ANTIQUITY OF TOBACCO-SMOKING 135 



they crave for ; but these women are of no account in the 

 general estimate of the sum of Western domestic life; 

 their voices are loud, but their judgment is weak. On the 

 other hand, there are in Europe ladies of the highest rank 

 who, out of pure love of doing good, devote the best part 

 of their lives and fortunes to the noble purpose of relieving 

 the needs of the destitute, and raising the lowly and 

 suffering into better estate. Little room then for 

 wonder that Englishmen are proud to do them honour.' 

 Though appeased in some measure, he was not wholly con- 

 vinced that danger was not somewhere lurking in their 

 alluring argument. Let it be noted, however, that young 

 Japan is outgrowing such apprehensions ; he is no longer 

 restive under the restraints imposed upon his primitive 

 habits, and his conception of the relationship of the sexes 

 is in accord with European ideas. Western ideas, indeed, 

 are his ideas ; and, he shows how fully he recognises the 

 superiority of European civilization, by equipping himself 

 with all the most destructive engines of warfare. 



Like the workmen of the busy cities, the Japanese 

 peasant carries with him wherever he goes his pipe and 

 tobacco-pouch slung to his obi, a. bright-coloured girdle, 

 made usually of a peculiar kind of silk interwoven with 

 flowers. They hang behind, suspended from a silken 

 cord fastened to the obi by means of a netzuke — a 

 sort of carved button made of cornelian or agate. 

 Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, their peculiar 

 smoking apparatus does not lend itself readily to in- 

 dulgence while at work or when walking. To enjoy the 

 solace of the weed, the smoker must squat on the ground 

 and array his smoking utensils in order; but this little 

 drawback seldom hinders him. When the desire for the 

 pipe comes upon him it must be appeased; and is it not 



