XVII.] 
MASSAGE. 
335 
without distinction, partly in private houses. In every bath 
there is a basin one metre in depth, to which a constant stream 
of water is conducted from some of the hot springs. The spring 
water has of course cooled very much before it is used, but is 
still so hot notwithstanding that I could only with difficulty 
remain in it a couple of seconds. 
In the streets of the town we often met blind persons who 
walked about very safely without any attendant, only feeling 
their way with a long bamboo. They blew a short pipe now 
and then to warn passers-by of their presence. I thought 
at first that these unfortunates were trying to regain the sight 
of the eye at the hot springs, but on inquiring whether the 
water was beneficial in that respect, I was informed that they 
were not there as seekers after health, but as “ massageurs ” 
(shampooers). Massage has been in use in Japan for several 
centuries back, and therefore persons are often to be met with 
in the streets offering their services as massageurs, crying in 
the streets in about the same way as the fruit-sellers in Eussia. 
The inn where we lodged for the night, consisted as usual of 
a number of very clean rooms covered with mats, without 
furniture, but ornamented with songs and mottoes on the walls. 
One would live here exceedingly well, if like the Japanese he 
could manage to live wholly on the floor and conform carefully 
to the indispensable rules, an observance which besides is 
necessary, because otherwise the inmate is exposed to a very 
unfriendly reception not only from his host but also from the 
attendants. An inconvenience in travelling in Japan is the 
difficulty a European has in accustoming himself to the dietary 
of the Japanese. Bread they do not use, nor meat, but their 
food consists mainly of rice and fish, with fowls, fruit, mush¬ 
rooms, sweetmeats, Japanese tea, &c., in addition. Fish is 
generally eaten raw, and in that case is said to differ little in 
taste from our pickled salmon. The food is not unfrequently 
cooked with fish oils of anything but an agreeable taste. If a 
