The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-06-11
The Kings Tour around the World.
LAS DAYS IN JAPAN.

latest previous news was the departure OF
His Majesty King Kalakaua from Yoko-
hama, the 18th March on board the steam
ship Toxic Maru. His Majesty was accom-
panied on the journey by the Princes and
Daimios, who had been commanded by the
EmperortO attend upon the King as especial
escort, during every hour of his stay in
Japan. The courtesy and royal attention
shown to our King in Japan, recalls the
spirit Of princely courtesy of the noblest
days of the medieval chivalry of Christen-
dom Hawaii is placed under deep obliga-
ton to Japan.
The royal party arrived at Kobe on the
18th March-and were received by the
Governor of the City with ceremonious at
~tention; but having other calls to make at
eXpectant cities, their stay was limited to
a few hours. His Majesty rested a short
while at the Governors residence; and
during his stay visited a grand and ancient
palace, and one of the extensive temples OF
Japan. The palace of Kobe is surrounded
by a wall II feet high and three feet thick
at the top. In the great audience Hall is a
throne of q large dimension and singular
structure. In the centre of the Hall is a
raised square dais, of gold and vermillion
lacquer. This is covered with a canopy of
heavy embroidered silk of the richest quail
ity. In the centre of the dais is a throne
chair. of brilliant gold and vermillion lac
quer; and the roof of this stately hall is
supported by II lofty smooth columns, or
resplendent shafts with surfaces of polished
gold. On each side of the dais, are suspended
pictures of the Emperor and the Empress
of Japan. All the doors of the palace are
frames covered with pictured tapestry, and
are mooved in grooves or slides. We
cannot dwell on the details of the beauties
of the palace which have been sent us; as
it will anticipate the elaborate account
forthcoming in Col. Armstrong; book de-
scriptive of the tour. But one particular
we will notice-a beautiful miniature lake
in the palace grounds, enclosed by box
bush ~shrubbery. a narrow causeway,
shaded with the rarest %shrubbery leads to a
rock in the centre of the pellucid lake.
This rock is overgTOwn with MOSES and
creepers, and has a delightful cool grotto
recess; and in this sweet spot, whose
sacred privacy is only invaded by the lake
carp, or the japanese thrush, their I'm
perial Majesties of Niphon come to cool
their sacred persons during the summer
s~olstice.
At the Buddhist temple, a grand and
gloomy structure, two dozen priests robed
in vari colored silks and gold, received the
King and suite. The royal party were
conducted into the presence of the collos-
sal images of Buddha; the Badiva or Sacred
Parent of the ancient Asiatic world. Our
travellers were allowed to gaze a short
while but not to enter the recesses where
the god and the symbolic dragon were
49,
Grated inches, they saw placed behind Bud
dha, a large painting representing a 'lamb
in the lap of the Son of Buddha." After a
time wandering through the halls of the
great temple, the high priest conducted
His Majesty to a tasteful chamber, where
refreshments were served in rare and
unique style. Prominent upon a beautiful
lacquered table was a large fish about 2
feet long, and showing all the natural
bright c%olors, gold, ebony and scarlet of one
of the most beautiful of the sclerodermes
(the parrot fish that sports in Hawaiian
waters). And yet the fish was we'll cooked,
and these colors were the tints of wholesome
condiments applied by the artist of Bud
dha's cuisine, after the culinary process was
accomplished. marvellous fish and birds
and flowers of confectionery astonished the
eyes of the travellers from the far Pacific
isiands,-and were presented to His Males
ty to be forwarded to his island home. The
high priest said that no one had sat at this
table before except the Emperor or Mikado.
His Majesty was seated upon a beautiful
chair made of polished tortoise shell. The
old high priest explained before eating, that
this was the table of sacrifice of the Mikado;
Il sort of altar of thank offering. And a
tray of small red papers, incense powder,
and small fruits were placed before His
Majesty, and a small portion of each were
burned in an urn or censor; and after this
form of Buddhist grace, the party fell too,
and partoOk of a marvellous and most appe-
thing entertainment.
After leaving the temple His Majesty
visited several schools; one where little girls
were taught embroidery; and some schools
of boys; and the King was delighted with
the bright appearance and cheerfulness of
the little students of the several institutions.
Afterwards His Majesty and suite partook
of tiffin, or lunch with His Excellency the
Governor of Kobe.
The royal party on leaving Kobe proceed
ed by rail to Osaka distant "a miles, and
made a run at stage coach speed in 4 hours.
llIC LII 1CDCIlCU
by the Governor of the city, as at Kobe. y
grand Inner was prepared; which how
ever the royal party had to decline. From
Osaka the royal partyproceeded to Kioto;
and thence to the beautiful city of Manga
saki.
At this point, the four princes, who had
escorted the King; and who had waited on
His Majesty during every hour of his stay
in Japan, now took affectionate congee of
their royal guest; who embarked March
odd on the Toxic Maru, that had been
despatched expressly to wait on His Majesty,
and transport the royal party to Shanghai.
ARRIVAL IN CHINA.
His Majesty and suite arrived off the bar
of the Shanghai roadsted on the 18th March
and were taken thence by tug to the
city, and were escorted by Mr. Jansen to
the Astor Hotel. After a rest on the fol-
lowing day, His Majesty was waited upon
by the Taotai, or chief magistrate of the