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A VISIT TO SOME SACRED PLACES. 227
They entered the old palace, which was neither large nor
handsomely decorated, and inspected the Shi-shin-den (throne
room), that contained a curious chair and a pair of Koma-inu
(Corean dogs), that very much resembled Pompeian lions.
From this building they went into the Mikado's private
gardens, laid out with winding paths, stone bridges, little
waterfalls, quaint stepping-stones, and trees distorted in a
grotesque manner.
FIGURES OF KOREAN DOGS, PLACED AT FOOT OF IMPERIAL THRONE AT KIOTO.
Nearly the entire day was spent in seeing the spring, sum-
mer, winter, and other apartments formerly occupied by the
emperor and empress, among the various buildings being an
earthquake-house.
The bewildering number of edifices tired the Americans,
who were glad to return to their inn and stretch themselves
upon
the matted floor.
"
Sissy," shouted Fitz, from his room, " come here. I want
you to see something. There is a moji-yaki (letter burner)
outside, and it is fun to see him make his sweets."