The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-24
JapaUese Customs.

II was regarded by the Japanese authorities
rs q remarkable concession to the common
people that, during the recent procession of the
Mikado from the Southern capital to Yoko-
hama, they were not only allowed to leave
their houses as he passed by, but also, in case
of rain, to elevate their umbrellas. Hitherto,
when such journeys were made the doors of
the houses were sealed up, and woe to the
man who broke the seal and went out while
the sacred pageant was passing. The
Mikado's entry into Yokohama is thus de-
scribed by an eye-witness:-
All preparations were completed by the oath
of November, on the afternoon of which day
nearly all Yokohama, native and foreign, went
to the place appointed to witness the specta-
Gle. 1t was quite mixed throng. multi
tude of natives lined the Yokaido, while in
the principal station crowd OF foreigners
English, American, French, and German, with
not a few Chinese-were assembled. Placards
were up in conspicuous places requesting
foreigners not to cheer when the MikadO
passed. After waiting some time We got
hint that his Majesty was approaching, from
the fact that native officials came along and
required the Japanese, who lined the road,
in places eight or ten deep, all to take down
their hats from high places and kneel or squat
down. This they did with difficulty, as more
room is needed when people kneel than
when they stand. At length they were all
uOWu anu Qultl, Lu6 TdnhJ dL ledSJ, Win
their wooden shoes off. They must not be
seen with their shoes or clogs on at such q
time. Soon the royal procession came in
sight, headed by two men on horseback,
one after the other, said to be Daimos.
Their saddles and brides were richly
gilded and ornamented, and the riders
wore very long hats of the shape seen in pic
lures representing such scenes. Their robes,
also, were very wide, and long and flowing,
made of red and purple and yellow silk, with
a profusion of gilt ornaments. Those that
followed on horseback, whether Daimois or
kuges, were all dressed in the same style,
indicating that their rank was the same
though their wealth was different. Some were
mere boys, with puny boyish faces, not indi-
cative OF much energy or force of character.
There were in all about twenty of these
mounted nobility in the procession. After
the first two princes, and at intervals, came
companies of soldiers, headed by band, with
native flies and foreign drums, playing native
and foreign music. / doubt much whether
| such music has been heard for some hundreds
| of years past. The soldiers wore black coats
and pants, made something after the fashion
! of foreigners, while their hats and shoes were
purely Japanese; the latter were made OF
straw, and hence their tread was almost
| noiseless.
About the centre Of the procession was the
closed chair of the MikadO, richly ornamented
and surmOunted by large gold peacock; but
the curtains were down. 1t was borne very
slowly and solemnly by number of men
wearing swords, and at their side again
walked men of rank. richly dressed. The
| high chair bore the Mikado's coat. of-arms,
and all eyes were strained to pierce the cur
tains, but to no purpose. His Majesty was
invisible, as he would have been had we all,
after the manner Of the good old times, been