Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-21
LIFE IN YOKOHAMA.
Curious Sights in the City-Nativs Char
aCter and Customs.

In visiting Japan from this country
the direct course is to cross the continent
70 San Francisco, whence three weeks
voyage will land the traveller in the COM
hercial capital of Yokohama. When
Commodore Perry opened this port in
1854 with fleet of the American navy,
it was scarcely more than fishing vii
lage, but 1t has now population or
$50, 000 with well built streets of dwell
ing houses, the thorouehfares broad,
clearly and all macadamized. The town
extends along the level shore, but is
backed by half moon of low. wooded
hills, known as the Bluffs. upon which
are the villas of the foreign residents,
built after the European and American
styles. A deep, broad canal surrounds
the city, passing by the large warehouse
and connected with the bay at each end,
being crossed by several handsome and
substantial bridges. From the Bluffs
there is a charming and extended view.
In the west, seventy miles away, the
white, cloud like cone of Fujiyama, the
one volcanic mountain of Japan, can be
clearly discerned, while all about the
visitor lie the attractive villas, beautiful
gardens and groves of ornamental trees
belonging to the foreign settlers.
In looking about Yokohama. every
thing strikes us as curious, every new
sight is a revelation, while in all dmec-
tons tangible representations of the
strange pictures we have seen upon fans,
Satsuma and lacquered ware are pre-
sented to view. One is struck by the
partial nudity of men, women and chill
dren, the extremely simple architecture
of the dwelling houses, the peculiar veg
citation, the extraordinary salutations be-
tween the common people who meet
each other upon the streets, the trading
bazars and the queer, toylike articles
which fill them, children flying kites in
the shape of hideous yellow monsters
each subject becomes a fresh study.
Men propelling vehicles. like horses be-
tween the shafts, and trotting Off at a
six mile pony gait, Is singular sight to
stranger. So are the naked coolies.
working by fours, bearing heavy bales or
hogsheads swung from their shoulders
upon stout poles, while they shout a
measured chant by means of which to
keep step. No beggars are seen upon
the streets. The people are neat and
cleanly. The houses are special exam
Piles of this-very small, seldom over
twenty feet square and one story IN
height. All persons, foreigners or natives,
take off their shoes before entering upon
the polished floors. The conviction
forces itself upon us that such universal
neatness and cleanliness must extend
even to the moral character of the people.
A spirit of gentleness, industry and thrift
is observable everywhere, imparting an
Arcadian atmosphere To these surround
ings.
In the houses which we enter there are
found neither chairs, tables nor bedsteads;
the people sit, eat and sleep upon the
floors, which are at all times as clean as a
newly laid table cloth. Here and there
upon the roadsides moss grown shrine5
bearing sacred embleIns are observed, be-
fore which women, but rarely men, are
seen bending The principal religions of
Japan are Shinto and Buddhism, sub
divided into many sects. The Shinto IS
mainly form of hero worship, success
full warriors being canonized rs martyrs
are in the Roman Catholic church.
Buddhism Is another form of idolatry,
borrowed originally from the Chinese.
As we travel inland, places are pointed
out to lis where populous cities once
stood, but where no ruins mark the spot.
A dead and buried city III Europe or Asia
leaves rude but almost indistructible re-
mains to mark where great communities
once built temples and monuments, and
where they lived and thrived, like those
historic examples Of mutability, Memphis,
Paestum or Delhi, but it Is not 50 IN
Japan When it is remembered Of what
ephemeral material the natives build
their dwellings, namely, Of hight bamboo
frames and paper, their utter disappear
aIce ceases to surprise us. II Il a curl
GUS fact that this people, contemporary
with Greece and Rome at their zenith,
who have only reared cities Of wood and
temples Of lacquer, have outlived the
classic nations whose half ruined monu-
ments form our choicest models. The
Hellenic and Latin races have passed
away, out Japan still remains, without a
dynastic change and with an inviola,e
country.
In journeying inland, we are struck
with many poculiarities showing how en-
trely opposite to our own methods arc
many of theirs. at the post stations the
horses are placed IN stalls with their
heads to the pasageway, and their tails
show In place Of their heads. Instead Il
iron shoes, the japanese pony is shod
with closely braided nee straw. Carpen-
ters draw tic plane toward than, instead
Of pushing it from them II Is the same
IN using o saw, the t.seth being set &C
cordingiy. The tailor sews from him.
10, toward his body, and holds bis thread
with h.s toes. The women ride astrade,
Ike the Hawaiians. Manufacturing u
vIDs sorts Is carried on to large ex-
tent We have evidence enough q this
Ii the variety and quantity Of native
articie5 which are imported thence into
this country. Yet the use Of mechani-
cal con.rivaZces for the purpose Of pro-
duction - little known EArd work 10
nearly the only process employed Tie
mode Of husking rice which is common
VII illustrate tnis, being performed -
follows: The grain Is D,4ced L. q s0rt II
mortar. into which peslse f2-1s, IL bang
attached 70 horizontal lar II wood sup
ported Il the middle BY fulcruua- On
tie end opposite 70 the pessis man
takes his position. and By sI<ppfns On
and OF the end cf the bar be raises Aod
lsss fan tbs pestse upon tie rec Ma
chinerr h being gradually introduced
from Europe and America, bet "a stil
regarded BIZ tie common p~<Tls with
q sssrusr-A- ". Eailou II Bos:o. uexaI1.