yobi-ido_ which
has so transferred the well established site of this old story.

* * * * *

Thus comes to a finish these tales of the Edo Bancho[u], the story of
the Sarayashiki with its cruel fate of the unhappy Kikujo[u], the Lady
of the Plates. Long had the distressed figure of the wretched girl
ceased its wailing over the never completed tale of the porcelain
plates. But the memory of her misfortunes, of the ill-omened well of the
Yoshida Goten has remained for centuries in the mind, and thought, and
speech of Nippon. Up to the early years of Meiji the Ko[u]jimachi-ido
still existed, to be pointed out to the superstitious ever present in
this land. The Bancho[u], for many decades of years, had become the
crowded Bancho[u] of the proverb which asserts that one born and living
out life therein, yet could not be expected to know the windings and
intricacies of its many ways and byways. In time the _yashiki_ of
_hatamoto_ disappeared; in recent years to make way for a residential
quarter of prosperous tradesmen, minor officials; nay, for bigger fish
who swim in the troubled waters of court and politics. The old
Ko[u]jimachi village, with its bustling street and many shops, remains.
True the old well has gone the way of the ruined _yashiki_ of Aoyama
Shu[u]zen, of the waste land ([sarado]) on which at one time both stood.
But to this very day the tradition remains firm and clear. So much so
that those who leave their homes, to fail of reappearance ever after,
are spoken of as having met the fate of the unhappy victims of the
Ko[u]jimachi-ido. To quote again the very ancient poem in assertion of
the verity of its evil influence:

"Yoshida: to passers by the token;
Long sleeves wave invitation."

Yokohama--21st September to 14th November, 1916.

--FINIS.--

To follow--The Hizakurige (To[u]kaido[u]) of Jippensha Ikku--in English.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 1: Benincasa hispida (Brinkley).]

[Footnote 2: Of about fifteen dollars in terms of present money.]

[Footnote 3: Comments the scribe of Nippon (Matsubayashi Hakuen)--"This
kind is not the animal known as fox. There are foxes in human shape
which extort money. They dwell round about Yoshiwara and Shinagawa.
These are found in the Shin-Yoshiwara. In Meiji 33rd year 8th month
liberty was granted to give up their occupation. Blowing wide cast a fox
fever, the brothels of the Yoshiwara displayed a magnificent confusion.
In rou