New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1900-10-06

covers only an area SIX miles long Dy HNe
miles wide. This gives an idea of how
close the buildings are, and how crowded
are the people from our point of view. 1t
was then nearly time for dinner, and on
our way to the hotel we visited the imper-
ial palace and the government buildings.
After dinner we Immediately got into
oul 'rickshas and started for Asakusa park,
FIVE miles distant, passing through the most
important business streets OF the city.
Asakusa is the most popular park in the
metropolis In it are thousands of small
stores, resembling stalls in our markets;
eating houses, ,refreshment stands, theatres,
circuses, an aquarium, Buddhist temple,
etc. The crowd Of people in this place
reminds one of the streets of New Orleans
on Mardi Gras day. The noise made by
dragging their loose wooden shoes on the
pavement is deafening. This Buddhist
temple is very large one and is 400 years
old. In it is large wooden -Buddha,
which the Japanese believe has curative
powers for all ailments. Sufferers from
rheumatism, paralysis. sore eyes, and, in
short, pains of all sorts, are to be seen
there at all times. Each in turn gets to
the statue the best possible way, first rubs
that part of the body which ails and then
rubs the corresponding part of the Buddha.
The pain is supposed to be impaired to the
statue. There are always people waiting
for their turn The statue has been rubbed
so much that arms, feet, and part OF the
body has been rubbed off. This strikes
me as being a splendid way to communi-
cate diseases Sore eyes, for example,
can be so easily contracted in that way.
The aquarium is an excellent one and
only nominal price is charged for en-
trance.
In the theatres the acting is continuous.
Entering, one goes to that part OF the
house that suits him, and in an instant a
japanese girl brings cushion to sit on the
floor (for there are no chairs), and small
box filled with hot cinders from which to
light pipes or cigarettes. All japanese,
men or women, smoke very small pipe,
which holds a pinch of tobacco. This is a
short smoke, but they make up for it by
the frequency of their indulgence. The
acrobatic performances are good; the rest
is conducted on the circus clown order.
Tokyo is a very interesting city. Our fly
ing trip was enjoyed wonderfully.
Twice a year, in May and November,
there are race and wrestling festivals in
Japan. We were in Yokohama during the
race festivals and in Kobe during the
wrestling carnival. At Yokohama l went
to the races on Ladies' Day. There was an
immense crowd there. Japanese, English,
French and Germans, both ladies and
gentlemen, were present in large numbers.
The japanese, in their silk camonas, were
interestingly picturesque, reminding one
constantly of his being in foreign
country. Silk is cheapin Japan, so that
aH may wear it. The other ladies, dressed
in fine silks, looked elegant. There was
music and plenty of races. The emperor
had been in the habit of attending the
races on this day at Yokohama, but this
time, due to his appearance in public
short time previous, on the occasion OF hl'
sons marriage, he declined to attend
There is one feature about races, which
find prevails through the east, and which
find very funny. Instead Of running thu
horses as we do in the states, they rul
| them in the manner that the hands of I
clock run. The horses were China ponie!
| and Australian thoroughbreds. The latte
| is fast horse.
On the 18th of May, after weeks EN-
joyable stay in Yokohama, we sailed TO
Kobe, Japan. Twenty-three miles befor
reaching Kobe, we entered the Inland Sea
The entrance is one mile and half wild
and protected by two batteries. At abou
8 P. M, we arrived at Kobe, anchorini
near our wonderful battleship "Oregon,
which was in the harbor.
The next morning early we went to shor
and took the 9 A. NJ. train for Koto, tn
former capital of Japan. The scenery OF
the route to this place is grand; and ther
we found city almost uninauenced il
manners and customs by foreigners. w
returned to Kobe that night. The mex
day we devoted to Kobe, a pretty littl
city of 185, 900 inhabitants. We first drov
in 'rickshas to the falls back of Kobe
These falls were then being damned fo
the purpose of furnishing water to tn
town. This reservoir will be 500 fee
above the town, and will furnish an abur
dant supply of excellent water to the towr
There was wrestling carnival at Kobe
and we went there in the afternoon. Wres
ling in Japan is older than our Christian
Iity. 1t was in the year % B. G. that tn
first match was held, the Emperor Suini
presiding over it in person. Sukune, tt
victor, killed his antagonist. This was tn
origin of public wrestling in Japan. Sine
the 18th century it has become customar
for wrestlers to gather in Tokyo in summs
and in winter for ten days at Ekoin whel
they receive their degree. The rank
Wrestler can not be. granted to any on
without permission obtained from the il
he1itor of the family of Viscount Goj'
whose geneology ascends to Sukune, II
the first ordained wrestler, whose name
written on piece of paper and put on or
of the beams of the shed above the aren
he being regarded as sort of guardian
the profession.
The arena is the inside of a ring abo'
Twenty feet in diameter, with earth bag
and is under she'd sustained by four pl
lars. The wrestlers are called by hera
Into the arena from the eastern and wes
ern side. At one side of them stands
umpire, and at the foot of each pillar
| the shed sits veteran wrestler as judg
When wrestler wins, the umpire lifts
wooden fan on the winners side as Il
sign of his victory, but if there be an =
peal from the decision, it is settled by Il
Judges.
There are forty-eight principal tricks
n Il L