en, it eventually came
to pass that the Mikado was stripped of all power, and converted into a
magnificent doll, while the real court was transferred to Jeddo, where
the Ziogoons reside. Retributive justice we shall meet with in a little
while, but we have now reached Miyako, the Mikado's residence, and
nominally still the capital of Nippon.

Poor Mikado, what a miserable honor he must think it is to be divine! He
represents the sun goddess on earth, and is required to sit upon his
throne quite still, and without moving his head for several hours every
day, lest the whole earth should be unsteady. When not sitting, he must
leave his crown upon the throne to keep watch in his absence. Being so
very holy, he is deprived of all use of his legs; earth is not worthy of
his tread. His nails and hair are never cut--for who may mutilate a god?
Every article of dress that he puts on must be brand new; his plates,
and cups, and dishes, every thing he touches at a meal--even the kitchen
utensils used in cooking for him--must not be used twice, and of course
no profane man may employ what has been sanctified by the Mikado's use.
Whatever clothes he puts off are immediately burned; his pots and
vessels are destroyed. This hourly waste being a heavy pull on the
finances of the Ziogoon, the divine victim gets only the coarsest slops
to dress in, and eats off the cheapest crockery. No wonder that he still
keeps up the fashion of resigning. His palace is circumscribed with
palisades, and an officer residing without the gate spies all his
actions, and reports them to the Ziogoon. Still the poor fellow is
divine. The gods, it is believed, all spend a month at his place, during
which month they are not at home in their own temples, and worship is
accordingly suspended. The Mikado grants religious titles, fixes feasts
and fasts, and settles doctrinal disputes. Thus there arose once schism
in Japan about the color of the devil. Four factions respectfully
declared him to be black, white, red, and green. The theologic knot was
given to the Mikado that day to unravel, who, knowing the obstinacy of
theologians well, declared all parties to be right; and so the devil of
Japan remains to this day a four-colored monster. Offices of state in
the Mikado's court--the Dairi it is called--are above all in honor,
objects of ambition even to the Ziogoon. The dwellers in the Dairi with
the holy prisoner, both male and female, are the most refined and
culti