194 JAPANESE CUSTOMS AND HABITS. 



Their bath system I have previously spoken about. 

 Not only are their private and public baths so elaborate 

 and complete, and such national institutions ; but in 

 their more ordinary ablutions they are equally parti' 

 cular. Winter and summer are alike as regards their 

 predilection for water. Our own poorer classes generally 

 have the greatest objection to look at water, whether it 

 be summer or winter. 



A young lady in Japan has her hair dressed and 

 done up about once a week. The operation is long and 

 expensive. It is kept in place by a quantity of paste ; 

 and not to disturb it during the night, the pillow is a 

 small wooden stool with a cushion on it, on which the 

 neck only rests, the hair being innocent of any bonnet 

 de nuit. They have masses of black coarse hair, 

 which, when well combed and brushed, and allowed to 

 fall loose over the shoulders, looks very well. The 

 children's heads are always shaved until they are about 

 six years old. A little tuft is left on one side for a few 

 months ; it is then shaved off, and another little tuft 

 allowed to grow. These queer little patches are orna- 

 mented with different-coloured bits of ribbon, and if 

 not picturesque, are certainly quaint and peculiar to 

 the Japanese. 



In their little gardens, which I have also previously 



