LAPDOGS. 
Chap. VI. 
ous way. On many of them the marks of the sharp 
swords of the yakoneens were plainly visible; 
and everything tended to show, that, if the dogs 
are regarded as sacred by some, the feeling fails 
to secure them from being cruelly ill-treated by 
the common people. It was not unusual to meet 
with wretched specimens in a half-starved condi- 
tion, and covered with a loathsome disease. The 
fact that such animals were tolerated in the 
public streets almost leads one to believe that they 
must he regarded with superstitious feelings. 
The lapdogs of the country are highly prized 
both by natives and by foreigners. They are 
small — some of them not more than nine or ten 
inches in length. They are remarkable for snub- 
noses and sunken eyes, and are certainly more 
curious than beautiful. They are carefully bred ; 
they command high prices even amongst the 
Japanese; and are dwarfed, it is said, by the use 
of saki — a spirit to which their owners are par- 
ticularly partial. Like those of the larger breed 
already noticed, they are remarkable for the intense 
hatred they hear to foreigners. 
After a most pleasant excursion we found our- 
selves at the gates of the British Legation, just as 
it was getting dark. The evenings were now cold, 
and some new stoves had been put up in the 
dining-room. The first gong had sounded, and 
we were getting ready for dinner — a meal for 
which the excursion into the country had fully 
prepared us. But the day was not to end so 
