COUSIN FRANK. 209

mother. It proved to be a superb Japan- the only months when it is sufficiently
ese work-table of choicest lacquer work, free from snow to permit of the ascent,
with most elegant furnishings in fine it is visited by numerous pilgrims, who
carved ivory. There was a gorgeous flock to its cloud-enveloped shrines. The
crimson satin bag for the work, with pilgrims are chiefly from the middle and
heavy bullion fringe on the bottom. It lower classes, as persons of rank are said
was one of the most finished and exqui- to believe it beneath them to perform the
site pieces of workmanship that I had pilgrimage. These pilgrims have a pe-
ever seen, an ornament for the drawing- culiar and distinctive dress, made of a
room ofnobility. Then there were pretty white cotton material, and stamped with
patterns of silk for dresses for the young various mystic characters by the priests
people, and crapes and pongees too, most who occupy the small temples around the
useful and desirable. In fact, it would crater, during the season. A dress per-
be quite impossible to describe all the forms a great many journeys, and is worn
treasures which were packed in those by many different persons. The more
boxes. numerous the stamps or evidences of a
 Among other beautiful things, was a visit to the mountain, the higher its value
tray of most perfect finish, on whose pol- in the eyes of the devotee.
ished surface gleamed sparkling rays from "The Fusi Yama pilgrims' dresses may
"the mountain of heaven," the Fusi be bought in Yeddo, so old and dirty, and
Yama of the Japanese, illuminating the bestamped, as to have lost their original
whole, while below, in inglorious glory, color and all their original purity.
stood an effulgent rooster, on one foot, "The founder of the religion of Sento
keeping watch over a small family of took up his residence in this mountain,
mother-of-pearl chickens. This led us to and his spirit, still abiding there, is sup-
inquire of cousin Frank why it was that posed to have great influence to bestow
on all the beautiful lacquer work, and blessings."
china, etc., of the Japanese, the design Cousin Frank was present at an inter-
of this mountain of heaven was al- view with the Mikado of Japan, the young
ways so prominent, emperor of whom so much has been
 "This Fusi Yama, or mountain of written, and he also passed several weeks
heaven," said he, is one of the most in the city of Pekin, and was not slow in
beautiful mountains in the world, and the pronouncing it one of the oldest and dir-
highest in the empire of Japan. It is tiest cities in the world.
situated on the island of Nepon. Its But it did not take all the time of cousin
graceful pyramidal peak towers above the Frank's visit to look over the curious, or
surrounding country, rising to the height to talk over the Japanese and Chinese
of over fourteen thousand feet above the peculiarities. We had many lovely walks
level of the sea. In July and August, and drives, and little parties and picnics
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