Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-22
AN IDOLATROUS CEREMONY, {

The Japs Praise their God-CORs
and Treat their Satanic Majesty, and
Eat Goals Of Fire by the Dozen
In their religious ceremonies, as in every
thing else, the japanese are a pecnlial
people: There are so many companies o
the "natives" visiting the United States
and SO many Americans visiting Japan
that we are in fair way 10 learn some
! thing of the "seaied country" A reporter
for q milwaukee paper was particularly
fortunate in being a witness, on Sunday
the Sd inst, of one of the religious cere
monies of the Japanese, the Monthly Fire
Eating, Of which he gives the following
account: .g IN usrr 74
The performers were the company now
travelling in the West. They came to this
city on Sunday, and remained here until
Monday morning, Fasi- Ysnla, the fsther
Of the flock, is venerable old japanese
more than seEanty years of age. He seems
10 feel as though the souls of the company
had been intrnsted to his keeping, and woe
be TO the unlucky one who has an inelina.
ton TO stray from the ways of their fathers
One Of Fusi- Yama's peculiar rites is that
Of ire-eating, and this is practieed the first
Sunday Of every month. On Sunday, after
making many promises that we would moi
indulge in undue leyity on the occasion
we prevailed upon Mr.. Wilder, the mana
ger, TO allow us TO witness this ceremony
and we're secreted in the room while it was
progressing.
About 10 o'clock, Fusi- anna, with the
Japs, some ten in number, came into the
room. On a table in the center Of the room
stood their god, an ordinary wooden image
about foot high, that ran TO body and head
more than TO legs, Near the window stood
another table, on which was most hidsous
devil Ii is doubtful if more vile look
ing object could be cut out of wood thar
was this same devil. All the Japs, and
particularly Fnsi- Yami, seemed to stand in
great fear Of the image, and most anxious
to keep in its good graces, by pandering tC
its appetite, for on the table we're apples
rasins, oranges, cake and several kinds o.
wine. AZ the DEVILS table seemed TO be sc
wen provided for, while that of the Japa.
nese god contained nothing, we incidentally
inquired why this was thus, and were told
that the god was satisfied with prayers and
promises, while the devil, 10 keep anything
like a reasonable being, must be stuffed with
the choicest bits, and even then he was moi
entirely 90 be depended upon. ..-
When the japanese fret came to thi:
country, they were particular in their OBJ
servance, and were careful to keep the
devils table well supplied. One of ihs
agents of the company, thinking the ar
ticles too good to be wasted, stole them
away. Fusi- Yama would look at the empty
plates, shake his head, and declare he bad
never seen devil eat 30 much as his did
since it had been in this country. One
morning, however, he caught the tricky
agent, and his Indignation knew no bounds
He vented his wrath in tones both loud anC
deep, and uttered threats. lie said hC
would buy all the fruit and wine the agent
wanted, but he must "no robbee devil any
more, cause he make bad work wild EN-.
Since that time the devil has had his own
Upon entering the room Fusi- lama and
the japanese fell PROSTATE before their GOO
and poured forth what was no doubt in
tended for a fervent praye-. The heads o
all Rugged the carpet as close as possible
and there was indication of earnest
piety in their tone. This lasted for few
moments, and then all arose and bowed
three times. This was designed as a prom
ise that they would be faithful. Then al
fell PROSTATE before the devil and com
menced wail-like chant, sorrowful enough
/ in its tone. Before the image they bowed
time after time, chanting in n rapid, nm
/ couth manner. This, as we afterwarI
| learned, was a sort of earnest entreaty Il
the Evil One that he would not moles
them, they in turn promising TO feed hin
well. All the japanese have an idea tina
the devil can, if he wishes, do them harm
while they are performing, and no effort
are spared TO conCiiate him. They d,
/ not believe in kindness and coaxing alto
| gether, for the salt which is distributed 3,
bountifully before a feat is attempted i
supposed TO have no little effect in keeping
His Satanic Majesty away.
The entreaty of the devil was kept N
fully twenty-five minutes, and then tht
Japs arose, bowed three times and felt evi
IDENTIFY that the Evil One had been sufii
GENTLY importuned.
Now came the strangest part of the cere
mony. A dozen pieces of pine wood, eacl
about an inch square, were produced
These Fusi- Yama took, placed on the coal
in the CRATE, and while the remainder Of th
company fell upon the floor, the old fellO,
famed the blocks, .jabbering all the tim
until they were real Goals. They we're the
taken from the fire on plate, still snappin
and cracking with the flames. All th
company commenced most dOleful chan
or rather howl, while Fusi- Yama, rollin
up his eyes, commenced eating the burRin
mass, block at time, carrying them TO hi
mouth with his fingers. There was som,
thing startling about the manner in wbic
il was done; something that almost mad
us believe the devil had left the littl
wooden image and taken possession of tn
old Jap in earnest. There was no delusiO
about the matter, no slight-Of-hand show
There were the Goals splitting and burning
alive, and as hot as Goals could well be, an
there was the Jap eating them as fast 8
his teeth could crush them and his palat
work them down. He appeared 10 exper
enee no pain, but rather 90 relish the ou
rageons food, while his friends kept up thei
dOlOTOus cry.
At least foil dozen Of these Goals vel
devoured-one after the other, and rapidly
A mans insides must be made of iron, on
would think TO DO such work, bat the ver
cradle Fusi- Iama did il as though it wen
something he liked 10 do. As the last col
went down, the Japs ceased their howlinl
and all stood up. Fusi-Yama washed h
mouth out with a glass Of wine, wiped i
and famed himself, while the Japs, the
ceremonies over, were as happy as a lot {
Shakers who jnst attended funeral, or
lot of convicts Just sent to Waupun for
long term. Reporter escaped from Il
room as soon as possible, satisfied that 81
Jsps must be remarkable funny sei
people any way you can fix It.
THE NEW YORK NOMINATION.
While some of the Washington GORE