Page:Nihongi by Aston.djvu/86

Rh. I therefore grant to these two Deities the designation of Inada no Miya-nushi no Kami."

Having done so, Sosa no wo no Mikoto at length proceeded to the Nether Land.

In one writing it is said:—"Sosa no wo no Mikoto, having descended from Heaven, came to the head-waters of the river Hi, in Idzumo. There he saw Inada-hime, the daughter of Susa no yatsu-mimi, Master of the Shrine of Inada. He had connubial relations with her, and a child was born, styled Suga no yu-yama-nushi Mitsu-na-saro-hiko-yama-shino."

One version has Suga no Kake-na Saka-karu-hiko-ya-shima no Mikoto.

Another has:—"Suga no yu-yama-nushi Mitsu-na-saro-hiko ya-shima-no. The descendant of this God in the fifth generation was Oho-kuni-nushi no Kami."

In one writing it is said:—"At this time Sosa no wo no Mikoto went down and came to the head-waters of the River Ye, in the province of Aki. There was there a God whose name was Ashi-nadzu-te-nadzu. His wife's name was Inada no Miya-nushi Susa no yatsu-mimi. This Deity was just then pregnant, and the husband and wife sorrowed together. So they informed Sosa no wo no Mikoto, saying:—'Though we have had born to us many children, whenever one is born, an eight-forked serpent comes and devours it, and we have not been able to save one. We are now about to have another, and we fear that it also will be devoured. Therefore do we grieve.' Sosa no wo no Mikoto forthwith instructed them, saying:—'You