Page:"Round the world." - Letters from Japan, China, India, and Egypt (IA roundworldletter00fogg 0).pdf/77

, houses harbor no bugs, and the country no lawyers.” Since I have been in Japan I have heard the singing of birds, have scented the Cape-Jasmine, and have eaten many fine-flavored oranges, but I have seen neither “crinoline, bugs, nor attorneys,” native to the country.

But as we must return before dark to Yokohama it will not answer to linger among these charming green lanes, however attractive they may be. At eleven o’clock we reached Kenesawa, a pretty fishing village on the bay, and a great resort among the natives for spending a holiday and for picnics. The road from here to Kamakura passes through a narrow cleft in the rock, sixty feet deep, with perpendicular sides; a pass that a handful of men could defend against thousands. The old city which, seven hundred years ago was the capitol of the empire, is said to contain, even now, over a hundred temples and shrines. The road to it is thronged with pilgrims to the sacred city. But its glory has departed, and many of its temples are in ruins. We visited a few which, like all the temples of Japan, were built very strongly of wood, with very heavy cornices and gateways, carved with figures of dragons, fish, birds and flowers. They are situated on high terraces, approached by wide stone steps, and command beautiful views over the surrounding country. The elaborate carvings were once covered with gold, but now the gilding has become dim with age and neglect, and nearly all have a dilapidated appearance.

About a mile South-west of what remains of the ancient city, surrounded by a grove of evergreen, and approached through a broad avenue, flagged with stones, is the famous colassal statue of the Great Buddha, which is one of the most wonderful works of art in the world. It is of Bronze, 50 feet in height, 96 feet in circumference at the base, and rests upon a granite pedestal about six feet high. It represents the great prophet sitting in the oriental manner upon a lotus. The head is covered with small knobs representing the snails which, according to tradition, came to protect Buddhas from the heat of the burning sun. It is no grotesque idol, but a work of high art, executed more than 600 years ago, and is said to have been originally covered by an immense temple, which was swept away by an earthquake wave from the sea. The faces is of Hindoo type, the hands are folded in front, and the