下载辰思小说免费APP
Inonetowntwoveryshabbypolicemenrusheduponus，seizedthebridleofmyhorse，andkeptmewaitingforalongtimeinthemiddleofacrowd，whiletheytoilsomelyboredthroughthepassport，turningitupanddown，andholdingituptothelight，asthoughthereweresomenefariousmysteryaboutit。MyhorsestumbledsobadlythatIwasobligedtowalktosavemyselffromanotherfall，and，justasmypowerswerefailing，wemetakuruma，whichbygoodmanagement，suchasbeingcarriedoccasionally，broughtmeintoKuroishi，aneattownof5500people，famousforthemakingofclogsandcombs，whereIhaveobtainedaveryneat，airy，upstairsroom，withagoodviewoverthesurroundingcountryandofthedoingsofmyneighboursintheirbackroomsandgardens。
InsteadofgettingontoAomoriIamspendingthreedaysandtwonightshere，and，astheweatherhasimprovedandmyroomisremarkablycheerful，theresthasbeenverypleasant。AsIhavesaidbefore，itisdifficulttogetanyinformationaboutanythingevenafewmilesoff，andevenatthePostOfficetheycannotgiveanyintelligenceastothedateofthesailingsofthemailsteamerbetweenAomori，twentymilesoff，andHakodate。
Thepolicewerenotsatisfiedwithseeingmypassport，butmustalsoseeme，andfourofthempaidmeapolitebutdomiciliaryvisittheeveningofmyarrival。Thateveningthesoundofdrummingwasceaseless，andsoonafterIwasinbedItoannouncedthattherewassomethingreallyworthseeing，soIwentoutinmykimonoandwithoutmyhat，andinthisdisguisealtogetherescapedrecognitionasaforeigner。Kuroishiisunlighted，andIwastumblingandstumblingalonginoverhastewhenastrongarmclearedtheway，andthehouse-masterappearedwithaveryprettylantern，hangingclosetothegroundfromacaneheldinthehand。Thuscamethephrase，“Thywordisalightuntomyfeet。“
Wesoonreachedapointforseeingthefestivalprocessionadvancetowardsus，anditwassobeautifulandpicturesquethatitkeptmeoutforanhour。Itpassesthroughallthestreetsbetween7and10p。m。eachnightduringthefirstweekinAugust，withanark，orcoffer，containingslipsofpaper，onwhich(asIunderstand)
wishesarewritten，andeachmorningatseventhisiscarriedtotheriverandtheslipsarecastuponthestream。Theprocessionconsistedofthreemonsterdrumsnearlytheheightofaman’sbody，coveredwithhorsehide，andstrappedtothedrummers，endupwards，andthirtysmalldrums，allbeatenrub-a-dub-dubwithoutceasing。
Eachdrumhasthetomoyepaintedonitsends。Thentherewerehundredsofpaperlanternscarriedonlongpolesofvariouslengthsroundacentrallantern，20feethigh，itselfanoblong6feetlong，withafrontandwings，andallkindsofmythicalandmysticalcreaturespaintedinbrightcoloursuponit——atransparencyratherthanalantern，infact。Surroundingitwerehundredsofbeautifullanternsandtransparenciesofallsortsoffancifulshapes——fans，fishes，birds，kites，drums；thehundredsofpeopleandchildrenwhofollowedallcarriedcircularlanterns，androwsoflanternswiththetomoyeononesideandtwoChinesecharactersontheotherhungfromtheeavesallalongthelineoftheprocession。Ineversawanythingmorecompletelylikeafairyscene，theundulatingwavesoflanternsastheyswayedalong，thesoftlightsandsofttintsmovingaloftinthedarkness，thelantern-bearersbeingindeepshadow。Thisfestivaliscalledthetanabata，orseisekifestival，butIamunabletogetanyinformationaboutit。Itosaysthatheknowswhatitmeans，butisunabletoexplain，andaddsthephrasehealwaysuseswhenindifficulties，“Mr。Satowwouldbeabletotellyouallaboutit。“
ALady’sToilet——Hair-dressing——PaintandCosmetics——AfternoonVisitors——ChristianConverts。
Thisisapleasantplace，andmyroomhasmanyadvantagesbesideslightandcleanliness，as，forinstance，thatIoverlookmyneighboursandthatIhaveseenaladyathertoiletpreparingforawedding！Amarriedgirlkneltinfrontofablacklacquertoilet-boxwithasprayofcherryblossomsingoldspraw
