The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-08
nal BrTSZ AND THE WHALE.
rUr 1T rs THAT THE JAPANESE USE
TWO LINEAR MEASURES.


nom M fTtt10) fhi fdt
We eunpoec that all who know anything
NJ all about Japan are aware that there is at
Kamakura abou; fifteen miles from the foreign
abatement Of Yokohama. n large copper or
lrongo image Of Buddha called Dai Dutsz 1t
formerly was enclosed within a large temple
The foundation Of which mas still bo traced:
but this which was constructed OF wood, is
SAID to have been washed away 10y what we
must suppose to be a largo tidal wave although
,hc site H. now at least half mile from the sea-
shore and the image was thus left exposed to
the weather. and has stood the fierccnoss Of the
suns rays and tho raging OF the storms Of very
many generations. Tho image, though be-
tween forty and fifty feet high in q sitting pos
mrc. and oil It's parts and dimensions in excel
lent proportion. il not the largest i'm thc empire
there h'ing one at Nara about twenty miles
east Of Osaka the ancient residence Of the MI
kelos. which is nearly or quite NTH larger,
There il. nevertheless n legend connected
with It which may amuse our readers,
or course IT Is not to b. supposed that supor-
-'iious people can bo called upon To- account Tor
BE mpossibilitlos they profess to believe IN.
w. must merely zen W. talf r. NIX ny rne
images we have alluded 10 is variously given.
In the January number 81 the far Easi.
writer stated that the image 81 pa Buso ut
knmakura owed its existence 20 tho devotion
OF a lady Of tho court. who nude pilgrimage
10 raise funds for liz construction. some say i
was founded at th1 expense Of pious d, , sod
Emperor whilst others again credit 1t 70 the
"pirty. zeal and industry Of the medieval
monks and nuns who arc the most likely nor
sons. in our opinion. To- have gone ON Pilgrim
rigs for such purpose.
b. Tint H. Il may. nj the time when It was first
erected and placed within its t"mule. its fame
spread tar and wide; and II was talked Of as the
marvel Of the age Ia earth, air, and ocean. Now
thcr, was living N IN" Northern Sen n large
White whale VINO prid.d himself ON b,ins the
greate-i thing IN sea or on land. AMI who felt
much igprieved at being told that puny men
had constructed an image IN their own shup"
viii would compete with him iu size Indeed
d. would not believe il. But loully as b. might
declare his inrre'lulitv. his pNHtahiUty AMI
r'-i.,ssn,-- showed how imposs .hl, IL was for
hun 10 dsmiss II from his mind. He hoard 81
IilgrimAga- To- the great image. 50 vnst that tho
rantriGuflou- II tho fnithfui were trodurint, "A
plethora in tne Golfers Of the priests and other
demons oi the deep reported Ia him that all
talked % nothing else They declared that II
was is beautiful as !, was vitst. and that il could
such tales wrrnigh drove him 20 frenzy. H.
iroti'd aud funnel ascending TO tho, surface 10
twice the ordinary amount Of spray each time;
H. dashed The water angrly with his tnil and
all hi- old friends and admirers found It To-
was such rommotion IN the y rthern Sea a. he
made. j alousy and Indignation had taken
mess and poliicness deserted him. Rcgardlcss
Of the feelings ~ great or small. ne n2undcr"d
disturbed an stirred 20 an extent beyond b.
lief H. tl0h no rest hy night or day. lie
worked himself into rng" more viCl rnt than
cried I'm his bitterness II cannot I've. always
wa hn must coniinu" g. ho the greatest thing
this hugo and ugly imHgc? 1t may hc great.
tut II can ncv.r compete with me- And then.
norsns-on n fo 2n n9I rv r Si, r am l s
PEELED al Why should such crowds visit II. II
II he nothing wonderful: Well IL may be won
derful and yet not compar" in vastnrss with
mr.; AM again he would try TO convince him.
Time went on. AMI he thought that he must
have this question decided for he was getting
quite thin with frettine. So he called large
shark to him and sud: Do you think this
srea, image TINT men have made in the empire
q the gods can be SO yast in size rs | am -
way that might have allowed a less direct an
swer for he knew that in the great whales
present stnte he would BE- very easily oneuled.
