The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-01-13
Ghiu9s abroad,
NAGOYA, JAPAN.

of over 100000 1t is located near the
head of Dwarf Bay, 10 miles southwest of
Toxic. The Tokaido, the great national
road of the country, passes through the city,
1t lies on the great plain of Dwarf in the
province bearing the same name. The
country around the city is very productive,
and has dense population. The inland
trade of the city is very great. The sea-
port of the city is seven miles distant, where
all large ships unload or transfer to small
steamers or junks.
The city is regularly laid out in squares,
and the commercial part is separated from
the official quarters, and both are apart from
the ecclesiastical The streets in the com
mercial quarter are thronged with great
multitude of people, with boxes and bundles
of all kinds, who are rushing along the
crowded thoroughfares I saw no idle per-
sons; all seemed to have something to do.
Some had bundles on their backs, and some
on their heads, but the favorite way of
transportation seemed to be to carry goods
swung on a bamboo pole, one man taking
each end of the pole. Two men were
CARRYING in that manner barrel that seemed
like an oil barrel They appeared to carry
it easily and quite rapidly. Six men were
moving some timber on a sort Of push-cart,
which moved heavily, some carried boards
on their head, but more had parcels. Sew
eral scavengers were carrying the sweepings
of the streets in covered baskets using a
neck-yoke with basket strung at each end.
In that manner the sweepings are taken
into the country to be applied to the land,
The stores and shops are supplied with a
great variety of goods. One can buy the
most common article in one store and per-
haps in the next the finest of silks OF other
costly goods. 1t is the great curio centre,
and it is said there are more curios sold here
than in any other city in Japan. The ma
tive dealers have large'amount of curious
furniture, screens of all kinds, painted,
guided, or lacquered, The bronzes are very
beautiful. 1t is said that most of them
were once the property of the wealthy mobiles
who formerly lived in this city.
The most valuable porcelains are on sale
in large quantities. The merchants are
crafty, and tell you that, when the present
stock is gone, they will not have any more.
[ am told that when an American enters a
store, the goods advance at once, A little
carved ivory elephant, that you can carry
in your vest-pocket, was here sold for one
hundred dollars.
These ancient ivory carvings represent
an immense amount of labor, manifesting
wonderful skill. Some of these carvings
are surprisingly delicate, and as elegant as
they are delicate Others are exceedingly
grotesque. The demand for these wares has
increased within a few years to such an
extent, that they are held at three or four
times the price that was asked five years
ago.
These costly wares are not manufactured
in any large establishment or workshop,
but perhaps in small cottage or hut.
Beautiful vases and chased silverware or
bronzes are made with finish never yet
equalIed by any American or English artisan.
When one of these shrewd japanese mer-
chants receives an order for these costly
articles, he gives out the work to the best
workmen, who are generally scattered over
the country.
The official part of the city covers large
surface. The principal offices are in the
Castle of Nagoya, which formerly belonged
to the Tokagawa family, but in the revolu-
tions of 1868 was surrendered earl y in the
strife, and for that reason was not destroy
ed or injured by cannon-balls. 1t is now
h., pf
in Japan. This wonderful castle was for
long time occupied by princes Of the fam
ily of Tokagawa, and was palace as well
as a castle 1t is still rich in works Of art.
with carving, which is said to be the finest
in Japan. The inside is divided by slid
ing doors, covered with gold, and decorated
in the richest manner. The paintings are
by celebrated masters, and are certainly
very beautiful There are several large
historical paintings, that are regarded as
priceless treasures, being the most valuable
works of art in the Empire. 1t is surpris-
ing that they are not removed to the capi-
tai and carefully preserved, for the exposure
here is great.
The ecclesiastical part of the city is curl
GUS as well as interesting. The temples
and monasteries are numerous, and occupy
space as large as half the rest of the city.
There are large, fnely-cultivated, open
grounds around some of the temples, and
monasteries adorned with the rarest flowers
and shrubs that the ingenious gardeners of
Japan can produce Many of these monas-
teries are erected of stone, often strong
enough for fortress, and generally well
supplied with armor, and warlike weapons,
which in times past the inmates have used.
Fierce battles have been fought within these
consecrated walls. Thousands of monks
have lived celebrating their splendid ritual
before magnificent affairs, living in luxury,
and often in icentiousness, trusting to their
sacred characters, and generally with sue
cess to shield them from danger.
These institutions are as old as the intro
duction of Buddhism into the country.
They were first erected in the great centres,
but afterwards in all the large towns. The
monasteries became. the asylums for those
who were weary of the world, the disap-
pointed, the unsuccessful soldiers, and others
but perhaps more who were indolent, and
wished to avoid labor, knocked at these
doors. The occupants have here, as in
many other places, sometimes made them
selves obnoxious to the people, and have
been driven out of the country.
The locations of these temples and mon
asteries were well chosen. They are most
ly on some beautiful eminence and sur
rounded by magnificent trees and elegant
ly-trained shrubs, afording views so pictur-
esque and beautiful, that one is impressed
with the thought, that atwhoever located and
adorned them must have possessed a love of
the beautiful as well as rare artistic taste.
There is a great similarity in the con-
struction of these temples, but they are all
consecrated to the rites and ceremonies of
this singular people, all of whom seek to
propritiate their deities with offerings and
prayers