298 
CBUISE OF E.M.S. CHALLENGES. 
Close at hand a new temple had been reared, and 
was now to he dedicated to the service of Buddha, 
in whose honour theatricals and dances were onward. 
The entertainments presented were so peculiar, and 
so beautiful were the dresses and decorations worn 
by those taking part in it, that we could not fail to 
enjoy the spectacle thoroughly. 
The ladies of the household, Noriko and Satshiko, 
two of our host’s sisters, and other friends w T ere 
present, to whom the strangers were introduced. 
They were very pretty women. One in particular 
I may mention, whose jet black hair, ornamented with 
amber and tortoiseshell combs, was bound up into 
thick masses at the back of the head with flowers 
and ribbons, and further decorated with a number 
of gold and silver arrows, and similar ornaments. 
Her costume was very beautiful — pale grey crape, 
embroidered with gold and silver, and a profusion of 
flowers. It was lined with a bright blue silk quilting, 
which formed a train on the ground. Only a part, 
however, was visible, as the silken belt round the 
waist allowed it to open only very slightly. Over 
this she wore a broad sash of dark colour, embroidered 
in gold, and tied in a very large knot behind. This 
was the obi. The sleeves were long, and reached 
nearly to the ground. All the colours of the dresses 
worn by the company harmonised so beautifully that, 
although there was a most brilliant collection of tints, 
the aspect was most pleasing. The Japanese in- 
