e and the others betook themselves to their divers tasks of
finishing the clearing up of building and surroundings. In the
excitement and confusion of moving in there was little thought of the
cavity in this twelfth month of Kwanei twentieth year (January 1644),
and the idea of making report was lost sight of until other conditions
brought up again the subject.

The ceremonial visits of the New Year, the congratulations and presents,
were to be made to the suzerain by his attendant _hatamoto_ and the
_daimyo[u]_ then in Edo town. Every _yashiki_ was in a turmoil of
excitement and confusion. Even in the greater _yashiki_ there was demand
for outsiders to carry the _hakomochi_ or long boxes, for the
_rokushaku_ (six footers) or tall fellows to carry the sedan chair, for
others to bear the _kappakago_ or rain-coat boxes. _Samurai_,
_ashigaru_, spearholders, _chu[u]gen_, _zo[u]ri_ holders--these were
attendant in the _yashiki_. But the minor establishments were mainly
dependent on outside aid to swell the lord's train. Hence the role of
Bandzuin Cho[u]bei and his successors was no sinecure, in addition to
the exercise of the art of arranging time and place so that the inferior
lords would be least inconvenienced by the necessary and often
humiliating deference to their superiors in rank. The guild patron
looked well to the interests of his employers--_daimyo[u]_--with small
regard to those who shifted for themselves; which was one of the causes
of grudge by the _hatamoto_ against Cho[u]bei, later removed from the
scene by assassination.

Every horse in Edo, destined for the morrow's ceremony, underwent the
pampered treatment that the groom Kakunai devoted to his master's nag.
On the preceding day Kage (Fawn colour) had been treated to all the
luxuries of horse diet. He must eat for to-day and for to-morrow, and
perform all the offices connected there with beforehand. Said
Kakunai--"Kage, be circumspect and constipated. To-morrow the master
offers congratulations at the castle. Kage is stuffed beyond measure
to-day, that he be able to fast to-morrow. Show no discontent. For the
passage of the sun there is to be no eating, and but a modicum of
drinking. Halt not the procession for unseemly purposes." He stroked the
horse, and the pleased animal purred and whinnied with the contentment
of a cat at being petted. Then harshly said a voice in the ear of the
bending Kakunai--"For this feed of the year's end thanks are rendered.