Chap. HI. PROCESSIONS. 43 
by their whole court, and travel with a pomp and 
magnificence, becoming as well their own quality 
and riches as the majesty of the powerful monarch 
whom they are going to see. The train of some 
of the most eminent fills up the road for some 
days.” 
If two or more of these Daimios should chance 
to be travelling the same road, at the same time, 
they would prove a great hindrance to one another, 
particularly if they should happen to meet at the 
same post-house or village. This is avoided by 
giving timely notice, and by engaging the inns 
and post-houses a month or six weeks beforehand. 
The time of their intended arrival is also notified 
in all the cities, villages, and hamlets, by putting 
up small boards on high poles of bamboo, signify- 
ing in a few characters what day of the month 
such and such a lord will be at that place to dine 
and sleep there. 
When the retinue of the great man has passed 
by, the stream of every-day life flows on along the 
great Tokaido as before. No carts are used on 
this part of the road. Everything is carried on 
pack-horses, and these are passing along the road 
in great numbers all day long. Each horse is 
loaded with a pile of boxes and packages— a for- 
midable size oftentimes, surmounted by a man in 
a large broad-brimmed straw hat, who, from his 
exalted position, is guiding the movements of his 
horse. Generally, however, when passing through 
towns, the horses are led by the drivers. In addi- 
