a.d. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1565. 



white tassels hanging about their neckes, and blacke 

 Bonnets that scarcely cover any more then the crowne 

 of their heads. Thus attyred they range abroade in all 

 Japan, to set out themselves and their cunning to sale, 

 each one beating his bason which he carieth alwayes 

 about with him, to give notice of their comming in al 

 townes where they passe. 

 Genguis. There is also an other sort called Genguis, that make 

 profession to shewe by soothsaying where stollen things 

 are, and who were the theeves. These dwell in the 

 toppe of an high mountaine, blacke in the face : for the 

 continuall heate of the sunne, for the cold windes, and 

 raines they doe continually endure. They marry but in 

 their owne tribe and line : the report goeth that they be 

 horned beasts. They climbe up most high rockes and 

 hilles, and go over very great rivers by the onely arte of 

 the devill, who to bring those wretches the more into 

 errour, biddeth them to goe up a certaine high moun- 

 taine, where they stande miserably gazing and earnestly 

 looking for him as long as the devill appointeth them. 

 At the length at nonetide or in the evening commeth 

 that devil, whom they call Amida among them to shew 

 himselfe unto them : this shew breedeth in the braines 

 and hearts of men such a kinde of superstition, that it 

 can by no meanes be rooted out of them afterward. 



The devill was wont also in another mountaine to shew 

 himselfe unto the Japanish Nation. Who so was more 

 desirous than other to go to heaven and to enjoy Paradise, 

 thither went he to see that sight, and having seene the 

 devill followed him (so by the devill perswaded) into 

 a denne untill he came to a deepe pit. Into this pit the 

 devill was wont to leape, and to take with him his wor- 

 shipper whom he there murdred. This deceit was thus 

 perceived. An old man blinded with this superstition, 

 was by his sonne disswaded from thence, but all in vaine. 

 Wherefore his sonne followed him privily into that denne 

 with his bow & arrows, where the devill gallantly appeared 

 unto him in the shape of a man. Whilest the old man 



338 



