FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS, 1885-1887. 995 



are inserted in the Japanese Hiragana: The reverse pages have been utilized by the 

 collector for many excellent photographs made by Japanese during 1874 S photo! 

 graphic art then having been only a few years known there. They embrTe , ario* 

 scenes, such as the most famous shrines, temples, and parks 



Case 86. In the western division of this case will be found a variety of specimens 

 of Japanese works m bronze and in lacquer, all of which are the production of the 

 most renowned artists of Old Japan, such as GOTO Saburo, of Kioto 



No. 76 is a delicately executed carving in bronze, representing an eagle upon a rock 



surprised by a serpent crawling from under his perch. Nothing can excel this speci- 



ien, either m the workmanship or the expression with which the artist has inspired 



No. 77. A beautifully enameled holder for a Japanese pencil or brush-pen. 

 No. 78. An oval vase, carved in a most elaborate manner to represent a religious 

 procession winding around an eminence. Pilgrimages to famous sacred mountains 

 are considered very meritorious acts among the Japanese. 



No. 79. This piece is wrought out of the root of a shrub, and represents birds treed 

 by dogs. This is an artistic delineation of a peculiar tendency of the Japanese to 

 study nature in all its forms, and to work into a significant shape every old stump or 

 root which, in their imagination, resembles a living form of man or beast. 



No. 80. One of the Seven Patrons of Husbandry, mounted upon a mythical animal 

 resembling a reindeer. It is in gold bronze, and is a most spirited piece. He is sup- 

 posed to be on an errand of mercy. 

 No. 81. Bamboo cigar holder. 



No. 82. A beautiful chow-chow box. A chow-chow box is a convenient arrange- 

 ment for serving up for a guest a meal of several courses. It is generally made of 

 wood or papier-mache, finely laid on lacquer. It is divided into sections (in this 

 case four), held in place by a conveniently arranged handle. This serves not only to 

 keep the contents warm, but to keep them from slopping over. One of these is 

 placed before each guest as they are seated upon the matted floor, and a pretty Japa- 

 nese maiden is always in attendance kneeling, ready to replenish the food when 

 required. One of these sections may contain fish, another rice, another soup from 

 the seaweed, and a fourth the vegetable daikon, or colossal silver radish, which com- 

 prises the principal menu of the Japanese. 



No. 83. A large scarf box, of pure gold lacquer, from the Tycoon's collection. 

 No. 84. Gold-lacquered tray. 



No. 85. A gold-lacquered hibachi (thehibachi, or fire brazier). "The hibachi, or 

 fire brazier," says Professor Griffis, "is to the Japanese household what the hearth 

 or fireplace is in an Occidental home. Around it friends meet; the family gathers; 

 parents consult; children play; the cat purrs, and the little folks listen to fairy 

 legends of household lore from nurse and grandma." The hibachi is always found 

 in a Japanese house in some form often in bronze carved into fantastic shapes. It 

 is an indispensable requisite, and constant one to light the pipe; for the Japanese of 

 both sexes and of all ages and conditions smoke. Time is allowed for every laborer 

 in the progress of his daily employment to "take a smoke." The Japanese pipe 

 which accompanies the hibachi is made with a tiny bowl. After long mechanical 

 practice the nimble fingers, with automatic precision, roll up the small pellet of the 

 gossamer-cut tobacco in size just to fit the bowl of hisjsipe. This he touches to the 

 glowing coal in the ubiquitous hibachi, and after one, or, at most two, very deliber- 

 ate puffs, the pipe is emptied and a fresh pellet prepared. A native will sit by the 

 hour mechanically rolling up these- tobacco pills, oblivious, apparently, to all sur- 

 roundings, and the exactness with which he forms his pellets to fit his pipe is won- 

 derful. A shrewd judge once discovered the thief who had stolen his gold-mounted 

 pipe by noticing a suspected person engaged in preparing his pellets to fill his pipe. 

 He saw him draw from its pouch his golden pipe and commence abstractedly to 



