The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-03-25
A Mammoth Japanese Idol.

n CohhkSPoNDENT OF the new ork
Tribune thus writes from Japan:
We started from Yokohama at s 80 in
the morning, g party of six, in what is
called here travelling carriage hard
seated, stif-springed vehicle, but one
strong and we'll fitted for rough country
roads. We jolted along Tor nine miles
before stopping for breakfast, the road
for that distance running through small
villages that were so close together that
they really formed one long, struggling
town, having districts bearing different
names. The houses are mostly mean and
dirty, and a state of almost complete
fresh ourselves for the long journey still
before. us. In making these country
trips it is necessary to go well provided
with eatables, as the tea-houses supply
orIy Japanese "chow," such as tea, rice,
eggs and fish, the last being served in
such a state of decomposition as to dis
gust even the hungriest tray eler. So we
only accepted the plates and bowls Oh
fered US by the young girls of the house,
and settled ourselves in comfort on the
floor-mats, while our servant prepared
and we ate civilized neal. Then into
our carriage again and on to katase, be-
yond which the roads are too narrow and
rough for carriages to pass. The drive SO
far was little diversified in scenery, and
rather uninteresling; though must except
the amusement derived from the beg
gars by the roadside, for whom we had
provided a number of "tempos cop
per coins of somewhat less valve than
our penniel. These beggars, some OF
them real objects of pity, owing to then
deformities, knelt in the most supplicat-
ing attitudes, and the scramble among
them f r the " "tempos" We threw in pass
ing was laughable to witness AT katase
jinrikshas were necessary for the com
pletion of our journey, and here its rea
interest began.
After leaving the village our course
| for over a mile was along lovely ses
beach-the finest one / have ever seen
It had a stretch of soft, shining sane
two or three times the width OF that al
| Newport. The roll of our jinriksha'
| over this and the gentle murmur OF th'
surf in our ears made charming con
trast to the thorough shaking-up we hat
| previously undergone. From this beacl
we turned abruptly up narrow roa'
leading inland, and along this we wer
iolted for several miles. These coolle
never abate their speed for such trifie
as mud holes, bitches or other obstacle
in the road. They jump lightly over tn
holes or bitches, carrying with then. IN
. jinrikshas, the occupants OF which ar
supposed to look out for themselves
This ride brought US within short dl!
tance of the object of our trip, namel,
sight of Daibutz, the largest and mo-
. famous of the many gods of Japan.
r This idol is in the midst of plan
once the site of large city. Now it
surrounded only by thin grove OF tree
e which have outlived the more perlshab
temples and shrines once included
these sacred grounds, and of the eli
only the small, struggling village
: Kamakura remains. The approach
the statue is by a broad walk OF ha
stones. and almost dreaded the nome
q when it would be in full view, for fe
= of a disappointment with regard to
:. wonders, of which had heard so muc
l. But single glance dispelled the i'd
for it's size and grandeur were far |
u yond what had pictured in my mir
l. Daibutz, meaning the "Great Buddha
e. is about seventy feet in height, entire
II of bronze, and represents the god In
: usual state of profound repose, slftl
" cross-legged, the eyes closed and han
g clasped, with thumb-nails meeting.
n rests upon q stone foundation and
n, front of it upon a stone altar are 7
b large bronze vases, each containing Dl
N SONS and leaves of the lotos, sacl
a plant cf the Buddhists, perfectly carr
~ ~ IN bronze, and in front of both is the
!, ~ evitable cash-box Climbing up
~ folds of the gods garment, which 10
. safe foot-holds for some distance, we
,e down on his immense thumbs, and 80
:. idea may be formed OF the size OF
10 statue BY the fact that three grown
20 sons can sit comfortably on
a,, thumb, between its end and sec
81 joint. This majestic idol, perfect IN
q proportions and sublime in its exp
" sion of an eternity of repose, was pla
- in its present position many centu
- ago-so many that the exact date OF
~ erection is unknown Two wireguar
me nc windows are cut in the back near
a ltn shoulders, and door cut on one side
,ne mits visitors. Here We found q g
~ ,u sized room with images of various 50
'no on two rough affairs, and incense bun
before them. Cut In the wood-wor
ie the altars and written in Japanese
lad anywhere and everywhere about thi
,ay terror of the statue were
)is- merable names ana aoulcssea
ght visitors, most OF them, l re
The to say, of our own country
,st- This name-writing propensity OF Al
,ly, cans never appeared TO me more %
ed. ious than on this occasion, when
sbe an object that had been revered by
red erasions of people desecfsted oy
lpuerile vanity OF travellers. We