PAST AND PEESENT. 2 1 3 



ing place were laid out in true Japanese fashion: 

 small ponds, cascades, tiny hills, with plains interven- 

 ing, diminiitive forests, as well as flowers, and domestic 

 gardening. IText day at noon we visited the Prince at 

 his castle, a great massive building, three miles off, 

 surrounded with a moat and fortifications. The recep- 

 tion was most cordial and kind. We all dined with 

 him that evening, and were regaled sumptuously. The 

 Princess, who had never seen a foreigner, sat at table, 

 in compliment to our minister's wife. Her behaviour 

 was most perfect, entirely free from curiosity or stiff- 

 ness, and just as if she had been accustomed to similar 

 entertainments all her life. After dinner the Prince 

 asked his guests what they would lilce to do next day. 

 Some placing themselves in his hands were taken out 

 to see curious old ruins, fourteen mUes away. The 

 whole road had been cleaned and swept for the occasion, 

 and every native who was seen went down on his knees 

 as the cavalcade passed. 



My choice — which was also that of our consul — 

 was to shoot. "Then," said our host, "you shall go 

 to my preserve." About noon next day half a dozen 

 lancers escorted us some miles further into the exten- 

 sive plain which surrounds the city. Here we entered 

 an artificially made and laid out wood, and, following 



