Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-05-01
THE TAME DEER OF NARA.
STRANGE POPULATION OF A QUEER
JAPANESE VILLAGE.

Pet nSsrs Which Invade a Visitors Bed
room and Hunt for Sweetmeats-They
Surround Traveller and Beseech Him
to Provide Them Biscuit.
As was leaving Kioto on my first expedi
ton to the venerable and romantic city of
Nara, one of the most ancient capitals of the
japanese empire, received a singular eau
ton from my merry friend Oshikoji, the
honorable Kuges son.
Expect strange visitors" he cried. "Pre-
pare to meet the most wonderful acquaint-
ances you have ever encountered in all your
travels!n
But l had seen SO many rare and marvel
Gus things in Japan that the admonition was
forgotten before my journey was fairly be-
gun. Arriving at Nara on bright summer
afternoon, l found comfortable quarters in
the upper story Of the largest inn that the
place contained, After responding to the
landlords salutations and accepting the
wishes of his household for my health and
happiness, / proceeded to make a change of
dress and otherwise put myself in order for a
stroll through the beautiful temple groves
for which the region is famous
While thus engaged was disturbed by
loud Gathering on the floor below, presently
followed by the sound of heavy footsteps
clambering up the rough staircase which led
to my apartment. Somebody was making
an extremely noisy and clumsy attempt to
intrude upon my privacy. There was no
door to close, for, as in many rustic Japan
ese habitations, the rooms OF the second story
were reached through hole cut in the floor,
to which no covering was provided. The
way was open, and If any person chose to
force himself upon me it would be difficult to
prevent him, except by using strong meas
ures of discussion.
A STRANGE VISITOR.
The extraordinary noise grew louder and |
waited for an explanation with no little Curl
osty. Imagine my amaZement when a pair
of spreading antlers rose through the aper
ture, followed by the delicate and graceful
head of young deer. The warning given in
Kioto came suddenly to my remembrance.
Truly more astonishing visitor to ones bed
room could not be conceived of. Struggling
awkwardly to his feet, the pretty animal adj
vanced with friendly confidence and gazed
into my face with what took to be look of
gentle interrogation.
Having however, no suspicion as to the
purpose of his coming, stared blankly in re.
turn, until, with toss of his horns and
sniff of disappointment he moved to the in
spection of my baggage, which lay loosely
scattered upon the mating For several
minutes he made himself free with my ward
robe, pushing various objects about with his
nose, and apparently searching for something
to his taste, but the investigation proved
fruitless, and fixing his big eyes reproachfully
upon me, he stalked gravely to the staircase
and descended backward with comical de-
liberation, feeling his way with a security
that betokened a practiced familiarity with
the interior structure of human dwellings.
On setting forth to explore the neighbor |
hood little later, i was abundantly, not to
say oppressively, supplied with the cxtraor
binary companionship of which | had been
forewarned Streets, gardens and parks were
thronged with deer of all sizes and ages |
Wherever the eye could reach they might be
counted by thousands They seemed to con-
sttute the real population of the city, and
they certainly displayed far greater activity
and interest in life than their human co-res- |
dents.
THEIR FAvoRITE REFRESHMENTS.
Several of them at once approached me
with the same anxious look of inquiry that |
my unbidden guest at the inn had worn.
Again failed to comprehend, until group
of stays surrounded me and signifed by UNI
mstakable action that / was required to ac
company them to a certain corner, at which .
a peddler of sweet cakes was stationed 1t
was impossible to resist their pressing invita-
ton, although there was nothing violent in
their demonstrations. They closed around
me and waited patiently while | purchased a
supply of their favorite refreshment, and fed
them one after another by hand. At various
points of the temple grounds was compelled
to repeat this operation and | soon learned
that the sale of crisp biscuit for the consump
t:on of the deer was one of tho established in
dustries of that country.
For more than one thousand years these
beautiful creatures have fearlessly enjoyed
the freedom of Nara in obedience to the
legendary decree Of a tender hearted EN-
press of olden times. This lady, moved to
compassion by the plaintive cries Of a hind
whose mate had been destroyed by the hunt
ers, signifled her command that in all ages
to come no deer should be wantonly slain
within the environs of the imperial court.
To this day the tradition is respected, and no
mans hand is lifted against these harmless
inhabitants of the woods. They dwell in
little lodges provided by the priests, who are
their authorized guardians and protectors,
and they pass their lives in familiar associa-
ton with the citizens, whom they outnumber
ten to one. All doors are open to Them and
the idea that danger can result from this
intimate fellowship with the race of bipeds
never darkens their innocent thoughts Their .
privileged existence is one of the happieSt
illustrations of the natural simplicity and
humanity of the Japanese people.-E II.
House in New York World.