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112 THE WONDERFUL CITY OF TOKIO.
artists always paint Chinese children engaged in that amuse-
ment. Old and young Japanese play it during this month and
the next."
" Tell us about it," urged Fitz.
" It is a very simple game," said Oto.
" One boy agrees to
be father and the other to be an oni (demon). The rest
of the children form a line by grasping the back of each other's
obi (girdles), which are tied very tightly, and range them-
selves behind the father. The demon does his best to
catch the last of the row, and the father swings his family
just as a serpent waves its body, and, whenever the oni
rushes at the last boy endeavors to intercept the demon and
forces him back. Finally, when the oni touches the child, he
takes the place in the line, as the last boy, and the father
becomes the demon."
:? We call that f
switch the whip,'" said Fitz. "No grown-
up person in America ever indulges in such sport."
As he spoke, Tonosuke, who was an old man, entered the
room, and bowing to Oto, said,
:c
Honorable doctor, I am indeed proud to see you and
your honorable friends from afar.
" Have you used the I plaster ? gave you " Nambo.
inquired young
Tonosuke looked sheepishly up at the ceiling, and mur-
mured, "Yes,
I I have used it."
"
Come, tell me," said Oto, " what do you mean ? "
At first their host would not reply, however, he presently
said,
" My family have, for many years, owned a most beautiful
and powerful image of Fuku-roku-jin and his attendant the
longevity-stork. A few weeks ago this god began to split, and
the fracture gradually extended from the crown of his venerable