The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-09-28

BELOW THE RAPIDS OF THE KAT.
SCRA-GAWA.
large firing or selling establishments,
as in Assam and Ceylon.
At Nara one wanders between lines OF
moss-covered stone-lanterns, along .
grand old avenue of tall. needle like
cryptomerias. up to the temple of Kas-
uga. where the young Shinto priestesses
perform with slow gliding movements
the sacred Kagura dance. to music pro-
vided by an orchestra of three priests
with drums and flute. Then after feed
ing the tame deer that roam about tho
temple grounds, and visiting several
other Shinto shrines and Buddhist tenn
ples-not forgetting the Daibutsl, or
Great Image of Buddha-53 feet high
one finally picnics out in lovely park
amidst ideal surroundings. seated under
a trellis OF wistaria, whose giant fes-
ICONS four feet in length hang from
above. while wild azaleas of every con-
ceivable color are massed in front.
The Japanese. by the way. have named
yistaria full or peerless" after their
sacred mountain. and they train 1t over
bamboo so that IL forms roof or can
Opy Sometimes an open air teahouse
purple or white wistaria growing over
1t; and visitors marvel greatly that Eng
fish gardeners do not treat wistaria in
the same way when erecting arbors for
it is economical as well as ornamental.
and as all know "a thing of beauty is q
Joy for ever!"
Another delightful day may he spent
in shooting the famous rapids of the
Katsuragawa. an exciting experience
after heavy rains. The boats take about
an hour and a half to make the descent
of - miles. and the scenery throughout
the passage is charming. the river rush.
ing between numerous rocks and islets.
with precipitOus wooded hills rising ab-
ruptly on either side, bright in May
with scarlet azaleas. wistaria and the
beautiful iris japonica. These fat bot
toned boats are called "squeezes," be-
cause their thin. elastic boards bend
with every motion of the water, and
give" when they meet sunken rock:
and they are guided by boatmen with
bamboo poles in front and one yula
Japanese oar) at the stern.
Lake Biwa. beautiful sheet of water
with an area equal to that of Lake Gen.
eva, is within short distance of Kyoto,
and tourists spend several days explor-
ing it's beauties. At Karasaki on the
shores of the lake. is seen 1.-The largest
pine tree in the world" with boughs
trained literally la japonaise 80 that
they measure 288 feet by 24O feet across:
and very noticeable were the curious
arrow-shaped fish traps (eri) into which
the fish are driven, and being once in
cannot get out again. A visitor to Japan
says: At Mudera several hundred Rus
sian prisoners stare visitors out of cOun-
tenance. looking very jolly and happy
in their short fur coats and caps, NOT
withstanding the warmth of the day. A
little further on we heard sounds of hi
larity from the dining-room of the hotel,
while we were having tea in the veran-
dab. and further investigation showed
two smart Russian officers in full uni
form. each with bottle of wine in front
Of him. and four pretty nesan Japanese
waitresses) in attendance, all smiles and
delight. The proprietor told US that the
Russian prisoners were allowed out on
parole every day, and that the officers
always tiffined and spent the after
noon at his hotel He added with fer
vor: "They are all gentlemen-these
Russians-they drink nothing but
champagne and the best cognac!" and
from his beaning expression one could
see that he will greatly regret their de-
parture for thir own country.