d boldness, and yet a delicacy, I have seldom seen equalled;
the doors and railings being of massive bronze, brought from the
Corea. Within, a dim religious light illumines and harmonises a
dazzling mass of lacquer, gold, and painting. It is the grandest
burial-place imaginable; too good for the long line of men who have
tyrannised over Japan and its lawful sovereigns for so many centuries
past.

The streets of Tokio were crowded with a motley throng up to the very
gates of the citadel, where, within the first moat, stand all the
_yashgis_, or residences of the Daimios. Each _yashgi_ is surrounded
by a blank wall, loopholed, and with a tower at each of the four
corners. Within this outer wall is the court of the retainers, all of
them 'two-sworded' men; then comes a second wall, also loopholed,
inside which dwell distant relations of the Daimio; and then again a
third enclosure, guarding the Daimio himself, with his immediate
belongings. After crossing the third moat we reached the Mikado's
gardens and palace, the public offices, and the residences of the
foreign Ministers, all of which were formerly occupied by the Tycoon,
or Shogun, and his ministers. On the waters of the inner moat were
thousands of wild ducks and geese. Nobody is allowed to harm them, and
the birds seem to be perfectly aware of this fact, for they disport
themselves with the greatest confidence.

The English Embassy is a nice red brick house, built in the centre of
a garden, so as to be as secure as possible from fire or attack. After
a most pleasant luncheon we looked over the nucleus of a second
collection which Lady Parkes is beginning to form. Her former
beautiful collection was burnt a few years ago, a most disheartening
misfortune, especially as the opportunities for obtaining really old
and good things in Japan are diminishing day by day.

A little later we started in great force, some in carriages and some
on horseback, attended by running grooms, to see something more of the
city. These men think nothing of running by the side of a horse and
carriage some forty miles a day. They form a distinct class, and when
working on their own account wear little clothing. When in the service
of private individuals they are dressed in tight-fitting dark-blue
garments, with short capes, fastened to their arms, and large hats.

Just outside the Embassy we passed two of the finest of the still
existing _yashgis_, the larger one being used as the Home O