Page:Sketches of Tokyo Life (1895).djvu/117

Rh have always held their market on the river-side close to Nihonbashi, a bridge from which all distances on the highways from Tokyo are measured, and are in speech and manners as choice as their brethren of Billingsgate. Their turbulent, dare-devil spirit was recognised by the Feudal Government which found itself so helpless when the Imperial forces approached the city in 1868, that it appealed to these fishmongers to intercept at Nihonbashi the northward advance of the enemy. The fishmongers formed into companies, armed with poles, fish-hooks, and other formidable weapons; but they had unfortunately no opportunity of testing their mettle as the Imperial army remained outside the city, while negotiations were successfully carried on for the surrender of the shogun’s castle.

The firemen are engaged, when there is no fire, in house-building. When the Tokugawa Government made the daimyo reside half the year in Yedo, great mansions were always under construction or repair, and the workmen were kept busy. The men were also in demand among the common people, especially after a fire. The people of Kyoto and Osaka, living as they did by pure trade or hereditary callings, were naturally frugal and did nothing merely for show. The case, however, was different in Yedo. It was a new city; and the people, gaining their livelihood through the luxurious habits of the daimyo, came in time to imitate their extravagance. In this respect, the fireman was among the greatest sinners. He took pride in squandering money, and considered it a shame to let the day’s earnings remain overnight in his purse. Empty show, the keeping up of appearances, was his delight; and nothing was more galling to him than to be outdone by a neighbour in foolish display. It was and is still, for instance, reckoned a luxury to eat the first bonito of the season. And the fireman regarded it worse than dishonour to be prevented by want of means from tasting it, and his wife, sharing her husband’s spirit, would pawn everything, even to the very