TEMPLES OF YEDDO. 329 



heads were shaven. Along the entire front of the 

 temple there was a double row of stone pillars, six feet 

 high, siu'mounted by a capital, something like a large 

 hall-lamp in shape ; these had been erected in pairs by 

 the Damios as marks of respect for the Tycoon, in 

 whose memory the temple had been raised ; and a 

 similar group, but of bronze, was at the base of the 

 steps leading to the tomb itself, j^l^ced there by 

 Princes of the highest grade. 



The other temples were very similar in arrangement, 

 althouofh not so lar^-e; most of them contained 

 numerous little stands, or stools, arranged alongside 

 the screens, holding boxes of peculiar shape, which 

 contained rolls of manuscripts expounding the titles, 

 deeds, and pedigree of the deceased; and at the back of 

 one of the handsomest temples, belonging to the tomb 

 of the Sixth Tycoon, golden gates opened upon steps 

 leadino; to a kind of sanctuarv furnished with altars, 

 which were groaning undei- a weight of offerings in 

 bronzes, rolls of magnificent silks, also fruit and sweet- 

 meats which the priests deliglit in. 



Temples are plentiful in Japan, and many are filled 

 with thousands oi cx-roto ofierings, suspended from the 

 walls ; legs, arms, hair, pictures representing ship- 

 wrecks and other dangers, much like those exposed in 

 the rural churches in the Tyrol and elsewhere. Not 



