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

probably be overcome in time. It
is less severe than with the Mos-
lems (among whom a true believer
is forbidden to make a picture of
anything that has life), and conse-
quently will be more easy to do
away with.
'' The Japanese have ventured
upon that feature of Western civ-
ilization known as a national debt,
and how they will get out of it time
alone will determine. At present
they are increasing their indebted-
ness every 3'ear, and their paper
does not show any signs of redemp-
JAPANESE GREEXBACKS. 283
VIGNKTTJs; FKOM BANK-NOTE.
tion. They have also, as you have seen, a paper currency like onr national
issue in America, and so much like ours is it that it is known
as the Japanese greenbacks. They have notes of the same denomina-
tions as ours ; and they also ha\e a fractional currency, such as we had
during the war of 1S61 and the years that followed. The premium on
coin has gone steadily' upwards, partly in consecpience of the large issue,
and partly owing to the hostility of foreign bankers and others, who have
done all they could to bring
the Japanese credit into dis-
credit."
The dissertation on Jap-
anese money came to an end
with the meal they were eat-
ing, and soon after the party
proceeded to take a stroll
through the streets. The
afternoon vras spent in this
way and in letter -writing,
and on the following morn-
ing the trio started for Ki-
oto, by way of JSTara. Tlie
ride was a pleasant one— in
jin-riki-shas — partly along
the banks of the river, where
VIGNETTE FROM BANK-NOTE. tlicy saw a goodU' uumber of