After hes ltating moment. he replied: what
4 mans puny strength at the best How could
he raise such 2 mountain u metal Stil what
Ilieh. II thoy have attempted ANYTHING Of the
kind. shu aid Ike a. zee II. surely they aim 10
b. equal with the gods
Go. then relolncd the whale" Go as my
hmbass ldor. and brnGmo such information as
imay iepcnd upon. Find cut truly and .teN
shark. although not liking thu idra Of having 10
run the risk Of losing his friends favor 10y Civ
lng him unwelcome news was yet pleased at
theconfdcnco reposed in him ana made of for
Kamakura "a fast ns he could swim.
He arrived in good time in the day: and now
he began TO consider how he should manage To
get on shore 70 see the image. Us II was at some
distance back from the beach; and le feared
that II seen the fishermen would soon have him
on their shop boards ready 10 slice for their
customers. Ter sharks flesh is dainty with the
he gave up the idea q seeing i, himself, and
ewam backward and forward hoping he might
seo some friend who would act ~ his deputy.
H. had not long TO wait. There was q Junk at
anchor in the bay. all of whose crew We're either
on shore or asleep in the heat Of the day. A rat
was caught sight Of and Immediately hailed
Rat. ahoyl" cried out the shark-but close
under the side. and 80 that none but the rat
What ship's that ?" squeakcd the rat stop
ping and Looking round. but net perceiving
whence the hail came from.
Hercl bring your'-he was going 10 say
piercer." but the thought Of the harpoon came
over him, and he changed hr mind. Bring
your spyg!ass TO bear down here. Don't you
nrlimp-e Of the monster Just beneath the water.
Rising 70 the surface. the shark replied:
friend"
The word ?" inquired the rnt. conscious
that bee was the only wakciul creature on board
AMI determined 10 show how strictly discipline
Oh bother the word answered the shark.
Come Town the cable and hear what I've got
/ say. | want your assistance
\ ~ the rat telt curious 10 know IN what way
Ill" animal Ike nun could be- Of any servlc"
t. 50 great a fish Of the sea. Ho therefore d.
e'endcd the rattan cable OF tho anchor. taking
car" ~ keep sufficiently out OF the shark
f,ah 70 avoid treachery.
The shark related 10 him the miss on on which
u wa- sent, ana all the circumstances that he'd
olt. lie told him Of the perpleXity he was in
.'Ii ANl ItlNk ulllF 10 70 lflHNlullS 10 INC
temple see the great image Of Dai Butsz and
hNw grl, we'd he would be- were he unable To
calm the troubled mind Of his friend. the whale
Wh9u j. WIS an honor to serve. as the greutest
Nls ia the universe. You. however, he
san IAN get ashore in the boat and you
would confer a lasting obligation on me II you
%9nll run w and see the image. and bring me
W. Exact size"
IAe rat had never been so civilly spoken to
t'ipre. He felt pleased nj the notion Of his be-
ihs able 70 oblige SO a'fable creature. and
undertook 10 carry ont his wishes.
Accordingly watching his opportunity. he
IAN l'I and ran ~ fast Rs he could TO the tenn
lir a. was ihunderstruck when he saw the
tH' 81 The image. and Tor some time no could
mink Of no means II measuring IT, After a
tme bright idea occurred To- him which was
mat me best why to effect his object was 10 walk
round II ana count hle steps. and So report to
nus friend He did 80, and he found that he
had " take i've thousand PAGES. Having as
tured himself that he could by no means yet
any nearer or better method Of estimating tlr
f2" no returned 10 tho Junk and found tia
shark awaiting him. He at once commenced n
glowing account OF the wonderful image its
~" It's fine proportions and beauty. aud con-
GUIDED by telling him that il was I'VE thousand
PAGES round tho base which was tho brst
noasurcment he could obtain. Full Of a-toni-h-
ueut tho shark made his way to the Northern
hoa, and easily discovered the whereabouts Of