The Hawaiian gazette., 1869-06-23

JaPINESE CrSroNs.-lt was regarded BY
the Jzpanesc authorities as = remarkable con
ceSSiOn 10 the common people that. during
the receni procession OF the Mikado from the
Southern Capital 10 Yokohama, they were
allowed to leave their houses As he passed
by, but also, in case Of rAin, 20 elevate their
umbrellas. Hitherto, when such journeys
were made, the doors of all the houses along
the route were scaled up, and Voc 10 the
man who broke the seal, aud went out while
the sacred paStznt was passing. The Mika-
dos entry into YokohSma is thus described
by an eycwltne>Ss
All p-epSratious were completed hy the
s4ih OF November, on the afternoon Of which
dzy nearly all Yokohama, native and foreign,
went 10 the place appointed TO witness the
spectacle Il was quite 4 mixed throng. A
multitude Of natives lined the fokaido,
while in the principal station $ crowd of Tor
e;gners-Enslish, American, French and Ger
man, with not = few ChineSe-were assem-
bled. Placards were up in conspicuous
places. requesting foreigners not TO cheer
when the Mikado passed. After waiting some
tine, We got 4 hint that his Majesty was ap-
preaching, from The fact that native officials
came along, aud required the japanese, who
lined the ro2d, 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, IS more room Is needed when
people kneel than when they stand. AT length
they were all down and quiet, the front rank,
81 least, with their wooden shoes OF. They
must not be seen with their shoes or clogs
on II such time Soon the royal procession
came in sight, headed by two men on horse
back. one Sfter the other. said 10 be D3imios.
Their saddles and brides were richly gilded
and oruaneuied, Snd the riders wore very
long hats. Of the shape seen in pictures rep
resenting such scenes Their robes were
very wide, and long and flowing, made Of
red and purple and yellow silk, with pro
fusion OF gilt ornaments. Those that fol-
lowed on horseback. whether DaimioS or
ku-eS, were all dressed in the same style,
indicating that their rank was the same
though their wealth wSs different. Some
were mere youths, with pale, boyish faces,
not indicative Of much energy or force OF
character. There We're, in all, about twenty
OF these mounted nobility in the procession.
After the inst TWO princes. and Al intervals,
came companies of soldiers, headed by
band, with native ffes and foreign music.
/ doubt much whether such music has been
heard for some hundreds Of years pSst. The
soldiers wore black coats and pants, made
something after the fashion OF foreigners,
while their hats and shoes were purely Jap
sneSe; the latter were made Of straw, and
heace their tread was SlmoSt noiSeleSs.
the closed ehSir of the Niksdo, richly Orna-
mented, and surmounted by large gold pea
cock; but the curtains Were down. II 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 Miksdo's coat-Of-
arms. and all eyes were strained TO pierce the
curtains, but 10 no purpose bis Majesiy
was IS invisible as he would have been had
We all, after the manner Of the good old
times. been confined TO our houses, or he
confined TO his palace at Kyoto. While the
box, in which his Majesty was supposed TO
be, was carried past, foreigners observed
s commendsble silence, the footsteps Of the
bearers were inaudible, and the natives were
almost breSihlsSS with awe, inspired by the
great occasion. But when be was once past,
people began TO give expression 10 their sew
ersl Opiuions-some declaring that it was
great sell, and Others maintaining that this
show of the royal chair, its bearers and in
sigma, wss an that could have been reason
ably expected. and that it was great step in
advance Of anything yet witnessed in japan
So. entertaining different views of the scene,
snd with different impressions and emotions,
some on foot and some on horseback, the
foreign population and the native, returned
70 Yokohama, jostling the carriers Of the
royal baggage not little BY the way.