340 HARA-KIRU. 



matting was then removed, and the suicide proceeded 

 to rip open his abdomen with a short sword ; frequently 

 a trusty retainer would stand behind him with another 

 naked sword to decapitate him at the same moment. 

 This was done especially where the Government 

 required his death for treason, or other deadly offence, 

 in which case proof was required, and the head was 

 afterwards exposed on a pole in some conspicuous place 

 on the citadel ; but, I was told, that the same custom 

 prevailed where the performance of hara-kiru became 

 obligatory to avenge dishonour from j^rivate cause. 

 Here decapitation was resorted to from motives of hu- 

 manity ; in fact, the actual disembowelling was more a 

 matter of form, at least, so my interpreter explained 

 to me. 



I returned to Yokohama by a native steamer, on 

 board of which there were a great many passengers ; 

 amongst them a young Japanese Prince, with a large 

 suite, and the sea being boisterous, these gentlemen 

 unintentionally behaved in a very undignified manner. 

 We passed a number of junks carrying peculiar square 

 sails, consisting of four to six strips of canvas joined 

 together by open lacing to break the force of the wind 

 in case of a sudden squall, the outer strips being mostly 

 yellow or black. The steamer was comfortable, but 

 not fast, for it took us five hours to reach our 

 destination 



