Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-01-27
Seleft assaaiua.
HARA-KIRI.

! he following account OF this horrible
japanese custom, is givtn3by an English
officer who was sent officially to witness the
execution ola high officer OF the Prince Of
Been, who had unwarrantably orlerea
Ills troops to fire on the fpfeigus tdemeot
at slliogo, and expiated his offence by
Hara-Kiri: -. ...''4 s
Tue ceremony which was ordered BY
the AiSaslo ililnself, TOOK place. at IL 50
al night in The Temple Of s.isakqji the
head quarters Of the, Satsana troops az
iiiQga.. a witness wsts sent From each o.
the ldreign legations. We wote seven
Foreigners ia ali
W we're conducted & Z, II temple y
officers. of-lhe Ptinces Of i5atsu IA and
Ct6sbin q though Tie ceEeaonl. was 561
be condpqtea ~ e!,e ln2 ~. pfig.e:iie nlaqnaer
be casual remarks which we avsnieard ~
the streets and a cfoad Inning tae prln.
cipai entrance to-rthe temple, showed
ttlat it WAS a matter of no little interest TO
tie pubic The court YARD Of the temple
presented "a most picturesque sight 1t was,
crowded with soldiers Standing about III
knots round large fires; which threw u dim.
Pickering light over the heavy caves anl
quaint gable euls of the sacred buildings.
We were showa into an inner room where
we were to wait until the preparation for
the ceremony was completed in the next
room to us. were the high Japanese Of
fcers After long interval which
seemed doubly long from the silence which
prevailed Ito Stiuuske tsle provisional
Governor of Hiogo, came and took down
our names, and Informed Us that seven
kensht. slerifT.s or witnesses. would attend
on the part of the. japanese. lie and
another officer represented the Mlkado,5
two captains of Satsuma's infantry, and
two of Choshiu's. with representative OF
he Prince Of Bizen, the clan Of the con,
demued man, completed the number,
when was probably arranged IN order De-, e
tally with that of the ipfelgners.e Ito
sshapske... further Inquired whether We
wished to put any questions 10 che PRISON
Ell W. replied in the negative.
A further delay then ensnped, after
Y 6icll we were invited to follow the Jap
anesu, witnesses into,ithe hondo or main
hail of the temple',t where the ceremony
was to be peforrmsd 4, was an imposing,
scene. A large hail with a high Oh! r a,9I
supported by dark pillars Of wood; From
the ceiling hung profqsien t Of those huge
gilt lamps and ornaments pecallahlto, BUD
dhist tea, Piles, In trent ofiths high altar,
where The aocr, covered with beautiial
@hite mats, it raised some three or four
fnches from the ground, Was lad a rug ol
scarlet felt Tall Candles placed at rega,
lar Intervals gave out u df'h ilnysi eriuus
hight, just suiiicientto let all the pfoceetfs
ir.gs be seen ne seven. japanese l4lk:
Their places GA. the lett Of tue raised tiqof
HE seven Foreigners gu thssfsht No
other person was present
& After an interval Of a few minutes toi
anxious suspense, Taxi .. zsa 2 a l,!t. a
stalwart man thirty two YEARS. Of age 94h
noble air, wakes. in. the ball att'red j il
his dress Of cerenany. with It'll The peculiar
hoopqn cloth wings .siaca are worn on
/ great occasioas Z He WAS accomplished by
4 3s.oishoka. aud three officers. who were sss
the, einsbaafs, or var snrceoat With gold
tissue facssgs.ei. 4 he word khistatsttt i
sbonld Be observed. isoae toiwhieho dnr
word g.rec,A ttoasr IS no edalEasnt term
'rhe Office is that Of a gentleman 10 nlaoy
eases it is performed by a kiusman or
lliriend ofthe condemned, and ! the relation
between Them IS rather tl,at Of pFiine'ilPea1
and second than that Of victim and exeeql'
tioa sr. a n'this instance the ktsisf'tlss was
IA pupil Of Taxi zsnzaburo. and was So
i lectsd by the friends Of the latter from
amongstheir own number for h IS skill N
swor1lsillaliship. {. 90, 1. 5.
Withths kaisa1t on his left shaua
| Tai zsuzsbaro advanced slowly t t1'' +
,-ss,..z.4sTE q s.. + r7f7