New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-09

offerings of the faithful. Imagine, if you can, .
centributOn.box fifteen feet long by five broad and
four deep with an open top protected by transverse
bars of wood, and q large paddock, 70 bafie sacIi,
legious iBtruders. What stOut-backed deacon could
pass such a hat around for elcemosynary coppers
While we stood wondering II II was ever hlied there
vac shower of iron cash continually passing over
our heads, and into the great chest IRON pbgflns
who could not approach.
The eoeer vorshipers, absorbed in their deyo
tons mechanically made room tor ms as We moved
about. paving no more heed 10 us than If we had
been so many stocks and stones ourselves. They
had come from too long and weary journey to pay
their yows 10 be heedful Of few unbeheying for
eigners. was particularly impressed by the de-
yout absorption Of one gay -headed old pilgrim, who
stood with travel-stai feet, praying with up
raised ewes and clasped bands, from which depend
ed his wooden rosary. TO him, as 10 many others,
the temple WAS nothing and the idols OF the temple
we're vauities; bat his darkened spirit was bindly
cropping after felt bat unseen power that II would
worship and adore.
4 LIGHT screen Of la!ticrd wood aud wire separated
the people from an inner recess where the dreary
priests chanted mOn0tonOus prayers, Many we'll
dressed women and girls were standing or hneellDg
within, who forgetiul for the moment Of Amida,
ceased their devotions To gilded shrnes to admire
the glistening navy buttons of tho HarttOrds Of
fcers Our Yakm.ins, inclined to be civil, started
To take us within this :-Jre sacred rooni but the
priests closed the door in their faces, showing that,
even in despo'ic Nippon, ali imperial officer may be
sometimes snubbed without danger. There was
one feature about the temple OF Asaksa str1kingly
characteristic of the country for suspended on the
wall were pictures of the most noted courtesans Of
Yedo. Yet 20 it was in the refined and pagan
antiquity, when harOts could minister ut the
temple service.
1t was not an exceptional day of the year, that on
which We saw this throng Of pilgrims, but each and
every day Of the year is the same. Without the
temple were various attractions for the gathered
pilgrims what we would call in the states ~ SIDE
shows" The sound of the japanese lutte and drum
and the eloquent narrative OF the doOrkeepers ured
the idle spectators into variety OF shows and spec
tecles. There were sng-s0ng performances, the
atricals, natural curiosiies, magic cameras, Jug
Cling wrestling matches, and gallery OF wax hg-
ures which cordially commend Barnum to give
some agent carte blanche to purchase, so faithfully
do they depict japanese life. The wrestler' e1-
hibition was small affair, being confined to match
es between boys for the most part. -,
The beautiful tea-gardens were more attracuVs'
From u side door OF the temple We crossed u mar.
row street to these. Embosomed amid shade, and
screened by rows of living neGge were numerous
cottages, chnrmingy Gtsstee11 sund gardens and
flowers, where the nestest of rooms and the ceaii-
eat of mats invited 10 rest and repose. From the
city's din and confusion without We were in mo-
ment transported, by magic, to scene OF sylvan
quiet Every cottage has It's attractions, IT may be
a grove of cypress aud tir with winding walks or
trim rows OF .hnlbbey and blossoming hedges,
trimmed in dozen fanciiul shapes of urns, can
delnbras tables birds, beasts, and monsters; or
parterres of flowers, separated by gravel walks;
or landscapes in miniature, with little yistas OF
closely cropped turf, spreading under miniature
pines aud dwarfed views; or artificial Tock.w0rk,
covered With creeping plants; arbcr- covered WIN
the purple rscemcs Of the wistsria; ponds OF gold
fish in rocky basus; or several Of these attractions
combined. Wepassed several Of these pretty Swiss
Ike chalets where well.dres-ed people were taking
meals, or quietly smoking in IN" open yerandahs.
We selected one for ourselves wheir the tall hedges
as efscturlly screened ne from observation without
as though We had been pic-mckug on fuGs sum.
nit Tea, pipes, and tobacco, were Immediately
brought us, while we awaited the preparation OF IA
more substantial repast. This, when set before US,
consisted of hard boiled eggs, Prawns dipped 10
butter and fried in oil, boiled rice, rehshes I'd
pckled vegetables hot sake and fruits pears, lnsp-
id and indigestible, and persmmoDs large and f7ir
as Havana oranges Everything was clean aud
nicely served on little stands few inches high, and
squatted la Japan, on the mats, We did II justice
A tray of sweetmeats followed, among which
were candies wrapped in notice whose tender
language Whb Huutu
H. translated some Of them for us, and they proved
to BIZ as sentimental those We pass to sweethtais
at home under the gas-lights.
The riyer O-oka, or " Great River, flows through
the center Of the city, passing near the temple Of
Asakss. II is q great artery from which mum.
berless canals lead away 10 every part OF
Yedo. -Four bridges, built Of wood, and
resting Oh wooden piers crOss this river at long
intervals while numerou boats large and small ply
on its surface. We could return nsarly Ia our start
ing point BY the water, We gave up our horses
on the rivers bank ~ our bett0s, with instruction.
10 meet us at q specified landing below. The pas
senger boats of the river are light, neat afsrs, Of
Imprinted wood, with little cabin amidshlps, pro.
yided with seats and mats and 30 ceaDly scrubbed
that every fiber of the FIR wood Is as clear and dr.
tinct "a the veins Of polished marble. Woembarksd
where the bridge Of Diongokoo e. the bridge Of The
two prOvinces') spans the stream, and which, with
al the adjacent banks, wac crowded with the cum
Gus people. A few shouts of -tojin bGkd, " foreign
fool" complimented us as We sculled out into the
stream and passed under the bridge. IL was q
sof,, sunny Autumn afternoon; we stretched our.
selves at ease OH the matted seats and enjoyed the
novel delight of floating leisurey down the current
between the populous shores Of either side. M.
merous cargo boats were carrying merchandise from
the junks ut anchor in the harbor 10 warehouses on
the shore, or from warehouses 10 the junks. We
passed many boats laden with people bent upon
holiday, enjoying the balmy afternoon Of Autumn on
the water. Family groups were seated in the little
cabins looking upon the panoramic life OF the ryor,
taking their picnic meal like any water party ut
home. In one boat a pair. Of Japanese Watons were
leisurely fishing smoking their little brnss pipes be-
tween whites in true enjoy nient Of the piscatOry art
We passed by a long range Of Imperial grain
houses on the right bank, md On the eil those Of
the DaInios We passed under bridges over which
stream Of life was flowing as steadily as the cur
rent below. The palace walls OF the great chief
.n,,a d,,., 20 tha yyafaria AHA aud ,las .,y.