The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-31
MY FIRST NIGHT IN JAPAN.
n idniGht PandemOntum 49, BLIND
Men ana Bad Water The Noisy
Night Waterman.
["Ichabod" in Inter ocean,

G'Ichabod" in Inter Ocean
shall never forget the experiences of
my first night in Japan. 1t was not the
fieas-I have them vet to meet and van
qush-but it was the Babel OF Nocturnal
sounds that rendered the night momo-
rable. Iretired early and thought I
was in fair way to fall an easy prey to
Morpheus. But was soon startled from
a promising browse by q shrill, plain
tive whistle 1t was repeated at inter-
walls of about seventeen seconds, now
sounding as if under my window, and
now growing quite remote, only TO be-
come more vigorous again. Then there
was an occasional gong beaten, and
anon the tinkling of bells added spice
to the entertainment. At length, half
frenzicd, arose, dressed, and descended
to the piazza below, where | found the
keeper of the inn, Notwithstanding the
fact that it was almost midnight
What means this pandemonium l
inquired in stern, sepulchral tones.
More quiet as is most Of the nights"
was the assuring reply, delivered with
a profound, deferential obeisance.
But what is that agonizing whistle p
persisted.
That be the blind man. Lots of
blind men in Japan. They go round
all night whistling on pipes SO they be
not run over and so they be heard by
people with the rheumatics. All blind
people, when they can do nothing else,
make themselves into-a-um--wh
doctors. They rub the japanese all
over with their fists and take away the
sore japanese sick man hear the
whistle and call out, Animal Then
blind men so in. They be not all blind
men; some boys and a great many girls
do so.
why should so many people have
the rheumatism"
We'll, japanese only have one suit
of clothes. He work hard and sweat !;
then sit down in wind. and sweat go
into his bones. He suffer most at night,
and so blind men and girls, who get
their living in that way, so about aftet
dark"
But why should there be so many
blind men and women in Japan?'
Bad water. Water no good in
japanese town: it make worms that eat
the eyes, sometimes one and sometimes
both"
What is the trouble with the
water?"
We'll, the japanese spoil it by
washing rice, vegetables, etc, near the
wells. Every place so crowded, and
bad water drain into the wells. God
make water all right, but japanese
make it all spoil. Water good all along
the Bund. where Europeans live. In
other places white people have to get
water from springs out OF town.
Water sometimes caught on roofs when
it rains, and then filtered: but the birds
leave bones and food on the roofs so as
to spoil it most often
But what is that noise?' l queried,
as sharp, monotonous sounds smote sue
cessively my tympanum.
"Night-watchman clapping his two
sticks together so that people may know
he is on duty. japanese no mind that
sound; like TO hear it..
And this medley of other discorls?"
They be japanese selling black
beans, maccaroni, and other things.
They 60 about selling till II, l, 2
o'clock"
The evening sights are no less inter-
esting than the sounds. The city is
overrun with the ginikrishas or man
power carriages, each one of which car
ries a pretty japanese paper lantern
at night. AS the carriages dart hither
and thither, o. adorn the wayside in
long rows, the effect is very pretty. 70
look at a 'rickisha coolie is fatal. He
may follow you mile for that look. TO
glance back over your shoulder is as
dangerous as it was in the case OF Lots
wife, if there are any of the runners
within half mile. l have had them
follow me mile, and then wait outside
while performed long errand, being
up with the hope that would want to
ride back when got done.