The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-27

her fathers and her mothers names, as
well as her own. TO be one Of their guests
inside the temple upon the approaching
celebration in honor Of the god. Upon our
return journey in the evening. she par
ticularly asked me 10 come early upon
the date OF the fre-walking as her father
would, she was sure. show to me as
friend. some OF the rites which would not
be displayed 10 the other guests or TO
the puolic al large. assembling to wit
ness the wonderful ordeal
I was now convinced OF the young lady's
saDeness and sincerity, and upon the ap-
pointed day. therefore. was careful to be
one OF the first OF the invited guests TO
arrive. when was received with the great
est kindness at the temple by Fijubayasi
herself, by her father. the high priest,
Yoshimura -siasamoshi. aud by his wife, a
little lady, who still showed traces of hav-
ing been as great beauty formerly as
her daughter was to-day
The Kwancho and the ladies nearly killed
me with kindness for several hours, dur
ing which all sorts OF wonderful ceremonies
were gone through in the temple being
RECALLED, nolens volens, repeatedly during
that period with beer. oranges and tea-tea,
oranges and beer. OF which delicacies 1
was forced to partake far more freely than
good for me. lest I should hurt the
feelings of my kind hosts.
I occupied a side room in the temple,
whence could see all that was going on
without having TO stand. as had the other
visitors. The screens having been slipped
back, 1 could, at the same time, see the
fire being heated up outside. The high priest
oft "
now and then go off for a time, aud lead
q long row of devotees to make offerings
at an altar. There he remained with eyes
closed and mystic and rapturous pose. in
dulging in wonderful prostrations and in
toning monotonous prayers to the accom-
pan.ment of weird music. Then returning
10 me, without trace OF the mystic about
him. he would sit down by my side, laugh
and chat, and resume his mundane duties
at the table as host. The difference in his
appearance in the two characters was as
great as that between DIR. Jekyll and Mr..
Hydel
Meanwhile the fire of red hot charcoal
a fire seven yards long by two and half
yards wide-was being prepared just out
side the temple. AS the tremendous heat
of this fire almost roasted me where I was
sitting, I now begged pretty little Full
bayasi and her mother, whatever they
might do upon occasions when / was not
present. TO spare me the pain of seeing
them walk with naked feet upon the fiery
furnace. They politely replied that they
would ask the advice OF the Kwancho. just
then employed in praying with wonderful
gestures. One of them went and called
him. when laughing amiably at my fears
he instantly agreed to my request, saying
that, although there was no danger. and
the fire could not hurt them in the least.
10 spare my susceptibilities. the ladies
should not walk upon the red hot Goals, nor
would he do so himself. The operation had,
he added laughingly. lost all novelty for
them, but to show me how innocuous it
was. he would ask a half English, half
japanese young lady, friend of mine, who
had Just arrived through my having OBJ
tanned invitation for her. il she would
like to walk through the fire. Upon his
doing so the young lady. who was clad in
European dress. although warmly pressed,
declined vigorously to join in thus celebrat-
ing the God OF the Mountain Ontake. But
she was careful to explain it was not fear
which impelled her to decline the honor,
but simply the fact that it would be too
indeiicate for her to walk with bare legs
before so many people; it would look too
peculiar altogether in European clothing.
Had I been dressed in japanese costume
now" she suggested. 'it would not have
looked half so improper, and I would not
have minded at all-oh. no. not in the leastr'
/ had ma doots' or this, moreover, as 1
was not asked to walk through the fire my
self, was naturally too polite to take the
liberty of asking permission TO join the
glad threng' in the flames. While the other
spectators were waiting and roasting, 1
was admitted alone into a bathroom where
many OF those about TO fire-walk stripped
naked, and going through the most wonder
ful antics. while pouring bucket after
bucket Of icy cold water on their heads.
This In itself is terrible ordeal to a Japa-
nese, for in Japan all water used for wash
ing or bathing purposes is intensely hot,
the natives of all ranks frequently sitting
for long periods in tubs through which is
passed a stove-pipe full Of hot Goals. Full
bayasi, however. informed me that owing
10 the power Of the god. she was quite
able in the dead OF winter to immerse her
little frame up 10 her chin in a tub of
iced water and TO remain thus for hours
without feeling cold at all at the time or
CatCutus COiu dlteTWdTuSs Il may dOQ JndI
quite believe this now!
The mystic worshipers in the bathroom.
soon observed. seemed quite as capable
of changing from grave to gay, from live
~ TO severe" as the high priest himself:
for, upon my making some humorous re-
mark in the middle of their apparently
hottest rites they all burst into roars of
laughter. their faces the second previous
having all worn the drawn and panied ex-
preston OF the strictest ascetic. They
are a queer race indeed At length the fire
was ready, the prayers and publications
completed. and the worshipers, clad in a
white garment proceeded to the courtyard
where the huge fire was being famed
vigorously until it was apparently at
white heat. After ceremonies, of throw
ing salt on the ground on the four sides of
the oblops fiery furnce, and much waving
OF wands, called gohei wands, while march,
ing round and round the mass OF burning
charcoal. suddenly a man. who had been
striking showers OF sparks from a flint
and steel, rubbed his feet In some Of the
scattered salt.
Then he boldly stepped into the flames,
DoIfhora fafv than Ala ba x-alIx Al =.