The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-06-11

horse-man). He runs up with his miniature char
lot makes bow and lowers his shafts, then you
climb to the one small seat, just large enough to
receive a guest of ordinary size, draw robe about
your knees, the place you desire to reach and
off goes your horse striking into little trot,
Winter summer, rain or shine, they are all one
to him, rather, [ mistake; rainy weather IS the
most favorable to his particular business, Tor then
everybody takes a kuruma and the days receipts
are increased III consequence.
When forty years old a Kurumaya is worn out,
and yet many of these unhappy ceratures love the
kind Of life they lead for they might often if they
so wished, change their occupation to one perhaps
more lucrative and certainly easier and more
healthful; however, they like too much the freedom
from ali restraint which they enjoy to give it up.
The first time foreigner sees these men yoked
to cart like beasts, putting and sweating from
fhclr cXertlOnS, he IS apt to experience feeng OF
disgust and to refuse out of respect for the human
species to permit himself to be drawn in their
riages. This feeling passes away in time, how
ever, as he becomes familiar with mode of tran
sit which is fairly rapid and very economical In
the end lac rides through compassion for these poor
wreches in order that he may give them few
pennies.
AT present on account Of the advent of railroads
thc Kurumaya has lost much of his Importance;
formerly. however, he furnished the ordinary mode
of transportation from one part of the empire to
another. / he will drag his carriage
with lis occupant day, keeping up a steady trot.
At noon and again at the fall of evening he will
pause and hastily swallow bowl of rice seasoned
with rotten apples. Upon the following morning
at daybreak he takes up his again and so on
as long as the journey lasts, This unheroc en-
ylurance TO be rewarded at the rate of 10 cents
day.
Some years ago Mgr. Osouf, archbishop of To-
kio Travelled in this manner throughout the north
of Japan while making pastoral visitation. he
journey lasted fifteen days and during that time he
was drawn by no one else but the porter of the
archbishop's residence, who refused TO share with
another the honor of being his grace's KuIumaya.
Merchandise is transported upon small two
wheeled carts drawn by men, two of whom go be-
fore and two behind. Nothing is so strange as the
plaintive cries uttered in an unvarying monotone
which comes from these they perform their
work. One would fancy that they were about to
die, thai each breath it passes from their body
the last. On the contrary, however. they arc /
cries uf encouragement.
The streets of Osaka are always crowded with |
q busy throng. At certain periods of the day the |
hustle is so great that the police obliged a
measure Of prudence to prohibit the kurumaya
from plying his trade
The houses are built mainly of wood with moy-
able windows and doors which slide backward and
forward in grooves and are arranged that when
all are open the interior of dwelling is entirely
exposed to the outer air American and Russian
petroueum, gas and electricity are used for light
ing purposes. 10 obtain heat the Japanese en-
poy small brazers which contain half dozen
gloomy. This is the effect of an old superstition:
Iukugam the god of wealth, it is said, is best
pleased when worshped in an obscure place. The
land upon which the city is built is low, hence it
will be readily understood that the public health
leaves much to be desired Osaka is peculiarly
susceptible to epidemics of cholera and other ma
lignant diseases. Fortunately the evil bears with
it its own remedy. he police at slater intervals
give the streets thorough cleansing and at the
same time superintend the cleansing of the dwell
ings in all parts of the city. Mats are beaten and
the dust which is obtained is gathered up and taken
away while debris of every kind is burned.
The houses which have been recently built are
higher and better III every way than those of older
date; one may veritable palaces of stone
which would add beauty to the finest cities Of the
United States.
Fires are of nfrequent occurrence al Osaka;
when they do break out the rapidity with which
they are subG ca j. extraordinary. This is due to
the fact tha, the @ z possesses an efficient pumping
station which 5 situated at the highest point of
the old castle L draws water from the river and
by reason of j, sutude secures high pressure at
the hydrants.
The stores arc very numerous and line both
sides Of many streets in an uninterrupted success
sion The front part Of these shops opens directly
upon the street being without wall, doors or win
lows Throughout the whole wear the commercial
district presents an aspect of teverish activity;
cases OF merchandise and 90 by the hundreds,
Osaka is the market place for the entire central
a'i western portions Of Japan.
Merchants group themselves according TO the
business in which they are engaged. One street,
for example. is given up entirely TO shops dealing
ID drugs, where all kinds Of pharmaceutical sup
plies may be obtained; another is devoted to porce
aims, another TO dry goods, TO workers in bronze
,tc Upon he bank of the river near Kawagachi
Is the fish market. Every morning from to
oclock Is here displayed for sale every variety Of
ish. Our seas are wonderfully rich.
The city is also divided into sections accord
ng 10 the occupations of the Inhabitants. To the
Iortheast near the castle the military schools
md a garrison Of 10000 men. Upon the heights to
he east and southeast are situated number of
Buddhist temples; this section IS called Tcramachi
city Of temples. Upon all sides, to The right
md left before and behind, one sees as one looks
lUhng but temples, many Of them of great size,
md all surrounded by flowers and trees. The larg-
81 Of these is called Tennoii (temple of the king
# heaven). ii dates back 10 the time of Prince
;hotoku the Constantine of japanese Buddhism
about coo A. ID For saint the prince had a
inguar character. The Emperor Suiun was firm
dhcrent of the religion already established in his
ingdom for he feared the resentment of the Kamis
'hotoku wished him to favor the new cult which ,
lad been introduced from China by way Of Korea. '
}ut the Emperor would not the young prince, S
N ardent disciple of Buddha, discovered that his