The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-06
HARA-KIRL
How the Happy Dispatch is Performed
in the Empire of the MikadO.
IRON the NeiU YORK Star

From the Nelg York Star.
Dueling is now and ever has been con-
demned by intelligent japanese, as the I'M
certainty of its results was considered too
hazardous to the settlement of its cause.
For ages it has been the custom in japan
when a samurai considered himself insulted
by one equal In rank that the injured party
should proceed TO his home, call together
his family and friends, and inform them of
the insult suffered at the hands of his enc
my, and set apart a day upon which he
would revenge himself and restore the
family honor, injured by the words or acts
OF his opponent, by committing "hara-
kiri."
In the first place a rope over two inches
thick, made out of the tendrils of the lotus
flower, was constructed by the unmarried
female members of the family, and closely
drawn around the house, it being the popu-
lar belief that Objectionable spirits would
thereby be prevented from entering during
the ceremony and carrying away the soul of
of the suicide. The chamber in which the
ceremony was to take place was hung with
yellow silk or Grape, the sunlight carefully
excluded, the only illumination allowed
being that furnished by the everlasting light
burning in front of the family god. whose
pedestal was placed about twofeet from the
northern wall of the chamber. A foot-high
platform, about three feet long by two feet
broad was placed in the center of the room,
covered with white Grape, and the kahanna
ORDINARY sword of the master of the house,
hold laid unscabbarded upon the platform,
its point wrapped in yellow Hill. On each
corner of this platform was placed a small
saucer filled with scented oil, in which
wick was burning.
The family and friends of the noble to
commit suicide entered the room, led by
priest, the latter bearing in his hands full
blooming lotus flower, which he deposited
across the sword lying upon the platform,
and the spectators took seats around the
room. The nobleman then entered, dressed
in pure white garments with yellow-col-
ored scarf encircling his body, and carrying
in his hand little saucer from the everlast-
ing light in front Of the family god.
Behind him came his eldest son, if over
years of age-if not, his nearest relative
carrying upon a platter made of sandal
wood the wakizaski, dagger-like weapon
nine and one-half inches long and cut on
the left side. The blade of the lancet-look-
ing weapon was wrapped in yellow Grape. a
lotus flower being placed on its hilt. 1t
generally was an heirloom of the family,
and considered the most valuable article in
its possession. 1t is the instrument with
which hara-kiri was always committed
The person to commit this act would then
kneel upon the platform, with his face to-
ward the north and the wakizaski placed
before him. The priest would take the lotus
| flower from the Japanese sword and cut the
leaves In pieces, strewing the same over the
kneeling man. After blessing him in this
manner, the lights in the corner saucers
were blown out by the priest, and the light
carried by the suicide eXtinguished by his
son or nearest relative, and the time for the
final act had come.
After recounting in a solemn voice the
insult suffered by him from his enemy, he
invoked the spirit of his ancestors to see in
what manner he upheld the family honor
intrusted to him at his birth, and rising
upon his left knee he would take hold of the
wakizasld with his left hand, lift up his
white robe with his right hand, wrapping
the end of the yellow sash around his left
wrist, and deliberately and very slowly in
sert the dagger-like knife into his body
above the right hip bone and draw it across
until within four or five inches of the left
hip bone. At the moment he inserted the
knife his next of kin would take the katana
Ordinary sword), and with a swift blow
sever the head of the suicide from the
trunk.
In every case of this description, when
hara-kiri was committed in defense of in
suited honor, the insulting party was in
formed by the family of the suicide of the
act performed by sending him a sort of
affidavit of the next of kin of the deceased
written upon yellow paper wrapped in the
leaves of the lotus flower. and If that gem
tleman would not be considered craven,
unfit for association with honorable men, he,
too, would commit hara-kiri in a somewhat
similar manner. The trouble would thus
be settled and no further enimity would exist
between the families interested A nom
compliance, however, with this time-honored
custom of Japan on the part of the person
who gave the insult has never been heard
of. it is said, in that country.