Untitled

AT A FAN-MAKER'S. 145
unknown, no one desired to be interred here. Who could tell
whether his honorable father and mother rested in the cemetery
or not? The Jo-do sect, who built the temple, was
too poor to support it and there were no gifts from the rela-
tives of the dead. Under these circumstances something had
to be done for the bozu, so the government gave them
permission to allow wrestling matches, and to have various
shows in the ground twice a year, in the spring and fall.
Now you understand all about it. Do you notice those big,
fat men parading up and down so pompously? Those are the
wrestlers."
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Fitz.
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body
They seem to think a great deal of themselves," remarked
Yes," replied Oto, " they are conceited fellows. Every-
makes a fuss over them and it turns their heads."
"
Come," said Johnnie, paying for the refreshments, tf
they
are shouting inside the enclosure, let us go and see the fun."
The edifice in which the wrestling match was held, covered
a large area, and was composed of two tiers of bamboo galleries,
screened at the back with mats of split bamboo.
On the right of the entrance was a matted ticket office
with a stage in it about waist high, on which squatted a
number of ex-wrestlers who looked very solemn and dignified.
Oto paid for seats in a box on the first tier and received
three notched wooden checks. On presenting these, the boys
were admitted by the doorkeeper, and entering the enclosure,
were conducted to their seats, to which they mounted by a
bamboo ladder, the latter being taken away as soon as they
had squatted upon the floor.
The edifice was crowded with lightly-clad men, who,
ever}' now and then, uttered loud yells of approval or condem-
nation.