REPORTS OF JAPAN a.d. 



1565. 



fire, with them goe their kinswomen and such as bee of 

 their acquaintance, clothed in white (for that is the 

 mourning colour there) with a changeable coloured vaile 

 on their heads. Each woman hath with her also, accord- 

 ing to her abilitie, all her familie trimmed up in white 

 mockado : the better sort and wealthier women goe in 

 litters of Cedar artificially wrought and richly dressed. 

 In the second place marcheth a great company of foote- 

 men sumptuously apparelled. Then afarre off commeth 

 one of these Bonzii master of the ceremonies for that 

 superstition, bravely clad in silkes and gold, in a large 

 and high litter excellently well wrought, accompanied with 

 30 other Bonzii or thereabout, wearing hats, linnen albes, 

 and fine blacke upper garments. Then attired in ashe 

 colour (for this colour also is mourning) with a long 

 torch of Pineaple, he sheweth the dead body the way 

 unto the fire, lest it either stumble or ignorantly go out 

 of the way. Well neere 200 Bonzii folow him singing 

 the name of that devill the which the partie deceassed 

 chiefly did worship in his life time, and therewithall a 

 very great bason is beaten even to the place of fire in 

 stead of a bell. Then follow two great paper baskets 

 hanged open at staves endes full of paper roses diversly 

 coloured, such as beare them doe march but slowly, 

 shaking ever now and then their staves, that the afore- 

 sayd flowers may fall downe by litle and litle as it were 

 drops of raine : and be whirled about with wind. This 

 shower say they is an argument that the soule of the 

 dead man is gone to paradise. After al this, eight 

 beardles Bonzii orderly two and two drag after them on 

 the ground long speares, the points backward, with flags 

 of one cubite a piece, wherein the name also of that idole 

 is written. Then there be caried 10 lanterns trimmed 

 with the former inscription, overcast with a fine vaile, and 

 candles burning in them. Besides this, two yoong men 

 clothed in ashe colour beare pineaple torches, not lighted, 

 of three foote length, the which torches serve to kindle They bume 

 the fire wherein the dead corpes is to bee burnt. In the their dead. 



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