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The good-roads movement, which has 
made such progress in our own land 
since the automobile became popular, has 
not yet reached the interior of the Mi- 
kado’s realm, so everything has to be 
carried on the shoulders or back. In our 
observation most of the burden-bearers 
were women. ‘The reason for this was 
not apparent, and was certainly not be- 
cause of any inclination toward laziness 
on the part of the men, for they all work 
in Japan. On some of the mountain 
trails picturesque though pathetic in- 
stances of the overloading of the little 
women were occasionally met. 
Little is known of the origin of the 
“torri.”” Some writers claim its form is 
a derivation of the Chinese character 
meaning heaven, and that it was intro- 
duced into Japan with the Shinto cult, 
while others state that it was originally 
a perch for the sacred birds. The torri 
is one of the most picturesque objects 
peculiar, to! jjapan: Wt marks the ap- 
proach to both Shinto and Buddhist tem- 
ples, those belonging to the former being 
sometimes distinguished by a piece of 
rope stretched along the cross-beam, 
which symbolizes purity. ‘To this rope 
is also attributed the power of protec- 
tion from evil spirits. 
A large and most picturesque torri is 
at Miyajima, the sacrc4 island of Japan. 
Standing out in the sands a quarter of a 
mile from shore at high tide, it is a very 
conspicuous object in the beautiful bay. 
If attractive in the daytime (see page 
983), it is doubly so under the light of 
the moon (see page 982). 
The swinging log (page 971) proves 
that the playground movement is not 
confined to America, ‘This novel amuse- 
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 
ment was very popular with the young- 
sters of Nara, and some of them were 
quite expert in keeping their footing 
when it was 1n motion. 
Throughout Japan May 5 has a pecu- 
liar significance. This is indicated by 
the strange baglike fish banners seen 
floating from the flagstaffs, distended to 
their full size by the wind. The banners 
proclaim that some time during the pre- 
ceding 12 months the stork has made a 
visit and left a small boy, and the friends 
of the family have greeted him with carp 
flags instead of flowers (see page 987). 
Judging from the numerous homes 
displaying these emblems, his storkship 
must have worked overtime. Various 
reasons are given why the carp, of which 
our goldfish is a variety, was chosen for 
this purpose. On the occasions of large 
dinners, as an especial feature, a live 
carp is served on a board, each guest 
cutting a piece, which is afterwards 
eaten raw. The fish is said to endure 
the carving without a flinch, which 
makes him an emblem of bravery. His 
other qualification lies in his ability to 
swim a stream against the current, even 
to ascending a waterfall, symbolizing 
that he overcomes every obstacle. 
If we criticise the Japanese in some 
of their ways, the fact remains that in 
many directions we could very profitably 
profit from them; for, all in all, where 
can be found a more happy or contented 
people? Two elements which contribute 
much to this condition appeared to us to 
be the simple life, which is so much 
talked of but so seldom realized in our 
own land, and their love of the beautiful 
in nature and considerateness for others, 
as evidenced in their extreme courtesy. 
