The Days of a Man 



The advent of the fish-god, moreover, occasioned 

 even greater excitement than at Onomichi. The 

 whole community was wrought up. Children and 

 women searched the fish boxes and rubbish heaps if 

 haply they might find something salable. Never less 

 than thirty children followed me about constantly, 

 till I felt like Kipling's Kangaroo chased by the 

 Dingo in his search for popularity. One bright, 

 naked little lad worked all the rock crevices with 

 hook and line, using a towel for net, and brought 

 us a host of remarkable things of value, thus 

 earning two yen a day. Some offered insects, 

 especially the musical cicadas the Japanese cherish 

 in cages. 



As a community, the people impressed one as 

 capable and intelligent but extremely primitive. The 

 village giant, a six-foot blacksmith weighing some 

 pounds, followed me around mournfully. The 



biggest man ever seen at Wakanoura up to that time, 

 his supremacy had now departed. He said nothing, 

 but felt once or twice of my^ arms to see if I were 

 really as big as I looked! 



A little girl about ten years old, totally different 

 from the rest of the family, whiter than the others 

 and with a distinct suggestion of French blood, inter- 

 ested me greatly. There was doubtless a story behind 

 it all. She lived in a mere hut. The fisherman father 

 wore only a loin cloth; mother and grandmother had 

 the blackened teeth of the humble peasant and went 

 about their affairs clad in only a coarse skirt. An 

 older sister was as guileless as a half-grown heifer and 

 A little as careless of appearances. Yet this child had all the 

 lady grace of manner of a high-born lady and a sense of 

 personal pride wholly foreign to her family and 



C 40 D 



