124 
NIPON-BAS — AH-SAX-SAW. 
Chap. VIII. 
and are most useful in a country like this, where 
fires occur so frequently. Wooden watch-towers 
were also numerous in all parts of the city. These 
are posts of observation, from which a fire can 
he observed at a distance and an alarm given. 
Buckets of water were seen in every street, and 
frequently on the tops of the houses ; and a kind 
of fire-police are continually on the watch by night 
and by day, ready to give instant notice and 
assistance. 
After riding in an easterly direction for some 
time, we arrived at the celebrated Nipon-JBas , or 
“ Bridge of Japan.” This crosses a canal which is 
fed by a river a little to the south of the bridge, 
and which is apparently connected with the moat 
which encircles the official quarter and the palace 
of the Tycoon. The bridge is a strong wooden 
structure resting on piles, and riveted together 
with massive clamps of iron. To a foreign eye 
there is nothing very remarkable in its appear- 
ance ; but by the Japanese it is considered one of 
the wonders of Yedo. From this bridge the dis- 
tances to all parts of the empire are measured in ri ; 
and hence it is usual to say, such a place is so 
many ri distant — not from Yedo, but — from Nipon- 
Bas. A ri is about equal to two and a half English 
miles. 
A ride of about two hours brought us to Ah-sax- 
saw. Its massive temple was seen looming at the 
further end of a broad avenue. An ornamental 
arch, or . gateway, was thrown across the avenue, 
