Chap. XIII. INTERVAL IN SERVICE. 219 
After leaving me, the congregation returned to 
the little temple in which they had been wor- 
shipping ; and the singing, with the tinkling of 
bells and cymbals, went on as before. All at once 
the sounds ceased, and I concluded that the services 
of the day were over. In this, however, I was mis- 
taken ; for shortly afterwards I heard sounds of 
merriment, very different from those devotional 
ones which had preceded them. I was therefore 
induced to visit the congregation a second time, in 
order to satisfy my curiosity. When I reached the 
court in front of the temple a curious scene pre- 
sented itself to my eyes. There was the same con- 
gregation in the same room in which they had been 
so devout a short time before, now engaged drink- 
ing saki, and already — judging from the loud 
laugh which was going round, and the boisterous 
merriment — somewhat under its influence. When 
I was perceived in front of the door the intelligence 
was quickly passed round the room, and I was re- 
ceived by the assembly with a scream of delight. 
The hospitality of these people, in so far as saki 
was concerned, was boundless ; and many invita- 
tions were given me to join the various groups, 
and to pledge them in cups of the favourite national 
stimulant. As saki, however, is not a favourite of 
mine, I respectfully refused their offers, with many 
thanks, and considered that the most prudent course 
for me to pursue, under the circumstances, would 
be to beat a retreat. But if I had any fears that 
this little carousal would end unpleasantly , these 
