The summer has been the worst for some years, and now dark
heat, moist heat, and nearly ceasless rain prevail. People have
been "rained up" in their summer quarters. "Surely it will change
soon," people say, and they have said the same thing for three
months.
I. L. B.
LETTER XLIV
Fine Weather - Cremation in Japan - The Governor of Tokiyo - An
Awkward Question - An Insignificant Building - Economy in Funeral
Expenses - Simplicity of the Cremation Process - The Last of Japan.
H. B. M.'s LEGATION, YEDO, December 18.
I have spent the last ten days here, in settled fine weather, such
as should have begun two months ago if the climate had behaved as
it ought. The time has flown by in excursions, shopping, select
little dinner-parties, farewell calls, and visits made with Mr.
Chamberlain to the famous groves and temples of Ikegami, where the
Buddhist bishop and priests entertained us in one of the guest-
rooms, and to Enoshima and Kamakura, "vulgar" resorts which nothing
can vulgarise so long as Fujisan towers above them.
I will mention but one "sight," which is so far out of the beaten
track that it was only after prolonged inquiry that its whereabouts
was ascertained. Among Buddhists, specially of the Monto sect,
cremation was largely practised till it was forbidden five years
ago, as some suppose in deference to European prejudices.
