Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 5 1887.djvu/164

 156 interesting, because the juice of lemon, also an aurantiaceous plant, is often considered by Europeans a palliative for sea-sickness. The New Year arches are cut down in Tokyo on January 7th, and in some other places on January 3rd.

The explanation of "Shime," a rope which the writer calls "Nawa," lacks in the symbolic meaning—that is more important part of the arch than any other else; for the decoration, when abbreviated, is made only of a shime, to which Yuduri and Urajiro sometimes attached, that symbolises the protection of the house from devils. This shime seems in existence of custom from the time almost unknown, and the other plants are added a long after its existence. The tradition tells us the shime is first made with rice-straws to decorate the eaves of the rock in which Sun God concealed himself, to tempt him out with the dancing and music from the cave, so that he will throw the almighty light over the world again. Thus the shime is derived from the old tradition, as you see every temple of Shinto sect has a shime in the front or around the temple eaves all the year round.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Mysterious Serenades, or Music and Invisible Musicians.—Mr. G——, a respectable Holderness farmer, resides in a mansion situated at a considerable distance from any other. He has been accustomed for several years, at intervals, to hear during the night the sounds of different musical instruments, which together produced a most delectable and harmonious concert. Two or three friends were taking their Christmas supper with him, when a domestic came to inform them that the musicians were at work in the garden. The party immediately sallied out, and, although they could perceive