BEGGING PEIESTS. 
249 
and pressed me to partake of a pipe, and a tiny 
measure of pink scented saki. In fact, nothing 
could exceed the courteous politeness and the 
generous hospitality of the natives of this place. 
On returning to the ship, I had the satisfaction 
of seeing one of those interminable processions of 
followers belonging to some neighbouring Kami or 
Daimio. It was both a novel and imposing sight. 
The horses were richly caparisoned, and covered 
with sho’wy, embroidered trappings ; footmen bore 
aloft numerous quaint emblems, and banners with 
elaborate devices ; two-sworded men swaggered with 
great state among the sho^vy throng, inflated, appa- 
rently, with an overweening consciousness of their 
own dignity and importance. 
While rambling in the streets my attention was 
particularly directed to two mysterious creatures 
with their heads concealed in huge bee-hive like 
helmets, who were playing dismal tunes on bamboo 
flageolets. These I was told were begging priests, 
who wander from door to door, doleful, dreary, and 
blindfold, soliciting alms. I was much please'd 
