Chap. VIII. COMMERCIAL QUARTER OP YEDO. 
121 
wooden box being dropped over its cage. This 
box has a small paper window, in order to admit 
a little subdued light. In this condition it sings 
charmingly, and has a full, clear, ringing note, 
wonderfully loud for so small a bird. The Japan- 
ese name of this little songster is Ogo-yezu. 
After breakfast the Abbe and I mounted our 
horses, and, accompanied by our two sets of yako- 
neens, set out to visit the temple of Ah-sax-saw, 
which lies on the eastern or south-eastern side of 
Yedo. Our route led us, not only through a 
portion of the “official quarter,” which I had 
frequently visited, but also through the main 
streets of the trading part of the city. I confess I 
was rather disappointed. The streets were much 
wider and cleaner than those of the Chinese towns ; 
but the contents of the shops appeared to be of 
little value. One must, however, bear in mind 
that Yedo is not a manufacturing or trading town 
in the usual sense in which the term is used. 
Hence, perhaps, I ought to have expected to see 
only the necessaries, or perhaps a few of the luxu- 
ries of life, exhibited in the shops here. Silk and 
cotton shops were numerous, and, if they did not 
obtain custom, it was not for want of the use of 
means. Men and boys were stationed in front of 
the doors trying all their arts to induce the passers- 
by to go in and spend their money. Lacquer-ware, 
bronzes, and porcelain were exhibited in abun- 
dance, as were also umbrellas, pipes, toys, and 
paper made up into every conceivable article. 
