1894.] ESSAYS. 61 



in a particular directiou, and showmen say they have a display of skill 

 to show. The faces of the persons represented are carved in wood or 

 plaster, but all else is illustrated by arrangement of chrysanthemum 

 Howers. They are done in this manner : A frame is made of bam- 

 boo ; the flowers — still on the plants, which are arranged behind the 

 frame — are drawn through the frame and held in place by a packing 

 of moss; all the colors are used necessary to complete the costume 

 and the character illustrated, and being still attached to the stems and 

 roots of the plants on which they grew, which are invisible to the 

 visitor, retain their freshness thirty days. This is a very popular 

 exhibition, to which the populace go in crowds, as one of the great 

 events of the year. Other places in the vicinity of Tokio which I 

 visited were Megura, Asakusa, Simei-Iriya, Hauka Yen, Senzokuinura 

 and Kusubunat-Honjo. On Sunday afternoon, after leaving the 

 chrysanthemum show, I came upon a large concourse of people, evi- 

 dently holding a celebration. There were at least 60,000 men, women 

 and children. Horse-racing, dancing and games were in progress, and 

 all appeared delighted. As I drew near, a host of happy, smiling 

 little girls surrounded me, apparently attracted by my size, which is 

 much above that of the average Japanese. I never before saw so 

 large a crowd so orderly in conduct. The Lotus gardens in Tokio 

 cover seven acres of land — or mud. This flower is very popular 

 there, as to that people it represents purity and virtue, single-minded- 

 ness and usefulness. 



From Tokio I went to Nikho, a great city upon the rise of a hill, 

 noted for its magnificent temples ; and its picturesque situation upon 

 a range of lofty hills affords a view of grand scenery. Nature was 

 in her best garb ; decked in the richest autumn tints. I counted 

 twenty-four varieties of shrubs upon twenty-five feet square of 

 ground, and felt sure there must be some valuable plants as yet undis- 

 covered by us. I was carried up the mountain-side in a basket borne 

 by four men. From one point I saw, at the foot of a ravine, a shrub 

 covered with red berries, and climbing down to it, found it to be a 

 strange variety of barberry. I gathered the fruit, brought it home, 

 and have plants now growing for future use. 



On another similar excursion I secured about one hundred varieties 

 of seeds from plants growing there. In wandering about the city of 

 Nikho, I sometimes found curious plants, and occasionally obtained 

 one or more of them or the fruit. The next place visited was Mine- 

 osta, thence via. Shidyawa and Yagoya to Kioto, where we remained 

 a week. It was once the capital of Japan, and is now one of 



