19003 The Hostess of the Unicorn 



leave that region. He had some uncomplimentary 

 things to say of Urga, the capital, but later wrote 

 that he had since been on the Gold Coast of Africa, 

 and wished to take back all he had ever said in criti- 

 cism of Mongolia, as well as of Arkansas, where he 

 had once served as assistant geologist under Branner. 



Means accompanied me on a short but interesting 

 trip to Obama and Unzen, the latter a mountain 

 resort famous for its hot sulphur springs. During our 

 passage across the bay we encountered very rough 

 surf caused by a gale blowing straight in from the 

 sea. The steamer having swashed through and 

 come to rest behind the Obama breakwater, we were 

 taken off in a sampan or rowboat, a poor seasick 

 Japanese lady still clinging to my knees as to a last 

 hope. At the dock waited O-Mime-San, the locally 

 famous hostess of Ikakku-ro or Unicorn Inn, who San 

 asked if I were not Dr. Jordan and greeted me like 

 an old friend. Later I learned that some one at 

 Mogi informed her each day by telegraph of her 

 prospective guests. 



This young woman spoke English well and with a 

 sympathetic tone, thus making each feel himself 

 the object of her special consideration. She had 

 risen in her profession by devoted attention to the 

 demands of English folk, some of which were very 

 strange, to say the least. One lady whom we saw English 

 depart for a few days at Unzen had two pack ponies 

 loaded with trunks and blankets, several umbrellas, 

 and a big, uncompromising bathtub, she herself 

 riding high above a pile of luggage in a chair. 



Leaving Cbama, I rode a wild stallion which Mime 

 said I must pardon for his antics, he being country- 

 bred! Our path, forced to the wall by ancient, 



C 25 3 



eccen- 

 tricities 



