Year: 1876




A correspondent of the Edinburgh
Goura'at, writing from Toxic, Japan,
thus describes an execution of which he
was a witness:


The prisoners were seated in baskets
made of bamboo, each borne on the
shoulders of two strong men. The place
of execution was raised high above the
road, and seemed to be a fat cut out of
the hill, the high bank on the other side
of the road affording the spectators a
good view of the proceedings. The
prisoners were blindfolded on the road
in front of the hill, and were then
brought up to the raised ground and
the kagos placed down. Refreshments
in the shape of fish, omelets, cake and
wine were then handed by the attend
ants to the prisoners, who all seemed to
partake quite freely. The prisoners
commenced to converse freely among
themselves, calling each other by name
and exhorting one another to behave
firmly at the last moment. At the CEN
ter of the ground was hole about one
foot deep and one foot in diameter. The
first criminal was led to the mat and
made to knsel. The executioner pre-
pared his sword by pouring water down
the edge. The prisoners body was
barred down to his waist, and his arms
were held behind his back by q strong
young fellow, who gained more com
mand over the prisoners body by
kneeling also and pressing his
right foot against the feet of the priS-
oner. Another man settled the bandage
afresh over the eyes and ears, while an
other drew his neck out to the utmost,
holding the head over the hole until all
was ready, when he withdrew. A slap
on the back, Just below the neck, in
tended to give rigidity to the muscles,
was also the signal for the executiOner
to perform his task. He made his bow
to the officials, and gave the coup de
grace with an ease and certainty that
would have excited the envy of any
swordsman. The instant the sword had
passed through, the man behind the
body pressed the trunk forward into the
hole. The executiOner retired with a
bow, and in an instant after the trunk
and head, streaming with blood, were
conveyed to a side-place to await their
removal by friends. The second pris-
oner, when approached, stated he was
ready, and the other two prisoners
shouted to him Skikari ike! (be firm,
to which he replied undauntedly, Ski
kari ari Q am frm). His mode of
was similar to the first, but he
shouted to the last, telling the others he
was lust going, and that he was firm,
while they repeated the same exhorta-
ton. A new executioner othciated and
advanced to the front, and upon the
signal being given he made his bow, and
with a similar dexterity performed his
horrid task. The third prisoner was q
boy, who showed not the least emotion
when informed that his turn
had come, but shouted to the last
prisoner, al am going!" who replied,
g Be firm" 1t was painful sight to
witness this slight boy led forward to
the mat, but his courage never fOrSook
him an instant, and he marched as
steadily as though he were being led
for an ordinary walk rather than to the
edge of the hole from which he would
be instantly precipitated into the other
world. He spoke firmly to the finish.
The last prisoner, Notwithstanding his
appeared excited, his face be-
ing very red. When taken from the kago
he marched with a peculiar strut,
throwing his feet out and holding him
self quite erect. My impression was
that the sake given the prisoners was
druoged to a certain extent, and that,
the last man being of peculiar tenn
the wine affected him differ
emily. Having no friends remaining to
address himself to, he sung song, say
inc he would follow the others, and that
he thanked the people for coming to
see him. He then allowed his head to
be rebandaged There seemed to be
more than ordinary time in arranging
this man for the execHtiOner- This lat
ter functionary having approached be-
fore the time, the old fellow who pre-
pared the prisoners neck asked him to
wait. This seemed to slightly discon-
cert the executioner, and, instead of
performing his work with cleanness of
Stroke, he cut somewhat high and only
partly severed the head. He had to
take second cut and afterwards to saw