Untitled

PREPARING FOR NEW-YEAR'S FESTIVITIES. 293
''You are right," said Oto. "To-morrow I shall have
another holiday, and we will go for our last stroll this year."
The next morning Oto called for them early, and they
started out for a long walk. After quitting the yashiki, they
noticed that the entrances of many houses were decorated
with green bamboo and
branches of pine-tree,
emblems of the new
year.
"Hello," said Fitz,
as they watched a boy
flying a kite, on which
was depicted a cuttlefish.
"
Here comes a
man-zai" (New Year's
dancer).
Presently
a melan-
choly-lookingvaga- bond, who wore a yeboshi
(ceremonial hat),
perched on the top of
his head, came striding
toward them, making a
great clacking
clogs
with his
in order to attract
MANZAI.
attention. His dress was marked with the sign san (three),
he had a toy sword thrust in his girdle, and, though the
weather was quite cool, he carried a large fan.
Behind him came his assistant, bearing a heavy weight
of properties tied up in a cotton cloth.
"What is the meaning ofmanzai?" inquired Johnnie.
" Literally translated, it means ten thousand years, while