406 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



ready for the latter operation in the middle of June, and these crops succeed each other year 

 after year. During the winter, part of the rice fields, that which lies low, is left fallow, while 

 the terraces are turned into wheat fields. In preparing the fields for the reception of the young 

 shoots of rice, they are overflown with water, and then reduced by ploughing and harrowing 

 into a soft well mixed mud. Subsequently, a substratum of grass and small bushes is trodden 

 down below tlie surface by the feet. The laborer putting on a couple of broad pieces of wood, 

 like a pair of snow shoes, goes tramping over the grass and bushes, laboring until they all 

 disapjiiear below the surface of the mud. This oi^eration over, the small plants are transferred 

 from the plot where they have been sown, to the fields, where they are allowed to remain until 

 maturity. The rice crop is ready for harvesting in the latter part of September or early in the 

 ensuing month. Oxen and horses are occasionally used in agricultural operations, but the labor 

 is mostly performed by hand. 



Whatever may be the moral character of the inhabitants of Simoda, it might be supposed, 

 from the great number of jjlaces of worship, that they are a highly devotional people. Though 

 the peculiar religions of the Japanese seem to be sustained in a flourishing condition, the 

 people are rather remarkable for their toleration of all kinds of worship, excejit that of the 

 Christian, for which, in consequence of the political intrigues of the Eoman priesthood, 

 centuries ago, they have an intense hatred, carefully inculcated by those in authority, who keep 

 alive the traditional enmity engendered at the epoch when the Portuguese were expelled the 

 Empire. The Buddhist and Sintoo worships are those most prevalent in Japan, and the lower 

 classes are strict but formal devotees, while it is suspected that the higher and better educated 

 are indifferent to all religions, and entertain various speculative oj^inions, or seek refuge in a 

 broad skepticism. 



There are no less than nine Buddhist temples, one large Mia, or Sintoo temple, and a great 

 number of smaller shrines. Those devoted to the worship of Buddha have strange fanciful 

 titles : the largest is called Rio-shen-zhi, or Buddha's obedient monastery ; and there are Dai- 

 an-zhi, or great peace monastery; the Hon-gaku-zhi, or source of knowledge monastery ; the 

 Too-den-zhi, or rice field monasteiy ; the Fuku-zhen-zhi, or fountain of happiness monastery ; 

 the Chio-raku-zhi, or continual joy monastery ; the Ri-gen-zhi, or source of reason monastery ; 

 and lastly, the Chio-me-zhi, or long life monastery. Twenty-five priests and a few acolytes are 

 attached to these temples, and are supported by fees bestowed by devotees for burial services, 

 and the various offices peculiar to Buddhism. The buildings are of wood, and although 

 generally kept in tolerable repair, show the effects of weather upon the unpainted surface. The 

 roofs are tiled and project, as in the houses, beyond the walls. The posts which support the 

 superstructure are, together with the rest of the wood work, covered with the famous Japanese 

 lacquer. The floors, which are raised four or five feet above the ground, are neatly covered 

 with matting. At the door of the main apartment there is a drum on the left and a bell on the 

 right, the former of which is beaten, and the latter tingled, at the commencement of worship, 

 to awaken the attention of the iuols to the prayers of the devout. Between the door and the 

 central shrine there are several low lecterns, or reading desks, near each of which there is 

 conveniently placed a piece of wood carved in the shape of a fish, which is used to beat time 

 dur ng the chanting, which forms an important part of the religious services. 



The shrine, in which are arranged the ancestral tablets, in niches, seems to be an object of 

 particular attention, for it was kept always in perfect order, and the monuments and idols were 



