Connecticut western news., 1880-05-05

great loss to them, they depend So much upt n | the money they usually receive for the fruit | and melons, am looking forward to persim- ! mon season they have them very large and l fine here; they are about the size of good- | sized apple. Egg plant is very plentiful, but | they do not cook it to my taste. Potatoes are | very fine. About the only vegetables we eat are potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and onions.
 LETTER NO. 9.
 KOBE, Japan, Sept. IA, 1879. It is terribly lonely here, and if it were not for the church, I do not know what I should do. We had Congregational service this morning, and it took me back to M. R. until l glanced out of the window, and there stood heather temple. There was festival at the temple just named last evening, and it is con- ducted very much as such things are by Chris tan congregations. The yard in front of the temple was filled with Booths, lighted by fancy lanterns, and all kinds of fancy articles and eatables were exposed for sale. There was large crowd of Japanese laughing and eating and drinking, as much ike 6 festival at home as possible. Once in 6 while some one would step up in front of the temple, ring
 
 devotions, clap their hands to signify that they We're through, and then return to fun and frolic about the stands. There are 6 great many religious sects in Japan, should judge there are at least twenty temples in and around HioRo. supposed that the Japs had but one religion, but that is not the case by any means. wish the foreign population were as consist ent as the natives, it would add to thelr credit greatly. took 8 walk few days ago, and happened to go to the Golden Ball Temple" as it is called by the foreigners. 1t is the aristocratic 'temple of Hiogo. There was festival going on at the time, and had chance to hear some Japanese singing. They were beating eight or ten small drums and as many triangles. A large company were sing ing chant, keeping time to the beating of the drums, and singing in different keys, but all in harmony. It was very odd. I assure you, but quite pleasing. This society is c, m- posed of the upper class of Japs in Hiogo. I saw several very pretty old ladies, such sweet, pretty faces so different from the lower class | of Japs. This temple consists of three large buildings one is an enormous hall with seats and raised platform like lecture room ; | another is large square building open in front, and enclosed on three sides with stained glass windows. In the middle of the floor is a pedestal about three feet high, the top carved to resemble an enormous lotus flower. There is no image, but the deity is supposed to be seated on the lotus The other building seems to be the priests house. There is a crematio house connected with the temple, where hundreds of bodies were burned during | the summer.
 | We are having fine weather now; the mer- cury is seldom above 82 degrees, and it will be getting cooler now. The Japanese say it has been the hottest summer they have had in & long time, and predict an early and severe l winter, do not want to see such hot weather again.
 The country is looking very fine. Every piece of ground that can be watered from the mountain streams is planted with rice, which isnow beginning to head out. The rice fields look very pretty, and the vegetable gardens are sight. We have California apples; the Japanese apples are not fit to eat, but figs, that is, green or undried figs, and grapes are quite plenty, and very good. We have to- matoes about as large as good sized goose- berry, and egg plant of all sizes. Oranges be- gin Oo come to market, but are green and un. it for Europeans. The Japanese eat all kinds Of fruit green. It is strange that the cholera did not attack foreigners, for they are scat. tered all through the native town, and the missionaries all live among the natives. It is generally supposed. to be great sacrifice as we'll as dangerous for missionaries to come out here, but the contrary is the case. They have very comfortable houses, and live at ease, and are as free from danger as they would be al home anywhere. They do not hurt them. selves with work either. When the disease was raging in Hlogo. all the ladies connected d with the protestant missions went away to Acam, kind of watering place. and left the French sisters of the Romish church to do all the work of visiting the sick. hope soon to get acquainted with some of the missionaries, for am anxious to know what they are doing.
 have just returned from church. We had Congregational service. Kobe has no settled minister much to the shame of the foreign inhabitants, who spend enough money on their dogs to support minister The mission aries supply the place English service and Congregational alternating,