142 
RECEPTION AT THE INN. 
Chap. IX. 
altars. Otherwise it was not remarkable, and was 
far inferior to the chief temples commonly met with 
in China. 
When we got back to the inn of “ Ten Thousand 
Centuries ” a number of the waiting-maids of the 
place came running out to welcome us with the 
usual “ Ohio,” or “ Good morning ; how do you 
do?” of the Japanese. I know that the main 
object of all this excessive civility is to bring custom 
to the establishment, and sundry itzeebus* out of the 
pockets of the traveller ; but after all, there is much 
gratification in a kind reception, and it is not worth 
while to look too closely into the motives of those 
who give it. In the present instance we had had a 
long walk over a dry hard road, the sun had been 
hot, and we were glad to accept the invitation 
given to us by the pretty damsels to enter the inn 
and refresh ourselves after our journey. The same 
scene was now exhibited as I have already described 
at the “ Mansion of Plum-trees.” A low square 
table was placed before me, covered with different 
kinds of sweet cakes, dried fruits, and cups of tea. 
The young girls of the tea-house, kneeling in front 
and on each side of me, poured out my tea, and 
begged me to eat of the cakes and fruits, while one 
of them busied herself in taking the shells off some 
hard-boiled eggs, dipping them in salt, and putting 
them to my mouth. Surely all this was enough to 
satisfy and refresh the most weary traveller, and to 
send him on his way rejoicing. 
