Ito, Who Had The
Room Next To Mine, Suggested That Robbery Was Quite Likely, And
Asked To Be Allowed To Take Charge Of My Money, But Did Not Decamp
With It During The Night!
I lay down on my precarious stretcher
before eight, but as the night advanced the din of the house
increased till it became truly diabolical, and never ceased till
after one.
Drums, tom-toms, and cymbals were beaten; kotos and
samisens screeched and twanged; geishas (professional women with
the accomplishments of dancing, singing, and playing) danced, -
accompanied by songs whose jerking discords were most laughable;
story-tellers recited tales in a high key, and the running about
and splashing close to my room never ceased. Late at night my
precarious shoji were accidentally thrown down, revealing a scene
of great hilarity, in which a number of people were bathing and
throwing water over each other.
The noise of departures began at daylight, and I was glad to leave
at seven. Before you go the fusuma are slidden back, and what was
your room becomes part of a great, open, matted space - an
arrangement which effectually prevents fustiness. Though the road
was up a slight incline, and the men were too tired to trot, we
made thirty miles in nine hours. The kindliness and courtesy of
the coolies to me and to each other was a constant source of
pleasure to me. It is most amusing to see the elaborate politeness
of the greetings of men clothed only in hats and maros.
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