KANASAWA. 353 



Kamakoura, the ancient capital of Japan, to a great 

 extent destroyed, in the twelfth century, during the 

 civil wars. There is a very fine temple here, situated 

 within the enclosure of a handsome park ; and I must 

 not omit to mention a famous stone monument sup- 

 ported by an old tree. It stands three feet high, and 

 is called Omanko-Sama ; upon its surface a yoni is 

 roughly sculptured, and women make long pilgrimages 

 to visit the sacred symbol. The tree itself is covered 

 with ex-voto offerings. How this remnant of Hindu 

 worship got here I was unable to ascertain ; it is the 

 only one I have heard of in Japan-proper. 



To Daibouts, another famous temple containing an 

 enormous bronze statue of Buddha, fifty feet high, is 

 one mile off. The whole of this trip is best made on 

 horseback, and the return journey along the bay of 

 Missisippi to the island of Inosima is very pretty ; the 

 latter, about four miles distant in a south-westerly 

 direction, is considered sacred ground, inhabited in 

 olden times by the good genii ; there is also a grotto 

 here worth visiting, half a mile long. The entire trip 

 can comfortably be made in two days, stopping the 

 night at Kamakoura, where there is a capital tea- 

 liouse. 



There are other fine rides within easy reach of 

 Yokohama, as that to the English racecourse, and 



AA 



