The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-03-23


and on this he is never happier than when
squatted down on his launches and hugging
the hibachi. On entering room the sandals
or street shoes are always removed at the
door, to prevent soiling or tearing the floor
covering, and couple of shelves for the
shoes are always found in the hallway of Jap
anese house. For wall decoration the kdke-
mono, or hanging picture, is about the only
article used 1t consists of an ink drawingor
painting, on a long. narrow sheet of paper or
silk aud frequently, instead of sketch, the
kake- mono contains simply a quotation from
the Chinese classics, in which the merit of the
piece is in the skill with which the letteringis
done. About the only article of furniture
considered indispensable is the hibdchi and
tobacco bon, already mentioned. The former
is a round bronze or brass bowl, lined with
with fine clay. On bed of ashes within this
bowl are placed live Goals for warming purpos-
es, which, on a cold day, is simply an aggrava-
ton to a European, and is the cause OF more
profanity than any other article in Japan. The
4. hibdchi corresponds to our fire place at home.
Around it the children plsy, and here can be
seen the family huddled together, seeking
warmth over the few Goals and discussing the
J family Joys and woes The tobacco bon IS
simply a smoking outfit on a tray, and consists
of a small pan containing a glowing coal, to-
bacco. cuspidor and pipe. Japanese pipe
has a ridiculously small silver bowl fitted to a
narrow stem of bamboo about two feet long.
+ The tobacco is taken between the fingers and
rolled into a pellet about the size OF a pea,
inserted in the bowl and lighted a, the fire.
/ Two or three whiFs are taken, the pipe
emptied BY knocking it against the sides Of
the hibacbi. re6lled and lighted. Tobacco
/ is very popular with ali classes, considerable
pert Of each day being devoted to its use, and
even among women a non smoker is an ex-
ceptiou Poiiicucss therefore, demands that
on The arrival Of a guest not only cup Of tea
should be set before him bat also all the
parapheruaiia necessary for smoke. OF the
other siimulants, tea and SAKE, the former Is
weak infusion served in tiny bowls without
either sugar or milk Il - very refreshing,
and one readily acquires taste for il, as It rs
served e,erywhere. For the sIke not much
can be said. Il Is = liquor brewed from rice.
no, very pala,able and inioSiea,es very
soon. Is - served warm IN small porcelain
eurs. and Is popular drink among 'hc ne
tives-
1HE usl,Np oy ENosHiNA-
Aitrr breakfast We explored the sillase Of
Enoshima. and a lovelier place 1t Soaid be-
hard to 6nd. The island. Of volcanic origin,
rises prccipi,ossly from the sea, Is sh'ckly
wooded wi,h magnificent trees. and many
beautiful walks are iosad. The inhabitants
live by fishing and Supplying the wants Of the
many pilgrims Who visis The islaad. Accord,
.ug 20 the narrative siven as by our native
friends. Eaoshima had wonderful urigin-
I, seems that about $50 y. c. a great storm
arose OF she coast. aud the waves mounted
almost 20 the skies Aler raging al night It
sabssdcd ia the morning. and from break 'n
th, elouds cane beautiful maiden The
storm al once ceased sud the ISLAND Suddenly
apfearcd. on ghc top of which sat ihv tar
lady. The Goddess destroyed the drsgoas
ths, bad infested ,ha, par, % ihe eosn'ry, aud
the people thereafter lived in peace, safe from
"a. ravaers u thesc wild beasts. Then 81
the people of the couasry wotshipet her, and
shrinss of the Goddess Beaten are scat
tered ali over japan. Encshiuaa contains tbs
o,issaal shrine. and is held to be sacred
amoas ihs poor and isuoraut; consequently
the ambition OF life TO macy lu the further
parts q japan Is to make pilgrimage here.
Maay un3ers1 severe har4ships sUd priraiious
10 order 90 offer up their prayers and carry
rehe from this place; be, they arr amply
rccomueuscd on their rylgru by the honor and
vcncfation IN vb,eh they arc held by their less
fortunate Bcishbors- Early on the tollow'nz
morning We took possession Of iiHrirtisAsisr
each manusi BY ,~o half naked coolies, for
ride across eouBtTy 10 kamakurs- This toSn
is delightfully."- located in valley surrounded
by high htls From the ligh to the ljsh
eea,ary il vas the seat Of the rulers Of Japan
and contained a poPulation Of oveF 10000;
nos j; is a small town Of aboat 6,tso inbaal-
,ants. The principal point Of Interest ecrc -
the temple Of Tsavazooka, whose priests
showed us a most interesting collection Of
warljke relies, swords, armor, &c The
swords Of the old Sbogans, some Of them over .
COZ years old, we're jems IN their way, and IN
the qaAlity Of the blades and in the decoration .
rival the productions OF either Damascus OF
Toledo. From kAmAkuFA short ride .
bgough, Us TO the famous bronze statue Of Dia .
Ba,sa Great Buddhal. This colossal statue,
over 20 feet in heigh; and 20 feet in waist
circumference, vas cast someWheFe about the .
wear l250 The hands are folded and the legs .
crossed ia an attitude Of meditation so com
I rnon in representations OF the chief deity OF
I Buddhism in Japan. The hollow interior Is
fitted up as a Buddhist chapel, With shrioes,
F Idols and tapers, and is capable Of holding
quite number Of worshippers. THIS work
stands as a monument Of the founders art IN
those early days, aud is such that no native
foundry Of the present day could turn out any
work Of like proportions. An hours ride
brought US TO the railway station at the village .
Of FugisAwa, where ~e took passage in the
train for Yokohama, aud made the return
journey after the fashion of modern Japan,
much quicker aud more comfortable perhaps,
but not furnishing many opportunities oi
seeing real Japanese life.
THE CIY OF TOXIC.
The city of Toxic or Iedo, as it was for
merly called, distant from Yokohama about
70 miles, hext claimed our attention. A
railway, worked now entirely under japanese
supervision, runs along the shore Of Iedo
bay. through Toxic, aud on to RodSa. Toxic,
the eastern capital of Japan, embraces an
enormous area, with population close on to
a million. and contains over 100000 houses
and about 300 temples of both the Buddhist
and Shinto faith. An extensive fire, in 1872,
completely burned several large districts, and
from the ruins modern city was built. The
avenues and streets were widened, some of
them TO 30 feet, and new order of architec-
ture, with houses of brick and stone, estab-
/ he feature in TnziO is the