146 
FROM HONG-KONG TO YOKOHAMA. 
sunshine of an April day, and the fact that we had left the walls of our floating home 
behind us, it may be easy to imagine the exuberant spirits and light elastic step with which 
we crossed the hills of Kamakura, now hastening to see the prospect which the next turn 
of the road had in store for us, now stopping to ask the polite owner of the wayside stall for 
a cup of tea—“ Dozo-o-cha-kudesai ! ” 
About noon our party emerged on the stately avenue which runs in a straight line 
from the temple of Kamakura towards the shore. This avenue is an artificially constructed 
causeway, with a sunk footpath or trench on each side. Considering its probable antiquity, it 
is a remarkable specimen of engineering skill, and seems to have been a sort of via sacra , 
intended for the accommodation of large religious processions and royal corteges. The ancient 
capital of Japan occupied one of those sites which Nature seems to have specially prepared 
for the purpose to which it is to be applied. Sheltered by hills on the east, north, and west, 
it commands towards the south a wide prospect over the plain which almost imperceptibly 
slopes down towards the bay, flanked on each side by steep promontories, so that, apart from 
the interest which attaches to the remnants of its former greatness, there is something so 
pleasant and genial in the aspect of Kamakura as to invite the traveller to prolong his stay. 
Looking up the avenue, we catch sight of the steps, the obelisks, and the stone lanterns 
which mark the entrance to the temple, while the massive carved roofs of the latter are just 
visible beneath the venerable trees never absent from the sacred places of the Japanese. 
Among the treasures exhibited in the holy fane are a number of beautifully-wrought swords, 
including a pair given by the present Emperor. 
As we proceeded along the causeway, one could not but think of the wondrously 
strange and gorgeous displays of which it must have been the scene in days long past, of 
the hosts of armed men led by their nobles and princes, and the processions of priests, 
women, and children, dressed in festive garments, in whose footsteps we were now treading. 
Striking off to the right, we arrived after a short walk at the village of Dai-Butsu, famous for 
the colossal effigy which was the principal object of our pilgrimage. Even before we entered 
the village, the head of the image was visible among the higher branches of the trees, its face 
shaded from the rays of the afternoon sun ; and as we turned into a paved avenue, this symbol 
of a religion which still counts millions of adherents suddenly rose before us in silent 
grandeur, sharply defined on its background of blue sky and dark green foliage. The 
statue is said to have been erected about eight centuries ago by order of a Queen of 
Kamakura. The following are its principal dimensions :— 
Height of figure, 
,, base, 
Length of face, 
„ eyes, 
„ ears, 
FT. 
IN. 
.50 
O 
•. 4 
6 
. 8 
6 
. 4 
0 
. 6 
6 
Length of nose, ... 
Breadth of mouth, 
Diameter of thumb, 
„ thumb-nail, 
FT. IN. 
3 9 
D 5 
I o 
o 8 % 
which is itself hollow, and can be entered by a door in the base. The large vases and flowers 
