154 
Japan and the Japanese, 
pride : only sons of good families were trained in the manu- 
facture of the weapon ; the direst breaches of etiquette as well 
as personal insults, were given, and expiated by the sword, 
and it was not deemed polite to draw the weapon from its 
sheath, without first asking consent of all persons present. 
Before many, if not all of the Buddhist temples, may 
be noticed two dreadful images, called " Nios,'' or temple 
guards. The figures are carved to represent grinning demons, 
and are fixed, one on each side of the entrance, in a kind 
of recess. It is customary for many Buddhist worshippers 
to offer petitions to these idols, in the following strange way. 
On coming to the entrance, they chew pieces of paper into 
small round balls, and fling these little wet pellets at the 
figures. Supposing they fall off on to the ground, their 
prayers are rejected ; but should they stick to the figure, the 
Japanese believe most firmly that their petitions are heard, 
and will be answered. These wooden demons are generally 
painted, the one red, and the other green, while the avenue 
leading up to the entrance, is lined on either side, with 
stalls and shops for the sale of toys, and keepsakes of the 
temple. The approaches to such temples are crowded 
nearly all day with men, women, and children, while beggars 
wait around to collect alms. In front, at one side of the 
doorway, is a tank of holy water, where worshippers wash 
their faces and hands, before presuming to enter the temple 
itself. At the farther end of the building is a lighted altar, 
surrounded with priests, in richly coloured robes. Each 
worshipper is expected to contribute some offering, more 
or less, according to his means, on approaching the altar. 
Beside throwing wet pellets of paper at the idol, some 
worshippers use strings of beads, to aid their devotions. 
At Nara, is an immense, and ancient Buddhist temple, 
dedicated to the great Dai-Butsu. The entrance is guarded 
