New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-05


the lotus and water-hlies rest their broad, green
discs on its surface; wild geese and ducks swim In
its current, fearless Of any marauder, for who
would dare shoot the Emper0r's birds Growing
the bank of smooth turf that rises with a sharp
slope some forty feet on the opposite side of the
moat, is the citadel wall, of gayish stone, fitted
without mortar. Scores OF pnes and cedars skirt
the walls within, trained into strange growths Gu.
rIous sinuosties of trunk and limbs, or trimmed
from lower limb TO the tip of their full hight with
painstaking exactness. Hedges Of every variety,
pncky orange, cedar, lex camela, and evergreen
oak, OyertOp the battements. Bridges with long
intervals cross the moat, ending in archways of
stone, and double gateways of enduring strength
No crowned head of Europe lives within d more
royal citadel.
We kept this Countrywide road, that wound be-
tween the sparkling river-ke moat on the one hand,
and the princely seats on the other, til We drew up
our horses opposite one Of the citadel gates at the
brink OF the hill, from whence we had an extensive
view OF the city. Norimons, encmcled by numerous
attendants were continually passing over thebridge
to and from the citadel. Japanese gentlemen, well
mounted on horseback and clad in 6ne robes of silk
rode by with uncovered heads; their horses were
richly caprisOned, aud were followed by numerous
attendants. Other gentlemen, neat and prim, in
their clean and stiffened kam-simo or ceremonlous
robes and v0luminOus trousers OF br0cade OF SUM-
ming patterns, as London Cockney might say, were
afoot walking with grave step, amid their armed
attendants. Many of these upper-clas wOrtnes
were young, mere boys, bearing themselves Win
naughty presence and uDsnhDg gravity. lheir
light compilations and delicate features betrayed their
indoor habits and seclusOn. Patrclan and plebeian
blood have more distinct demarkatlOns Ia Japan
than in other lands where the endowments OF
social life have an evener distribution. No scion OF
noble house in Europe is more asslduonsly edu,
Gated for his future station than the young rnce OF
Japan. Especially is this so with relation 10 sil
court ceremoials, official and social forms OF Ell.
Quettc and the everyday politenesses of life as
understood among them, even 10 the proper way OF
performing hdrd kiri, so that one may die honora-
bly, should occasion necessitate and the family es-
cutcheOn remain uptarnished Not a very broad
and genial culture of the young noble; but what
has Japan had TO do hitherto with an enlightened
policy or benefcent craftsmanship, that she should
ask for her young mobiles anything greater or
better
could easily have waited half the day, sitting
my horse in the shadow of the Imperial Citadel,
Just to have seen these young gentlemen riding up
the hill among their obseqtiOus fOllOwers--these
youths in teens with that calm equpoise OF countc-
nance which no sight or sound for OH instant re-
Taxed into smile or betrayed into fr0wn. But II
is grave life this slip of roy atty will enter upon,
surrounded by spies, hemmed in by an exacting
code of ancient custom, never allowed the privilege
of making n mistake or rectfyng an error, and
who holds his life ready to avoid the one aud as q
forfeit for the other. So noble Kamis of Japan,
living in prucey mubifcence in their ample courts,
that look so temptngly fair in this Autumn sun
shine, over which brOOds that air of quiet rep0se
which is the paradise of Buddhism and the heaven
OF all the wOrk-a-day world, do not env. you, but
will turn my horse out OF the ctadel's shadow into
this little tea-garden oppe.te the Imperial gate
way and, slipping the fragrant beverage IN this ve-
randa, shaded by the tall OAKS, l VIII look down
into the city below, thinking that O-oka, after all
is not 30 pretty as the Hudson, or the distant
waters of Yedo Gulf at al comparable to the Bay
of New-York.
We halted few moments at the little tea inn,
sheltered from Summer suns by the thick cah boughs
long enough to breathe our n0TJeg tn the rear OF
the house was an open field OF several acres whittier
the young sprgs Of nobility came to Try the mett'e
Of their horses ON the smooth turf
We again mounted, aud leaving behind us the
Imperial grounds, rode on through the city. Not a
long distance from the citadel, passed the seat
Of the Prince Of Kaea, whose buildings formed the
street line for long way. vide pavement ol
stone led up to gateway conspicuous IN Its color OF
staring yermilliOn. The Prince Of kega ID the most
powerful of the Daimios of the empire, and his city
dvniains aI- h~'s the extent Of the Tycoone h"sei
As we rode on, we left behind ~ the stately resi-
dences exchanging them for streets crowded Will
shops and merchandise, these again were exchanged
S. and less D0DulOps streets; gradually the
houses and people became less frequent, rom city
| suburbs till we were again fairly in the country
| AS in the vicinity of our own large cities here,
were extensive vegetable gardens for the citys sup
ply At last the market gardens were exchanged
for the broad fields of the open country aud curway
was among the fragrant hedge-fows and through
shady lanes, and the great city behind us was lost 10
every sight and sound.
| At the end of brisk two hours ride we descended
| low bill, and at bend in the road saw through
the branches of the pines little cluster Of cottages
| in q narrow valley. There was the ghstening OF
water through the leaves and the roar Of waterfall
Another bend in the road, aud we were among
| the brown thatcted chalets and at the entrance Of
| the tea-gardens Of Ogee. Our half nude bcttos,
seemingly no more tagged than our beasts, we're al
our horses heads, having kept even pace With US.
We dislnounted at the door Of the principal tea
house, and stepped upon the shining floors Of the
| open verandah, shining az though they were daily
waxed, after the custom If our grandniothers time
The people Of the little hamlet turned out en- mass
| to gaze and half dozen girls with their mistress
at their head ready 10 receive us with all the
bows, smiles, and complimentary speeches OF Jap
anese welcome. Other girls, with blowzy faces aud
| bare arms, Redeemed at the cook fires, crowded
| about the open door Of the kitchen. Through tn,
open screens that faced the long verandah Wis
| tas of extensive suites Of apartments How fresl
| and clean everything looked, what bUOus Of neat
| ness we're the rooms with their papered walls anC
| spOfless mats.