Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-08-29
How to Commit Hari Kari.

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Under the date of niogo, Japan,
March 18th, the correspondent of the
New York Times writes as follows:
On the I'd of this month, at fifteen
minutes past one o'clock PM, in one of
the Hiogo temples, Ikeda Ise, the au-
thor of the recent troubles, suffered
death. He was the Secretary of Prince
Bezen, and gave the order to fire on
the foreigners. The combined Powers
demanded his head, and neither his
own position nor the influence of his
Prince could save him. But he was
permitted to commit the hari kari,
thus rescuing his property from con-
fscation, and his name from dishonor
among his countrymen. Up to the
last moment his friends sought his par
don. Each of the six legations sent q
representative as witness, and to this
number was added an interpreter.
The closet mystery surrounded the whole
affair, and as few witnesses as possible
were permitted, in order to impress the
Japanese that the execution was to
satisfy the ends of justice and not graf
ify the prurient curiosity. The chosen
ones left the legation during the even
ing and walked to Hiogo, where
guard of Japanese soldiers met them
and conducted them through several
narrow streets to one of the larger tenn
Piles. One of the ante-rooms was
placed at their disposal, and there they
INDUCED in pipes and cigars and
awaited the advent
At a few minutes past eleven P. NJ.
word came that all was ready. They
arose and followed their conductor into
the main temple. Here, in front of
the large and elaborately finished altar,
was spread green cloth, and over this
a smaller red covering. Near the CEN
ter stood tray containing number Of
small knives, corresponding to the
sharp, short sword of the Japanese,
unsheathed. The seven Europeans sat
down in silence off the mating, after
the japanese fashion, and the same
number of native officials located
themselves opposite. Above them
glimmered several japanese paper Ian
terms, shedding over the altar dim and
spectral light, which lost itself in the
mysterious darkness beyond. With
slow, but firm and unfaltering step, the
doomed man entered and approached
the altar. He wore the white-winged
State dress indicative of high rank, the
'Karni Shino"
Turning toward the dimly outlined
images Of his gods, he bowed and NUT
tered a prayer. Then, gathering his
feet beneath him, he sat down, resting
on bis knees in the usual Japanese
manner. beside the tray. It is custom
ary for the individual performing the
hari kari to complete the act by cutting
his own throat. But this unhappy
man, fearing that at the last moment
his resolution might fail, caused one
near of kin to assume the duty of heads
man. The executioner took his posi-
tion behind him, seizing the long ham
die in both hands He raised the sword
and assumed the attitude of one about
to strike. 1t was a tableau impressive
and awful. The long razor, edged blade
reflected the lantern light with horrible
effect. The executioner's eyes were
fixed with fearful earnestness on the
victim before him, watching eagerly
every motion. The doomed man meth
odically prepares his dress and selects
a sword, grasping it firmly in his right
hand. Then, summoning all his reso-
luton, he plunges it into his side and
completes a transverse incision. At
this moment his head falls forward, and
|instantaueously the poised sword of the
headsman flashed through the air, and
the head fell with dull sound upon
the heavily matted floor.
The seven robed and sworded Japan
ese officials bow their heads to the
ground, exclaiming in loud voice:
"Are yon satisfied 2" and the seven
Europeans how'd their faces in return,
and reply through the interpreter, "We
are satisfied" They arise and are i'm
mediately conducted away.
This is the famous hdri kari allowed
to officers of position as an alternative
of disgrace. The incision saves their
honor and their property, and the cash
in the throat terminates their suffer-
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