Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 4.djvu/56

 that aggregate. Not all had the privilege of direct access to either the Shōgun or the Midaidokoro. Those enjoying that distinction numbered ninety-one in each service, and were consequently differentiated by the title Omemiye-ijo (qualified for audience), the other two hundred and fourteen being classed as Omemiye-ika (not qualified for audience). The Shōgun's household included also four jesters, spoken of as Bozu, in allusion to the fact that their heads were shaved. These men, who had to be some fifty years of age, discharged the duties of ushers, in conjunction with their chief function of keeping his highness amused. They were not supposed to labour under any disadvantage as to moral endowments, and it was expected that they should be skilled in all polite accomplishments as well as possessed of literary ability. The Bozu had no place in the household of the Midaidokoro: on that side of the Court four pages were employed, their age not exceeding thirteen. For the rest, the organisations of the two halves of the Court were exactly similar, and what is here said of one may be read as applying to both. Highest in rank stood the "Senior Dames" (Joro), three in number. They had no special duties, but were regarded partly as advisers, partly as teachers of cha-no-yu, flower-arranging, "incense-bearing," and such pastimes. In the event, however, of the sickness or death of the Midaidokoro, it devolved upon one of the "Senior Dames" to take her place, temporarily