Page:"Round the world." - Letters from Japan, China, India, and Egypt (IA roundworldletter00fogg 0).pdf/100

 the view, the young ladies are serving us with hot tea, fruits and other light refreshments. When we ask “how much?” they shake their heads, leaving us to bestow such gratnity as we please, which is, of course, many times their ordinary charge.

our next visit is to the famous temples of Shiva, the burial place of the Tycoons. There are twelve or fifteen separate temples within the spacious grounds, overshadowed by very large and beautiful trees. Each building is surrounded by a nicely paved courtyard, and there is a great similarity both of outside decoration and arrangement of the interiors. These temples and the grounds around them are kept in perfect order, and are richer in architectural ornament than any others we have seen in Japan. A flight of fifteen or twenty broad stone steps leads to the main entrance. These buildings are all of wood, heavily framed, with room left at the joints for the whole structures to oscillate. Some are very old, and have doubtless withstood many earthquake shocks without injury, which would have destroyed buildings of stone or brick. The cornices, doors, and outside walls are most elaborately carved in fantastic and allegorical designs, and are richly gilt or lacquered. An old priest, with head completely shaved, invites us to enter. In anticipation of a fee, perhaps, he is very polite; and from regard to the sacredness of the place I remove my hat, which was quite unnecessary; but he points to my boots as the objectionable article of dress. Glancing in at the clean straw matting on the floor, I see the point. It is not from reverence, as in a Turkish Mosque, but from motives of cleanliness that he objects to my muddy boots. I am bound to see the interior of the temple, and I pull off my bootsand here let me suggest to any reader who may travel in Japan, that he should always carry about a pair of slippers in his pocket. There are large bronze images of Buddha upon the central altar, immense vases of the same material, end a great variety of curiously carved figures and other decorations, such as artificial flowers, elaborately wrought candlesticks, etc. At the sides sre smaller shrines, where the gilt images and votive ornaments were suggestive of a Roman Catholic church, only that the symbol of the cross was wanting. There were the same “bell and book” priests in their robes, behind them rows of chanting choristers, the same burning of incense and repeating of prayers and rituals in an