The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-09-20
Fashionable Spas.

NIUE nearer 10 lOkOudHld "o
came to the charming village OF Miya-
no-shita, says a correspondent IN
Cornhill Magazine, which likewise owes
its primary attraction to some cele-
brated hot springes, SO that 1t ranks
as fashionable spa, There are also
hot springs and bathing establish
ments at Kinga and Do-ga-shima,
which are very pretty villages in the
immediate neighborhood, on the brink
of a rushing river inclosed by richly
wooded hills, and with thousand de-
tails of charming scenery enhanced by
Japanese art.
The group OF hot springs we visited
lie at a considerable elevation above
Niklo, the beautiful, where on a SOL
emn mountain, clothed with stately
cryptomeria and pines, the magniti-
cent tsmbs OF the Shogungs lieembow-
cred amid camelia trees, art and ma
ture combining to produce the most
entrancing combination OF grandeur
with exquisite prettiness OF every de-
| tail.
Leaving these marvellous creations
we started up hill on seven pack ponies,
each led by little Japanese woman
at slow walk, as indeed was essen
tial, selng how insecure were our seats,
perched on the pack saddles, support
ed on either side by roll OF baggage,
O. foot on each side of the pony's neck,
and holding on to the middle of the
saddle, which has hole III front for
the purpose. This our guides insisted
on our grasping ali the time, setting
all rules Of drapery at defiance. The
ponies were provided with straw crup-
pers, and were shod with neat little
straw shoes on their fore-feet. They
] proved very gentle and sure-footed,
walking up and down whole hills OF
stairs just like cats.
Our procession was headed by a tiny
woman, barely four feet high, who led
the baggage pony. We met other lit
tie women coming down the steep
paths, carrying babies on their back ks,
and each leading couple OF ponies
heavily laden with wood. We also
met many companies OF pilgrims re-
turning from the summit OF the sacred
Mount Nan-tai-zan, and hastenlng TO
acquire more merit by ascending the
still heller summit OF FuIi-yama, an
act of merit so charming in itself that
in the following Autumn | likewise
scaled the Peerless mount as a true
pilgrim, though the task of climbing
TO q height of 13,900 feet on my own
feet was no light undertaking. This
however is essential, as no beast IL
allowed to ascend the Holy Mount
nor may luxurious travellers becarrled
up,
The pilgrims, who, almost without
exception, are mep and boys, afe near
ly al dressed in w&ite, with straw hats
like hugh mushrooms, straw sandals
cloaks OF grass mating as sole protec
tion against heavy rain, a wallet,
, gourd to act "a water bottle, and
stout staff to assist their tagging steps
OH many weary march. One a.
least OF the company carries a small
brass bell, which he rings continually
= and Others carry rosaries and rul
, their beads while reiterating sacret
formulas. They come from all parts
, of the empire, visiting all the most sa
cred shrines within their reach.
A considerable number followed u
I'D the hill, so we formed q most pic
turesque procession on a most pic
: turesGue path, as we especially oh
served on reaching wide, open gulch
E where five times, on bridges OF lightly
= laid branches. we crossed and recross
/ ed a mountain stream of purest aqua
t marine turning to white foam as !
t rushed down among great boulders
On the gravelly banks grew plants Q
very tall dark blue monkshood am
Q trailing vines with scarlet leaves. w
: noted many hazel bushes, but ~
: nuts, cherry trees which blossom bu
t bear no fruit, and chestnuts which d.