232 LECTURE XYIII. 



All the married women in Japan blacken 

 their teeth and gums, which gives them an un- 

 pleasant look when they smile ; otherwise, many 

 of them would be thought handsome. They 

 also paint their lips with rouge, and this brings 

 out in greater contrast the blackness of the 

 gums and teeth. It is not uncommon for young 

 females to begin to blacken their teeth as soon 

 as they have been asked in marriage. 



From the number of temples in the towns, all 

 of which are places of worship, it might be 

 thought that the Japanese were a religious peo- 

 ple, were it not for the gross licentiousness which 

 prevails amongst them. There are certain boxes 

 distributed amongst the temples, which would 

 seem to remind a Christian visitor of the duties 

 of chanty, and to think of the poor. His charit- 

 able feelings, however, are immediately checked 

 when he learns the object of these boxes, for the 

 label on them announces that the collections in 

 them are " for feeding hungry demons ; " and 

 then follows a promise that " his merit will be 

 consolidated." Nothing can show the fearful 

 superstition of these idol-worshippers more than 

 this fact. Let us be thankful that we are 

 taught far better things in this country. 



