296 
CRUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGES. 
in sight. All were eagerly watching the beautiful 
scenery which from time to time presented itself, 
until at length we anchored off Kobe, in the Bay of 
Osaka. On either side were towering peaks covered 
with vegetation to their very summits, and shady 
groves, among which appeared temples, and pretty 
cottages, not altogether unlike those seen in Switzer- 
land ; while stretching along the bund before us is 
the foreign concession, with its hotels, clubs, and 
consular residences, its regular terraces and streets 
of prim stucco-fronted houses and villas, forming 
as great a contrast as possible to the surrounding 
scene. 
It was high holiday duriug a portion of our stay 
here; everybody enfete. Opportunities were there- 
fore presented to us of seeing some of the religious 
ceremonies and processions for which Japan is so 
famous. The streets were gaily decorated with flags 
and festoons of brightly coloured lanterns ; little 
chapels, gilded and varnished, dedicated to local 
deities, and quaintly carved cars filled with musicians, 
whose drums and gongs sounded in harsh and dis- 
cordant clashes, were carried by coolies on bamboo 
poles ; vehicles drawn by girls and boys, gaily 
dressed, in which were local celebrities, priests and 
others ; ladies and courtesans followed in palanquins, 
amidst a host of banners. These processions were 
kept up for several days, and the festivities con- 
tinued until late in the evening, when the city was 
