FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS, 1885-1887. 993 



dren. She fled to escape the minions of Taira, after the death of her lord in 1159, 

 who was assassinated in a bath by three hired assassins at Utsumi, in Owari. 

 Tokiwa's flight was in winter, and snow lay upon the ground. She knew neither 

 where to go nor how to subsist; but clasping her babe to her bosom, her two little 

 sons on her right, one holding his mother's hand, the other carrying his father's 

 sword, they trudged on, nearly frozen and half starved. She was met in her flight 

 by a Taira soldier, who, pitying her and her children, gave her shelter and protec- 

 tion, supplying her and her children from his own meager rations. Her husband's 

 great enemy, Kiyomori, was anxious to overtake her, and, believing that her filial 

 affection for her mother would cause her to yield herself up, had seized upon her. 

 Tokiwa heard of her mother's durance at Kioto. Then came the struggle between 

 maternal and filial love. To enter Kioto she feared would be the death of her chil- 

 dren; but for the salvation of her mother, a sentiment so strong with the Japanese, 

 she was influenced to take her course into the city and to trust to her beauty and 

 accomplishments to melt the heart of Kiyomori. Thus she saved the lives of her 

 mother and children. The babe at her breast was the future Yoshitsune, a name 

 which at this period awakens in the breast of a Japanese youth emotions that kindle 

 his enthusiasm to emulate a character that was the mirror of chivalry, valor, and 

 knightly conduct. He was the Chevalier Bayard of Japan. The oldest son, who is 

 represented in the group carrying his father's sword, became a noted warrior. (The 

 Mikado's Empire, p. 124.) 



No. 25. This figure, a companion to No. 23, is another specimen of skill of the 

 highest order in this art of carving in ivory, and should be examined under a high 

 magnifying power. 



No. 26. A mail-clad warrior of the sixteenth century. 



No. 27. A Japanese water carrier. 



No. 28. A street juggler, with his boy acrobat. 



No. 29. Peasant girl and child. 



No. 30. The children's friend and adviser. 



No. 31. An exquisite carving, representing three field mice. 



No. 32. One of the gods, possessing power to control wild beasts. 



No. 33. Fukuroku Jin, mounted on a horse. (See legend attached to No. 5.) 



No. 34. Benton, Queen of the World under^he Sea. — (Legend:) In the sixth cen- 

 tury there lived upon the coast of Tango a poor fisherman and his wife. Their only 

 means of subsistence was the fish caught from the sea by their only son, Taro by 

 name. One day in autumn Taro was out as usual in his boat. The sea was rough 

 and the waves high. He uttered a prayer to the sea god Kai Eiu 0. Suddenly there 

 appeared upon the crest of the waves a divine being, robed in white, riding upon a 

 large tortoise. Approaching the wearied fisherman, he greeted him kindly, and 

 invited the poor fisherman to follow him and he would make him a happy man. 

 Taro, mounting the tortoise, sped away with marvelous celerity. The wonderful 

 sights he witnessed in the realms below the sea it would take pages to describe — 

 splendid palaces; richly dressed ladies, with retinues of pages, waiting to welcome 

 him; music, feasts, flowers, songs, and dances; rich jewels and i^recious gems, daz- 

 zling to behold. Amidst this splendor he spent most happily (what he supposed to 

 be) seven days, when he bethought himself of his parents, whom he felt it was 

 wrong to leave so long without their usual supply of food. He determined to return 

 to them. The Queen allowed his request; he was escorted to the white marble gate 

 of the palace and, mounting the same tortoise, soon reached the spot which he had 

 left in his boat. The mountains and rocks were familiar to him, but no trace of his 

 parents' hut was to be seen. All was changed. He made inquiries of an old gray- 

 headed fisherman, who informed him that centuries before the persons he described 

 had lived there, and had been buried long years ago, pointing out the place of their 

 interment. He thought their names could be read upon some of the very old tomb- 

 H. Doc. 732 63 



