydens, her peighbors-ndicated a differ
ent training from most Of the native girls had seen.
Ehe had Just returned, he said, from living in a
DaimiO's family at YedO where she had been halt
peryanf. half companion of his wife. "She was an
accomplished girl" be said; she could sing, play
on the samsc, was skillfu with the needle, could
paint and write elegantly" indeed, the catalogue
of her accomplishments was not 80 greatly different
from a graduated boarding school miss at home,
though did not learn that she could crochet or
dance the Lancers
"Why did she leave Yedo, asked "Oh she
>fas old enough TO be married and her father had
brought her home hoping to get husband for her.
This was some months ago, but still see her sit
sing in the back room of the little tesshop plying
her needle Her teeth are vet white, and her eye