New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-09
JAPAN
THE CITY OF YEDO.
No. IL.

ASAKsA--Irs PILGRIMS AND ToY-sHOPs-A
CRowp-A MAMMOTH CONTRIBUTION BOX-
THE INNER SANCTUARY, AND THE FAIR
EvOTEEs-PEEP-sH 0ARDENs-A
JAPANESE DINNER-THE "GREAT RIVER,
AND . Boar-RIDE THEREoN-BENIGHTEp-
NIGHT RIDE IN THE STREETS.
From Our Own Correspondent
KANAGAwA, Dee, 1860.
For several days following the visit to Atago-
Yams, II. and myself passed our time in the
saddle. To both Of US, Yedo was in one sense
familiar-fsmiliar as New.York would be to one
who might have lived in its suburbs, daily read
ing and hearing OF it, needing only actual sight OF
the city to give life, form, aud permanency to his
Impressions. Our stay was limited and we made
the most of ii. Indeed, after week of sharp daily
rides about Yedo, through streets in which one
may never stop with satisfaction, and scarcely
with safety; around the Imperial citadel, winch
within is terra prOI,bita; past miles OF princeiy
residences whose massive gates are ever oarrcu
10 the stranger; about temple grounds ana sacred
places whose interior no foreigner may desecrate;
into rural suburbs that cease to be rarity, fOr AL
,Japan is garden-hke and plcturesque-One feels
that week is better than month OF such pracnce,
a month better than year. ledO Is yet only agar,
not open, We are worrying the oyster through
little crack in the she'll without securing s contents,
beyond o few dribblings.
When We left Yokohama Bay, we had directed
our bettos TO lead up our horses from Kanagawa by
the road, and meet us at the American Embassy
The faithful fellows were OF their post when we
went ashore the second morning awaiting us. We
had made up large party for the days excursion,
and horses and saddles were obtained from Japanese
stables for those who were not otherwise provided
Refractory beasts ore these native animals, unbroken
TO European management; and their accouternents
are on par with the animals. The brldle has
clumsy sBafilebit of small controlling power over
vicious horses the rein il made of Grape silk, while
the saddle becomes endurable only by added seets
of shawls or blankets The stirrups are ponderous
sandals of iron, so short that the riders knees are
on level with his seat in the saddle. 1t took some
time to mount the party satisfactorily One horse
w6ulu cersist in BACKING into the ditch, another
would sheer against the hedge-rv1TS:, Others would
70 only when they willed, and some would moi 60
at all After great amount Of horse-trad'ng
among ourselves, our party were at last mounted
and we signfed to our Yssunn Escort Of four that We
were ready for the read and long rlde Ihey
seemed to enjoy the projected days sport as Wen as
any of u.s. Our dozen bettOs, for each horse mao
its betto saw that their socks we're all ngbt-they
wear coarse white cotton sock, coming up Just
above the ankle when they run-tightened their
belts around their waists, threw their loose sack
garments off their shoulders, and, with hight easy
run started out in advance Of our csyalcade. won
derfu fellows arc these bettos; they will run with
your horse all day are up with you al eacn hai'ihg
place 10 receive your bride-rein, patent and good
natured ENJOYING the day as well as the nders.
There were twelve OF us in the saddle and as We
rode brisky through the streets Of the great city
with our 1.-The active bett0s pressing on IN advance
10 clear the way by loud shouts, the experience WAS
at once novel and delightful Now we rde rapidly
aud abreast through wide streets lined with people
staring in hstless wonder; now We slacken 10
soberer pace to avoid collisions in the denser quar-
ters; now we pass at quick pace princely retl.
nue. and the bettos Of either party exchange shouts
of "Make room 80 then turn into the city within
the walls, where spDrser population ana Wlae'
smooth roads, tempt US to try the mette OF our
steeds We essay scrub-race with our iakunins,
and find these sedate sons OF Nippon are as much
daredevil riders az ourselves. Where, but in this
capital Of the Japanese isles, shall one for good
hour hold bis horse to quick galop along spacious
avenues bordered only by the residences OF princes
great cbieftains, who can bring their tens, and
twentes and ffties Of thousands OF armed men
to the field
Our purpose to-day was TO visit the celebrated
temple Of Asaksa Ramon. It's famous Buddhist
shrine TO which resort pilgrims from the most dis
of the most meritorious vows the faithful Buddhist
can assume. Like the temple of the Sun Goddess
al I.she the temple of Asaksa demands at least one
pilgrimage out Of the lifetime OF every man. The
o 1nco pious will only be satisfied whh oft-ppeated
plgrimages.
An hour and half Of brisk riding brought us to
the entrance Of the long avenue which leads from
the street to the temple. The street was crowded
bv the thrOng of coming and going pilgrims, that
d,ritb hnraA fhrou in In
the outer gateway. This gateway, OF temple lodge
s q ma ssive structure of heavy t0bers supporting
an deliberately Ornamented tiled roof Here we
left our horses and passed in on foot our Yaku.
nins and staff Of policemen making path for u.s.
From the outer to the second gate, distance Of
several hundred feet was one jmpaeted mass Of hu-
man beings, through whom we made but Slow head
way. Without our attentive officials, advance
would have been hopeless. On either side of this
avenue, between two gatewsys, were booths for the
sale of a thousand small articles, such as the pill
grins might bear away Is molnentOs Of their visit
There was variety that industrious Nuremberg
could not surpass. There was the whole of Jpa-
neseie in miniature, from the insignia OF prncely
house 10 the humble furniture Of the peasant. There
were things quaint and grOtesque, humorous eIag-
gerations Of Japanese character, but the chidreDs
toys had the great prepOnderance. Many child in
the remotest part Of these islands prizes his pair Of
tiny swords, or bis miniature horse, brought from
distant YedO and famed Asakss. noticed
everywhere in Yedo, 80 l had noticed in other
cities, numerous shops for the sale OF chldren's
toys, and the many itinersnt vendors Of the same.
Truly to children, Japan must be the paradise Of
toy delights.
We passed through the deep portal Of The second
gateway, whose sculptnred columns and gilded
iiezes were wrought with semi barbsric taste, into
the spacious court Of the temple. This, too, was
throDged with pilgrims Trees venerable with
q a.saan.d tba I'D