Untitled

172
THE WONDERFUL CITY OF TOKIO.
a man who was carrying some swords.
" Are those for
sale?"
" No," was the reply, " but if you go to the next house,
you will find some very beautiful katana. My employer has
a dozo (fire-proof warehouse) full of them."
Johnnie entered the establishment, leaving
his friends still
seated in their jin-riki-sha.
:t
Why are the centre portions of these buildings of stone
and two stories in height?" inquired Fitz of Oto. "And why
are the gables provided with chevaux-de-frisef*
" That part of the establishment is fire-proof," answered
Oto.
:? You will observe the upper windows have massive
iron shutters that are closed at night. When a fire breaks out,
the proprietor fills the crevices all round the windows with
wet mud and shuts the thick doors below. If the conflagra-
tion comes near the house, it consumes everything but the
stone and cement. The tori yoke (bird keep off) are put
there to prevent pigeons and crows from resting on the gables."
" I thought they were cat-teasers," said the merry boy.
" Here comes brother, but he has not bought any swords."
rr
That merchant wants a small fortune for his goods," said
"
Johnnie. He has a blade which he asserts was made by
Masamune, for which he demands two thousand yen"
" Who was Masamune, a negro minstrel ? " asked Fitz.
:? You know better than that," snapped his brother. "He
was the most celebrated sword-maker in Japan. I wish you
would not poke fun at everything, Fitz Jewett."
:? You
"Oh, all right! all right!" was the good-humored reply.
are awfully touchy, Johnnie. We can't all worship old
cutlery as you do."
After quite a ride, ft\& jin-riki-sha men turned to the right
and ran their vehicles over a wooden bridge into a temple