FOKTY-NHNTTH CONGRESS, 1885-1887. 991 



society. It was an ancient custom in China and Japan to station a drum on a stand 

 in front of the magistrate's office. Anyone oppressed or maltreated could come and, 

 by beating the drum, call attention to his complaint and receive redress. In time 

 of misrule or public disturbance the drum would often sound, scaring away bird and 

 beast; but when all was "peace under heaven" the drum was neglected. Years 

 rolled by in peace and quietness; vines grew up and encircled the drum; rust cor- 

 roded it, and a large piece fell from the side. The cock with his flock, becoming 

 familiar with its peaceful aspect, selected it as a fit abode for his harem, and the quiet 

 repose of the mother with her little brood as they appear in peaceful possession of 

 the great drum is the result. By such simple means are great events remembered and 

 ancient customs transmitted for ages. 



ELABORATELY CARVED IVORIES. 



No. 2. Medicine chest. 



No. 3. An elaborately carved ivory cylinder, exhibiting a religious procession 

 winding up a hill through bowers of trees and flowers. 



No. 4. Cigar case. 



No. 5. Fukurokio Jin. — Fukuroku Jin is one of the seven gods of happiness, and the 

 patron of long life and prosperity. He is represented with a cheerful countenance 

 and long flowing beard, and is usually accompanied by a crane or stork, which is the 

 symbol of longevity, and said to live ten thousand years. Everyone likes Fukuroku 

 Jin, and wants to get his favor aiid live long. Children are amused by him. He is 

 mostly seen at weddings, with his long white hair and pleasant smile. (Jap. Fairy 

 World, p. 78. ) 



No. 6. Akechi. — This figure, it is believed, is intended to represent Akechi, who 

 assassinated Nobunaga Kioto in 1558-1560. He was a stern, proud man. Not liking 

 the familiar manner in which Nobunaga, in a merry mood, at a feast at his own 

 castle, seized Akechi around the neck and made a drum of his head by drumming 

 on it with a fan, he determined upon revenge. This he accomplished by surprising 

 Nobunaga in his palace at Kioto. (The Mikado's Empire, p. 231.) 



No. 7. Kiyomori. — This tall figure of a warrior in a passion — in white ivory — is 

 Kiyomori, who caused the death by assassination of Yoshitomo. In 1159 he con- 

 ceived a plan for the complete extermination of the Miame tos, which was centered 

 in the children of Tokiwa, the concubine of Yoshitomo. (The Mikado's Empire, p. 

 121.) Tokiwa is represented in an ivory group of a mother and her three little 

 chidren, fleeing for safety through the snow. For the interesting history of her 

 escape from his wfath, and the eventual restoration of her family to power, see 

 legend attached to that group of ivory. No. 24. 



No. 8. The ivory figure with goggle eyes and distorted countenance is one of the 

 thunder gods. They are seen standing on either side of the main entrance to 

 Buddhist temples. They are of colossal size, and the more hideous the better. 



No. 9. A beautiful carved representation of a brave man who killed a serpent which 

 for a long time had infested his neighborhood. 



No. 11. Represents a citizen of the third class in holiday dress. 



No. 12. Represents a lady of the third class in holiday dress. 



No. 13. Yoritomo. — This elaborate carving in ivory represents one of Japan's 

 greatest heroes. He was of the Minamoto family, and lived in the twelfth century. 

 Japanese history is filled with his heroic exploits. In his younger life he was a 

 "Prince Hal," and in his after life he became a "Bluff King Harry," barring his 

 polygamic tendencies. (Chap, xiv. The Mikado's Empire. ) 



No. 14. Kai Riu 0. — (The god with a black ball in one hand, white in the other.) 

 This figure represents the god of the sea, who is in the act of raising a tempest in the 

 sea by rolling a black ball, or smoothing it down by rolling the white ball. (Japanese 

 Fairy World, p. 273: The Jewels of the Ebbing and the Flowing Tide.) 



