MIMIC PROCESSIONS. 
presents a striking and curious appearance to the 
stranger who looks upon it for the first time. 
One day, during my walks in Nagasaki, I had an 
opportunity of seeing some extraordinary proces- 
sions. The first one I saw consisted of a number 
of men dressed up as Chinamen, who were supr 
porting a huge dragon, and making it wriggle 
about in an extraordinary manner. Another pro- 
cession consisted of little children, some so small 
that they could hardly walk, who were dressed in 
the Dutch military costume — cocked hats, tailed- 
coats with epaulets, dress swords, and everything 
in the first style, closely resembling Mynheer on 
gala-days, when the trade of Japan was all his 
own, and Desima — dear little prison — his abiding 
place. In this procession, Dutch fraus and frau- 
leins were duly represented, and truth compels me 
to say that they were never shown off to more 
advantage. The procession was accompanied by 
a band, dressed up also in an appropriate manner : 
they had European instruments, and played Euro- 
pean music. The day was fine ; thousands of 
people lined the streets, flags were hung from every 
window, and altogether the scene was most amusing. 
I followed the procession through the principal 
streets, and then up to a large temple situated on 
the hill-side above the town. Here the infantine 
troop was put through various military manoeu- 
vres, which were executed in a most creditable 
manner. I was amused at the gravity with which 
everything was done — each child looked as if it was 
