A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

Beside the Sea 2^7
them. I also observed candles, a censer, some
bundles of incense-rods, a vessel of water, and a
pair of bamboo cups containing sprays of the
sacred plant shihimi} Beside the water-vessel
there had been laid a bunch of misohagi,^ with
which to sprinkle water upon the food -offerings,
according to the prescriptions of the rite.
To each of the four posts supporting the altar
a freshly-cut bamboo had been attached; and
other bamboos had been planted in the beach, to
right and left of the structure ; and to every bam-
boo was fastened a little banner inscribed with
Chinese characters. The banners of the bamboos
at the four corners of the altar bore the names
and attributes of the Four Deva Kings, — Zocho
Tenno, guardian of the West; Jikoku Tenno,
guardian of the East ; Tamon Tenno, guardian of
the North ; and Komoku Tenno, guardian of the
South.
In front of the altar straw-mattings had been
laid, so as to cover a space of beach about thirty
feet long by fifteen wide ; and above this matted
space awnings of blue cotton had been rigged up,
to shelter the priests from the sun. I squatted
1 lllidum religiosum.
2 A kind of bush-clover.
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