JAPANESE WOMEN. 
315 
JCYl.] 
necks. Unfortunately they are often disfigured by paint, for 
whicli the ladies here appear to have a strong liking. The dress 
of the younger women, even among the poor, is carefully 
attended to; it is not showy but tasteful, and nearly the same 
for all classes. Their manners are very attractive and agreeable. 
The women of the upper classes already begin to take part in 
the social life of the Europeans, and all European gentlemen and 
ladies with whom I have conversed on this point agree in 
stating that there is no difficulty in the way of a Japanese 
woman leaving the narrow circle to which she was formerly 
confined, and entering with pleasure and womanly dignity into 
European society. She appears to be born “ a lady.” 
On the 20th and 21.st September the Governor of Yokohama 
had arranged an excursion for me, Dr. Stuxberg, and Lieut. 
Nordquist, to the sacred island or peninsula Enoshima, situated 
at a short distance from the town. We first travelled some 
English miles along the excellent road Tokaido, one of the few 
highways in Japan passable in carriages. Then we travelled 
in jinrikishas to the famous image of Buddha (Daibutsu) at 
Kamakura,^ and visited the Shinto chief priest living in the 
neighbourhood and his temple. 
The priest was fond of antiquities, and had a collection, not 
very large indeed, but composed almost entirely of rarities. 
Among other things he showed us sabres of great value, a 
head ornament consisting of a single piece of nephrite which 
he valued at 500 yen,^ a number of old bronzes, mirrors, &c. 
We were received as usual with Japanese tea and sw^eetmeats. 
The priest himself took us round his temple. No images were 
to be seen here, but the walls wwe richly carved and ornamented 
with a number of drawings and gildings. The innermost wall 
1 At the close of the twelfth century this now inconsiderable town was 
the residence of Joritomo, the founder of the Shogun power, and the 
arranger of the Japanese feudal system. 
Five yen are about equal to £l sterling. 
