XVI.] 
TOBACCO-SMOKING IN JAPAN. 
321 
wooden vessel with a lid, and is distributed in abundance, but 
the other dishes in extremely small portions. After meals, 
especially in the evening, the Japanese often drink warm said, 
or rice-brandy, out of peculiar porcelain bottles and small cups 
set apart for that purpose alone. 
During the meal one is commonly surrounded by a numerous 
personnel of female attendants, squatted down on the floor, who 
keep up with the guest, if he understands their language, a 
lively conversation, interrupted by salvoes of hearty laughter. 
The girls remain while the man undresses in the evening, and 
permit themselves to make remarks on the difference of the 
physique of the Europeans and Japanese, which are not only, 
in our Way of thinking, unsuitable for young girls, but even 
impertinent towards the guest. The male attendants are seldom 
seen, at least in the inner apartments. In the morning one 
washes himself in the yard or on the balcony, and if he wishes 
to avoid getting into disfavour, the guest will be careful not to 
spill anything or spit on the mat. 
The Japanese tobacco-pipe now in use resembles that of the 
Chukches, is very small, and is smoked out in a couple of whiffs. 
A Japanese smokes without stopping a score of pipes in succes¬ 
sion. Tobacco-smoking is now very general among high and 
low of both sexes. It was introduced at the close of the sixteenth 
century, it is uncertain whether from Corea or from the Portu¬ 
guese possessions in Asia, and spread with great rapidity. As 
among us, it here too at first gave occasion to stringent pro¬ 
hibitions, and a lively exchange of writings for and against. In 
a work by the learned Japanologist, Mr. E. M. Satow The 
Introduction of Tobacco into Japan,” Transactions of the Asiatic 
Society of Japan, vol. vi. part i. p. 68), the following statements 
among others are made on this subject;— 
“ In 1609 there were in the capital two clubs whose main 
delight was to contrive quarrels with peaceful citizens. Upwards 
of fifty of the members of these clubs were suddenly arrested 
VOL. II. 
Y 
