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192 HONDA THE SAMU&A1.
carved over it. Tumbling it over with a push, he jumped
and stamped on the crest with delight and rubbed off the
gold with a rough stone.
I have found that my companion is not very wise, and is
even more radical than I am. We shall have to leave Fu-chiu
to-day, as the officers will get word of the insult to the Tokugawa
crest and be after us as the offenders. From here
we shall visit Kamakura, the cursed place where Yoritomo
and the first usurpers of the Mikado's power fixed their
seat of government, and where the Genji, Hojo, and Ashikaga
lines held power. We shall worship at the shrine of
Nitta, that brave and loyal
soul who shed the blood of his
loyal heart for the emperor near our native city of Fukui.
Please lay a fresh flower on his tomb for me when you
again visit it, as I know you do weekly. While persevering
in your art studies do not forget the reading of histories
such as Mito's and Rai Sanyo's.
From HONDA Jmo, Fu-chiu, Tsuruga.
To OIWA SAMRO, Fukui, Echizen.
Ka-yei, 5th year, 6th month, oth day.
Inn of the Thousand Cranes with Golden Tags.
Three days' leisurely travel brought them to the
famous hot springs in a pretty hamlet in the heart
of the Hakone* mountains, named " Beneath the
Shrine (Miyanoshita)." Here they rested two days,
amusing themselves by enjoying the baths, in reading
the adventures of two pedestrian travelers, in a
funny book entitled " Shank's Mare on the Eastern
Sea Road," and in visiting the famous places near
by. In one of their excursions they came to a cave
which was a resort of pilgrims and very sacred in the
eyes of the people.
" Let us go in and see what the boors find to feed
their superstition," said Ban.