IS8 Japan and the Japaitese, 
the religious edifices and symbols. Buddhas erect, but 
without noses, moss and lichen-covered, here and there, 
with strips of pink cloth tied round their necks, and Bud- 
dhas prostrate among grass and weeds everywhere. One 
passes hundreds of these in a day's journey." 
The same writer also mentions one very curious, and 
superstitious custom connected with the death of women in 
child-birth, and akin to the Romish purgatory. She says 
that she often wondered at seeing a coarse cloth suspended 
over a stream, its four corners being tied to as many bamboo 
poles. Near it, generally by the side of the path, there was 
always to be seen a small narrow tablet, containing an in- 
scription, and the name of the poor woman thus snatched 
away by death. According to popular belief, a poor woman 
dying at this crisis of her life, is thus snatched away as a 
punishment for sins committed in a former state of being, 
and will undoubtedly expiate in the Lake of Blood, — one of 
the Buddhist hells, — this sin, whatever it may be. The cloth 
erected on the bamboo poles, appeals to every passer-by, to 
pour out prayers for the release of the poor woman from 
this hell or purgatory. And they are expected to pray for 
her soul, by pouring dippers full of water upon the cloth, A 
dipper is always kept by the tablet, and each passer-by 
piously pours one or more dippers full of water upon the 
cloth, leaving it to strain through. Each bowlful of water 
forms a prayer, according to the popular notion ; and the 
woman is not set free from purgatory, until the cloth is so 
worn and thin in the centre that the water falls through at 
once. It is essential that the cloth should be bought at a 
temple, otherwise the prayers are of no use. It is said that 
the rich pay the priests more money, in order to get a cloth 
woven, or scraped thin in the middle, so as to secure the 
desired end, sooner. This sort of prayer for the dead, 
