Page:"Round the world." - Letters from Japan, China, India, and Egypt (IA roundworldletter00fogg 0).pdf/93

 nature of the breed of cats in Japan. I afterward saw hundreds of beautiful “tortoise-shell” felines, all minus the “flagstaff.” European cats with long caudal appendages were looked upon as very curious when first brought to the country by foreigners, and much sought by the natives. Except the wild boar of the mountains, swine were unknown in Japan. But lately, with the fondness of the people for novelties, they have come to be in great demand. A wealthy Daimio, who is establishing a farm on the European plan, has been paying almost fabulous prices for pigs. His agent will go aboard every vessel arriving in port in search of fancy styles. He is very critical on this point, and only pure white, with sharp pointed ears and curly tails will answer. For a choice specimen of this description he lately paid in Yokohama $450, but would not take a lop-eared, long-tailed one ay any price, A hundred “Chester county whites” would be a fortune to a speculator if they should arrive before the “pig fever” subsides.

But our driver is getting impatient. We pay our bill, only one boo, (twenty-five cents) and the smiling moosmies bow very low and gracefully as they sionara us away.

We walk down to the bank of the river, show our passes to the two-sworded officials, and are ferried across in a large flat-boat, on which men, women and children, horses, carriages and dogs are promiscuously crowded together. On the boat we notice a peasant whose coat is made of long finely-split reeds, which besides the advantage of being cheap, is light, warm and nearly waterproof. A countryman equipped for a journey in winter looks as if he had taken the cover of a basket for his head gear, a wisp of straw for his sandals, and a bundle of reeds for his cloak.

Crossing the river, we are again on the tokaido, and we are joined by two mounted Yaconins, which are furnished by the government for the protection of strangers. They wear the usual complement of swords, and on their heads are black lacquered hats, sharp pointed at the crown and secured by straps under the chin. I do not believe that a foreigner, conducting himself properly, needs protection anywhere in Japan from the unprivileged classes, civilians, merchants, shop-keepers and peasants. They are as harmless and well-disposed people as can be found anywhere in the world. But the two-sworded