344 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



towns where the foreign element is strong, nevertheless serves to 

 reflect with considerable truth the attitude of so many — so very 

 many — foreigners toward the women of Japan. 



In Japanese households the concubine or mekake occupies a 

 position similar to that of a servant, so far as her rights are con- 

 cerned. The wife is always the mistress of the house, and looks 

 upon her husband's mekake in the light of a maid. Should the 

 concubine become a mother, she has no claim upon the child, who 

 belongs to her master and mistress, and who is taught to regard 

 them only as his natural parents. Indeed, most frequently a 



The Great Temple Gate of Yengakcji. 



mekake is employed in a family for the sole purpose of securing 

 an heir ; and no sooner has the child been born and weaned, than 

 the concubine is discharged. 



The mekake has no prerogatives above the other servants of 

 the house, and is subject to immediate dismissal whenever the 

 master of the house desires it. No pseudo-marriage, such as sug- 

 gested by Pierre Loti, ever exists between the master of the house 

 and the mekake. She is simply a convenience, and has been se- 

 cured from some employment bureau, just as any other servant, 

 and receives regular wages. 



