crescent shaped aperture in its surface,
through which, at night, the rays of light proceeding from _burning
prayers_ penetrate the gloom. Scores of tombs, containing the remains of
the defunct tycoons and their wives, fill the temple court; and as each
successive tycoon looked forward to reposing here after death, during
life he richly embellished it, and endeavoured to make it worthy to
receive so august a body as his own.

A bald-headed priest, standing at the great entrance, bids us remove our
shoes and follow him. He conducts us up grand stair cases, through
corridors, into courtyards, chapels, and sanctuaries; unlocks recesses,
and produces sacred vessels of massive gold work of vast antiquity and
splendid design, intimating to us that these are for the sole use of the
mikado, when he assumes his priestly office. Here we get our first idea
of what real lacquer means. Our bonze brought out a small lacquered
cubical box, of a dull gold colour, and about four inches in height, and
gave us to understand that it could not be purchased for 500 dollars!
Just fancy! And then the carving, gilding, colouring, and lacquer,
everywhere, is something beyond description. Even the very floors on
which we tread, the stairs, the hand-rails, are all gorgeous with
vermilion lacquer. One sanctuary is really resplendent, its vessel's
mouldings and ornaments being of dead gold work, wrought in all kinds of
emblematical designs and shapes. I feel assured that no thoughtful man
can visit Shiba's temple without being impressed with the high
perfection to which the Japanese have attained in the arts; a perfection
which the foreign mind can rarely grasp. After a donation to the polite
bonze--which he receives on a gold salver and lays on the altar--we
encase our feet in leather once more, and leave the sacred precincts. We
may possibly never have the opportunity of paying Shiba a second visit;
but the privilege of having done so once is--to a man of research--a
liberal education in itself.

The streets and their busy throng are very gay and lively. Hosts of
healthy-looking and prettily clad children are running here, there, and
everywhere in pursuit of their kites, and other childish amusements.
Vendors hawking their wares, as at home; the shrill melancholy whistle
of the blind shampooer who, with a staff in one hand and a short bamboo
pipe in the other, thus apprises people of his willingness to attend on
them; ladies bowing and "sayonara