The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-08-19

roasted In the oven fire. q the sheil
was hot and blackened on the lower
side; the great operculum fitted the
opening and we expected on lifting It.
to fiad the solid mass Of flesh within
to our surprise, however, we discov-
cred that the animal itself had been
taken out, cut to pieces and boiled. re.
placed in the shell and covered over.
But we. had still the exploration of
the island before us. The steep road
soon brought us to sort of shrine
where an old man forced himself upon
us as our guide. We climbed up
flights Of steps and rocky trails. We
saw the temple sacred to Benten with
ancient curios recalling past wars.
Finally, We reached the summit and
followed the crest for some distance.
There were still shell-shops, and at
points of outlook, teahouses. From
the first Of these we looked down over
fine cliff with pines upon whirling
water. We passed a shell-worker
where heaps of shells were being
worked up into trumpets. Resisting
all allurement of shell-shops and tea
houses alike. we finally reached the
very edge of the rocky mass and
started down the steep descent. partly
by steps and in part over the rocky
footpath. We were soon near the
waters edge. The tide was coming in
and the current whirled and swirled
in every direction, striking in fine
foam upon the half covered reefs OF
rock. Here and there under rough
shelters were men dressed In coolie
garb. who seemed to have nothing
particular to occupy them. We as.
sumed that they were pilgrims from
the country who had come to visit the
sacred cave. The foothpath passed
from the rocky lodges on to a foot.
bridge. which brought up after turns
and curves into view of the famous
sacred cave. 1t makes a fine impress.
sion from the slight bridge trail, with
its altar at the very back of the great
grotto. When we were we'll within
and had taken drink of Benten's
sacred water, we were supplied with
candles and made our way through the
long tunnel-cavern which extended far
into the rock mass. Here in the dark.
ness are little shrlnes to many differ.
ent gods.
On our way back an old man per
sistently begged to do something TO,
ten sen. Finally we yielded to his
solicitation and the ten sen were pro
duced. To our surprise. he proceed
ed at once to climb down the rocky
slope to the very edge Of the still!
rising water. In a shallow grotto he
threw OF his clothing and prepared
to dive. 1t really looked a perilous
thing to do, as the current was very
strong and constantly dashing over 6
jagged ledge of rock. The old rascal
Lowever. did the feat neatly, and re
appearing in moment, with every
evidence of expecting appreciation
handed us one of the spiny shells witt
the living snail within. The suppo
sition was that he had brought it from
the sea-bottom for our benefit Cham
berlain suggests in the hand booh
which of course gives US all our in
formation, that he took it With him
when he dived, which seems quite
likely.
It was getting late: we fastened tc
climb the cliff and the great stairway
and soon were standing against the
summit of the island. This time We
stopped at the tea house on the cliff
It is well worth while. The preci
pice is almost vertical at its margin
Tho rugged mass of rocks over which
the trail passes lies at its foot, and
the little bridge trail clings to the
cliff; at every point where there is q
scant foothold there Is pine tree and
pines browning the edge; the dash
ing water on the broken rocks far be
low swirls and whirls as finely as the
whirlpool rapids at Niagara. The sun
still shone upon the blue sea stretch
ing out before US and the fishing yes
sells with their white sails still dot
ted the blue expanse. 1t was q
scene not easily forgotten.
Our old guide realized even more
keenly than we did that time was
passing He hurried US back by q
short cut to the place where we had
first met him, where he left US, and
we went down through the village
street to the sand spit toward Katase
OF course we ought to have remem
bered, but what was our surprise to
ind that the great spit was gone;
only a little line of highest crest
OYER which the water broke and
foamed remained of the sandy path
by which we had come a few hours
earlier in the day. We were forced
to take the once despised and neglect
ed foot bridge. Enoshima was truly