20 DRESS OF JAPANESE VISITORS. [1845. 



at the waist, in which two swords were inserted. The 

 legs were covered with very neat stockings, of a substance 

 very much resembling our white jean, the seam being on 

 the anterior and posterior parts ; a very slight sandal is 

 worn, but when they found themselves at ease in the cabin, 

 these were thrown aside and they preferred the eastern 

 habit of drawing their legs up under them. The head is 

 shaven from the temples backward on each side, denuding 

 a horse-shoe space in front, with a central lock, advancing 

 slightly before the crown. The hair is very neatly worked 

 back on all sides with some oleaginous compound, and 

 secured by a knot behind ; no hat or other covering for the 

 head was noticed, the fan or umbrella being mostly used 

 to intercept the sun's rays. Their swords deserve especial 

 notice, and amongst themselves their degrees of rank or 

 importance are typified by the devices of the hilt. The 

 larger one is about two feet six inches in length and 

 slightly curved, the hilt occupying about nine or ten inches 

 of this length, and affording an impression that it might 

 be intended to be used with two hands. It has a circular 

 cupped guard piece of metal, about two inches in diameter 

 where the blade is inserted, but more for ornament than 

 use ; the knob is also of metal, probably gold. The most 

 important part appeared to be the armorial device in gold, 

 which is placed upon the outer side of the hilt very neatly 

 worked over with braiding, apparently of fine hair, so as 

 still to admit of its being clearly distinguished. This 

 they appeared to conceal from our scutiny, and it was 

 owing to my tracing the connexion between a young man 

 very genteelly clad, and his follower having the outline 

 of this same badge, worked on the shoulder of his mantle, 



