320 TIIK KSCORT. 



wliole of these establishniei)t,s have disappeared, and 

 tlie princes, having been shoiii of all their former 

 power, even to the abandonment of their soldiery, have 

 retired to the position of landed proprietors, in v^hich, 

 owing to theii- wealth, they now add greatly to the 

 material increase of the agricultural resources of Japan. 

 In the second place, and occupying a much smaller 

 space than the former used to do, is the city where the 

 principal merchants reside. Each block of houses, the 

 streets being built at right angles, is secured by a 

 strong gateway closed at night and always guarded, 

 and between the yamascas and the city are several 

 temples, notably the " Mondseki," the largest Buddhist 

 monument, or tcra ; and " Sanno," the principal 

 mias, dedicated to Sintuism. The third division of 

 Yeddo, and by far the largest, is called Midsi, which is 

 the lower quarter of the town. This also contains the 

 yosiwara, of which hereafter ; a great theatre, Oki- 

 Chipaya, and many religious edifices and tombs; amongst 

 the latter that of the Tycoons, within a beautiful park, 

 and surrounded by thirty-eight temples ; and beyond, 

 stretching westward, is the notorious suburb Sinagova, 

 one of the worst quarters, through which it is not safe 

 for Europeans to pass without a strong escort ; indeed, 

 even in 1871 the latter was necessary throughout Yeddo, 

 at least, the Japanese Government insisted upon 



