The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-11-15
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An OLD WHEELING ROY IL JAPAN.

An OLD WHEELING ROY IN JAPAN.
Interesting Letter ON the Manners and
Methods OF npinS ThinEs In that Dis.
tant Land.
From a private letter written by q
young gentleman who formerly lived in
this city to Mr.. Joseph Bell, we are per.
mitted to make the following interesting
extracts:
owAEA (l60 miles northwest OF Tokio), |
JAPAN, September II, 1850. !
After q pleasant voyage OF twenty
days I arrived ct Yokohama on the
2lst Of August, since which time l have
been busy every day in studying this
curious people and country. It occurred
to me that I might tell you something
ABOUT the manners and customs OF this
country that you do not find in books.
One interesting fact Is the absence OF
such vehicles rs We have in our country,
the only mode Of conveyance in both city
and country being "gulrikishas, which
are simply large baby carriages, the wheels
about thirty.eight inches high, and thirty
six inches across inside the fellies. These
vehicles have shafts about four teet long,
and two feet apart where they are attached
to the body OF the affair, varying TO about
eighteen inches at the end. where there IL
q cross bar, behind which the man stands
who Is the motive power Of the machine
These conyeyances are pleasanter TO
ride in than an ordinary buggy, and quite
as speedy. In the past two days have
come one hundred and 6ve miles, chang
ing the men but once. One run OF four.
teen miles was made in two hours and
ten minutes. We made but one stop. and
that OF about ten minutes, while crossing Q
small stream in q boat. In three weeks
time have travelled over five hundred
miles in these vehicles, carrying with me
sixteen.inch valise, an ovarcoat and q
rubber water. proof coat. The usual price.
d len ssn-say six and two.thirds cents
per Ri Of two miles and ahalt. The men
board themselves. Once In about three or
four Ri they stop at 8 tea house and take
small cup OF tea and about two table
spoonsfull OF rice.
The clothing Of these men Is very cheap,
consisting merely OF q cotton band about
seven inches wide, which goes three or
four tines around their chest and loins,
and pair Of straw sandals, costing two.
thirds OF cent pair. The whole outfit
can be purchased for less than nickle.
On very hot days they wear cheap hat
made Of rice straw, but nine.tenths OF the
japanese people go bareheaded.
am now out on round trip Of upward
OF three hundred miles northward from
Toxic, having obtained through Minister
Bingham special michio. or pass, TO 90
where please in the empire. have Wis.
tied Mike, famous for its temple, the
most magnificent in Japan, II not in the
world.
This temple is approached by magnif:
cent roadway. more than one hundred
miles in length, smooth and hard as
street. The road is some twenty feetwide,
and except where It passes through vii.
lage Is between two embankments OF earth,
six or eight feet high, and surmounted by
uniform rows OF cedar trees. The sides
Of the entertainments are covered
with grass and ferns, and between this
and the roadway are streams OF water sew.
eral feet in width. This road is easily kept
in perfect order, as It Is mostly travelled by
men and women wearing straw shoes.
Even the very few pack animals Of the
county are also shod in straw.