The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-06
.Hara-kirup.- How it is Performed.

The Japanese hold that death, undcr any clr-
cumstances, is to bo preferred to dishonor When
ev. r the PRIV legged classes go Oh . Journey the!
cary with them the robes worn ana inc An!Io u?cd
ut tho performance OF hara-ilru-tLus tost!t4inS
tc tneir readiness az any momont 10 Gle ratnet
chan degrade their iamihes or themselves. "hlie
Is the mourning co.6r Of Japan. IL Is the on'y
color used at iunerais. Etiquette prescrioea .las
q wnitc r Jbo and "narakama, or winged olnc.a'
dress should be worn when hara-kiru IS pef4crin-
ed. Tno disemboweilng kiIo Is aooas e.@H'
ncae3 ID length, ond very snap.
When the Ofic a. documeLt authorizing cu!-
pris 10 perform hara-kru is ma2c cut ana du!y
slcneI by compotoIS au;horltleS, u !s ce!Fercu
over 10 two commissioners, wno arc o.rectaA 10
deliver it ito whom 1t may concern" ~ s. me-
t!mes happens that tiis IS . dangerous duty u
perform. For ifthe selected victim is da.nlo
o. sutnc ct pow-r 10 DEFY tho tycoon lnesc lHss-
sonce.s ayc often wayla:d end ascassipated oy 2is
freaGs. Htncs sirltagaca> are rosorted TO ~ Or
der tC insure the safety o. the commissioners a-G
tao del very OF tho docu nentS.
Il is lotewt rthy hat. If tho document Is once
deiv>red 10 matter by what tricks, sre 10 nut
ter how powerful the select victim, the pr nee
never thinks OF defylng the order, because 50
strongly arc tho Ja?aroso imbuea with respect lor
the aIclept custom o; their cl0ntrr, ne w9Ca 1859
cast with his most devoted followers by donG Sc
When tho victim receives Lis sentence 10 gives
DO ice Il !; to his friends, AID invites tnem ~
shaie parting caror>e With him. They come o.
tho day apDoIi.,tl by the Commissioners, and afer
tho victim has blGuen his iamly f>reweu nc re-
Gives them, and they banquet together. IGe
host IS d. seQ il white robes and Is supported Dy
his two ministers o. rciNtlveS. wuoare Similarly =
tfod. Mhcs. Tie hour fixed for hGIa-k!lu an YES
the victim takes leave OF lis guests as II nothlns
unusual was - happcp-frlc- -seiy rs nc parts wih
then on any ordinary occas.on-aud then ho re
tires within : screened enclosure II company Will
his two supporters. I he reta.lerS WHO guard this
euclosule arc btIC-footcd, as marx OF respect 10
the sol, rHIty oI The occasion ana the rank ot the
culprit. lie commissioners then ad the fatal
document. 1t ammo rces that, n accordaucc wit.
the arc cut custo;. OF the country, the daimio Is
pcrnai ted 10 oraby TO sacrifice hlmse.f, and
thereby 20 expate Ia is own person the crime or
otter ce 10 has committed cSe.as. tie we.f.re ci
tie State.
TIM On eItor side, az shoit dl=tacce SITS ole IS
his supporters; wnis the suite OF the Iycoons
MESSENGERS surouud them AZ Z respectful dis
tancc. Inc; are I'll clad IN their oficlal robes.
The snte of tho comm ssiorerJ thea retire in.o
ond adioininc, conpart aent OF tho lie osure eay-
IL four persons to witness the last sc0ne, ezciI-
slva ~ t~e executioner, who IS pafoloo.ed AID
armed with swold. s..4..
~. U.Iyi.aua Is .esponsib,e fos tho statements
that follow as to the tiIol scene:
This notorious method OF suicide mas ol eIS
yoars ass1.noI somewhat modlleo iorln, aao ~
i,Dcer Consists II that unpleasant process Z! az
domcn ripping, which mus. have been Almost as
dlsacr cable a. opcIntioa 10 witness as 10 peI!ot'
Nv lend, LIgC-aC-4aml. presented me WIZ I
LniFn rropcr 10 bc US { uc6cc the c!c system an
eycardluely busipcss-.kc weapon, about ten lnch-
es nr sharp IS razor. and made OF steel OF the
biobost temper. Now, this knife is Only U ed to
make slight ncision, slgn4nca~t OF the iatth Ion
10 nut On end to himself. dc has collected ms
VITO and lis family to geo how hero can de; 'nD