下载辰思小说免费APP
Thisevening，here，asinthousandsofothervillages，themencamehomefromtheirwork，atetheirfood，tooktheirsmoke，enjoyedtheirchildren，carriedthemabout，watchedtheirgames，twistedstrawropes，madestrawsandals，splitbamboo，wovestrawrain-
coats，andspentthetimeuniversallyinthoselittleeconomicalingenuitiesandskilfuladaptationswhichourpeople(theworseforthem)practiseperhapslessthananyother。Therewasnoassemblingatthesakeshop。Poorthoughthehomesare，themenenjoythem；thechildrenareanattractionatanyrate，andthebrawlinganddisobediencewhichoftenturnourworking-classhomesintobear-gardensareunknownhere，wheredocilityandobedienceareinculcatedfromthecradleasamatterofcourse。ThesignsofreligionbecomefewerasItravelnorth，anditappearsthatthelittlefaithwhichexistsconsistsmainlyinabeliefincertaincharmsandsuperstitions，whichthepriestsindustriouslyfoster。
Alowvoiceisnotregardedas“amostexcellentthing，“inmanatleast，amongthelowerclassesinJapan。Thepeoplespeakatthetopoftheirvoices，and，thoughmostwordsandsyllablesendinvowels，thegeneraleffectofaconversationislikethediscordantgabbleofafarm-yard。Thenextroomtomineisfullofstormboundtravellers，andtheyandthehouse-masterkeptupwhatIthoughtwasamostimportantargumentforfourhoursatthetopoftheirvoices。Isupposeditmustbeonthenewandimportantordinancegrantinglocalelectiveassemblies，ofwhichIheardatOdate，butoninquiryfoundthatitwaspossibletospendfourmortalhoursindiscussingwhethertheday’sjourneyfromOdatetoNoshirocouldbemadebestbyroadorriver。
Japanesewomenhavetheirowngatherings，wheregossipandchit-
chat，markedbyatrulyOrientalindecorumofspeech，arethestapleoftalk。Ithinkthatinmanythings，speciallyinsomewhichlieonthesurface，theJapanesearegreatlyoursuperiors，butthatinmanyotherstheyareimmeasurablybehindus。Inlivingaltogetheramongthiscourteous，industrious，andcivilisedpeople，onecomestoforgetthatoneisdoingthemagrossinjusticeincomparingtheirmannersandwayswiththoseofapeoplemouldedbymanycenturiesofChristianity。WouldtoGodthatweweresoChristianisedthatthecomparisonmightalwaysbefavourabletous，whichitisnot！
July30——Intheroomontheothersideofmineweretwomenwithsevereeye-disease，withshavenheadsandlongandcuriousrosaries，whobeatsmalldrumsastheywalked，andwereonpilgrimagetotheshrineofFudoatMegura，nearYedo，aseated，flame-surroundedidol，withanakedswordinonehandandacoilofropeintheother，whohasthereputationofgivingsighttotheblind。Atfivethismorningtheybegantheirdevotions，whichconsistedinrepeatingwithgreatrapidity，andinahighmonotonouskeyfortwohours，theinvocationoftheNichirensectofBuddhists，NamumiyohorengeKiyo，whichcertainlynoJapaneseunderstands，andonthemeaningofwhicheventhebestscholarsaredivided；onehavinggivenme，“Glorytothesalvation-bringingScriptures；“another，“Hail，preciouslawandgospelofthelotusflower；“andathird，“Heavenandearth！Theteachingsofthewonderfullotusflowersect。“NamuamiduButsuoccurredatintervals，andtwodrumswerebeatenthewholetime！
Therain，whichbeganagainatelevenlastnight，fellfromfivetilleightthismorning，notindrops，butinstreams，andinthemiddleofitaheavypallofblackness(saidtobeatotaleclipse)
enfoldedallthingsinaluridgloom。Anydetentionisexasperatingwithinonedayofmyjourney’send，andIhearwithoutequanimitythattherearegreatdifficultiesahead，andthatourgettingthroughinthreeorevenfourdaysisdoubtful。Ihopeyouwillnotbetiredofthemonotonyofmyletters。Suchastheyare，theyrepresentthesceneswhichatravellerwouldseethroughoutmuchofnorthernJapan，andwhateverinteresttheyhaveconsistsinthefactthatthe
