KOBE. 
151 
of the Japanese, who, humorous and witty as they are, enjoy a good joke immensely. 
Their artists possess no mean skill in catching facial expression, and their lighter style 
reminds one of Chaucer and the humorists of the Middle Ages. The nez retroussd , from 
the frequency with which it is met with, may be accounted a national characteristic; hence 
the Japanese ideal rigorously demands a straight long nose, with which mark of beauty all 
the heroes and heroines of their popular tales are depicted. 
To say that the environs of Kobe are picturesque is to utter a truism, for the islands 
of Japan seem to have been created for the special delight of the lover of scenery. Within 
half-an-hour’s walk from the town are two fine waterfalls, much resorted to by pilgrims, 
who come from a distance to bathe in the pool at the foot of the falls. The place abounds 
in tea-houses for the accommodation of visitors, and the grounds are neatly laid out in 
terraces and beds of flowers. The falls plunge down over the declivities of a spur of the 
lofty mountain-range which stretches in a northerly direction towards Miako. On one of 
its highest summits, Mount Mayasan, 2490 feet high, stands the Temple of Thira, generally 
called the Temple of the Moon. A perpetual stream of pilgrims is seen ascending the steep 
slopes of the mountain to kneel at the shrine of the divinity. The path leads through 
magnificent forest scenery, and terminates, to the despair of the exhausted traveller, in a 
flight of over 200 stone steps. Happily, when he has accomplished about half of his task, 
which would test the stamina of a 
where the attendant moosmie will 
topmost step, he sees before him 
a wide open space surrounded by 
temples. The one on the right 
seems to be the principal fane, 
and is remarkable for its double 
pagoda-like roof and fantastic 
ornamentation. In a turret on 
the left hand is suspended an 
enormous gong, the deep sound 
of which can be heard long before 
the visitor arrives at the summit. 
The extensive view from the top 
of the stairs, which embraces the 
whole Bay of Oosaka, is ample 
reward for the fatigue incurred in 
the ascent. 
The road to the Falls of Kobe passes near a fine old temple completely hidden in a 
grove of trees. We used to call it the Temple of the White Horse, on account of one of 
these animals, with a pure white coat, being exhibited in the courtyard of the temple, seemingly 
dependent for its sustenance on the contributions of worshippers. The poor creature, looking 
u 
member of the Alpine Club, he may step into a tea-house, 
refresh him with a cup of tea or sake. Arrived at the 
ROAD TO THE WATERFALLS, KOBE. 
