360 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. 
Incidents of tlie sort referred to we had seen so many times 
before that on this occasion it would not have attracted any 
further attention on our part, if we had not thereby been 
reminded that we must look after our OAvn exterior, before we 
could make our entrance into the capital of Japan. We there¬ 
fore took from the carriage our basket with linen, shaving 
implements, and towels, settled down around the stream of 
Avater at which the girls stood, and immediately began to 
wash and shave ourselves. There was now general excitement. 
The girls ceased to go on with their own toilet, and crowded 
round us in a ring in order to see how Europeans behave in 
such cases, and to give us the assistance that might he required. 
Some ran laughing and hustling about, one on the top of another, 
in order immediately to procure us what we wanted, one held 
the mirror, another the shaving-brush, a third the soap, &c. 
Hound them gathered other elder Avomen, Avhose blackened 
teeth indicated that they Avere married. A little farther off 
stood men of all ages. Chance had here quite unexpectedly 
shown us a jDicture from folk-life of the most agreeable kind. This 
pleasant temper continued Avhile we immediately after, in the 
presence of all, ate our breakfast in the porch of the ground- 
floor, surrounded by our former ministering spirits, now kneeling 
around us, continually boAving the head to the ground, laughing 
and chattering. The same fun went on when a little after 
I bought some living fresh-water fishes and put them in spirit, 
yet Avith the difference that the girls now, with some cries, to 
shoAV their fear of handling the living animals—though fish¬ 
cleaning was one of their ordinary occupations—handed over to 
the men the trouble of taking the fishes and putting them into 
the spirit-jars. For a Avorm placed in spirit they feigned the 
greatest terror, notAvithstanding its covering of spirit and 
glass, and ran shrieking away when any one suddenly brought 
the jar Avith the v/orm near their faces. It ought to be noted 
to the honour of the Japanese, that although Ave were by no 
