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

A KELIGIOUS CAVE. 179
sight. Foreigners in Japan are liberal patrons of the tea-honses, and
many a stranger has foi;nd a cordial welcome within tlie walls of one of
these popular establishments.
From the tea-house at the top of the liill, Doctor Bronson led the way
down a steep path to the sea. At the end of the path, and opening upon
THE PATH IN ENOSIIIMA.
tlie sea, there is a cavern which the Japanese consider sacred. Formerly
they would not allow a stranger to enter the cavern for fear of polluting
it ; but at present they make no opposition, for the double reason that
they have found the cave remains as if nothing had happened, and, more-
over, the stranger is so willing to pay for the pri\'ilege of exjJoration that
a considerable sum is annually obtained from hiin. When the tide is in,
the cave can only be entered by means of a boat ; but at low-water one
can creep along a narrow ledge of rock where a pathway has been cut,
wliich he can follow to the terminus. Our party engaged a guide with
torches, and were taken to the end of the cave, where they found a
hideous-looking idol that was the presiding divinity of the place. A
shrine had been erected here, and when it was lighted up the appearance
was fairly imposing. The pilgrims consider it a pious duty to visit this
shrine whenever they come to the island, and it has become rpiite famous
thi'ougliout Japan.
The boys were not inclined to stay long in the cave, as the sound of
the waters beating in at the entrance was almost deafening. They very
soon sought the open air, where a new entertainment awaited them.
There was a group of nien and boys on the rocks at the entrance of the