The boy travellers in the Far East : adventures of two youths ... - Library

now MR. RICIIAllDSON WAS KILLED. 153
A l'.\RTY ON THE TOKAIIJO.
country, and consequently to ride on the Tokaido, tlierc was a constant
fear that some of them woukl ignorantly or wilfully violate the ancient
usages and thus lead the Daimios' followers to use their swords.
Things were in this condition when one day (Septeniber lith, 1862)
the procession of Shimadzu Saburo, father of the last Daimio of Satsuma,
was passing along the Tokaido on its way from the capital to the western
part of the empire. Through fear of trouble in case of an encounter with
the train of this prince, the authorities had previously recpiested foreign-
ers not to go upon the Tokaido that day ;
but the request was refused, and
a party of English people—three gentlemen and a lady—embraced the
opportunity to go out that particular afternoon to meet the prince's train.
Two American gentlemen were out that afternoon, and encountered the
same train ; they ])olitely turned aside to allow the procession to pass, and
were not disturbed.
When the English party met the train, the lady and one of the gentlemen
suggested that they should stand at the side of the road, but Mi'.
Tlichardson urged his horse forward and said, "Come on; I have lived
fourteen jeavs in China, and know how to manage these people." He
rode into the midst of the procession, and was followed by the other gen-
tlemen, or partially so ;
the lady, in her terror, remained l)y the side of the
road, as she had wished to do at the outset. The guards construed the
movements of Mr. Richardson as a direct insult to their master, and fell
upon him with their swords. The three men were severely wounded.
Mr. Richardson died in less than half an hour, but the others recovered.
The lady was not harmed in any way. On the one hand, the Japanese