I put the case of theft into Mitford’s hands, who, having engaged the servants, offered to guarantee their honesty with his life, or rather undergo torture on the wheel if any act of dishonesty could be brought against any one of them. However, before breakfast was announced, the culprit was discovered to be the Japanese lamp-trimmer, and not only was my watch restored, but knives, gold rings, and money belonging to others were found in his possession. The only difficulty now will be to save the unfortunate wretch from decapitation. A guard of fifty marines having been landed from the _Adventure_, we had a late breakfast, and with the Legation mounted escort, a Jap ditto, and streets lined in a way, we proceeded in two carriages for the Mikado’s residence within the moat and castle walls. [Sidenote: Sept. 6.] The Prince, Parkes, and self were the principal persons, and, in fact, the only ones admitted into the same room as His Majesty. No presentations took place and everything was as formal as need be, but exceedingly curious. A more friendly meeting took place afterwards at a small bungalow in the pleasure grounds of the castle, which are very extensive. Mitford acted as interpreter, and the exclusiveness surrounding the Mikado’s person was broken through. The Prince presented him with a beautiful gold box, on the lid of which a miniature of himself was set in diamonds. After dinner on Saturday (4th) we had theatricals in the evening. Performers all women; acting supposed to be very good, and the greatest decorum preserved throughout. Yesterday morning we witnessed a game of cup and ball on a large scale, which took place on a plot of ground railed off for the occasion. A number of horsemen, about eight on each side, compete in throwing the greatest number of balls through a hole in a planking at the end of the ground, which is about two hundred yards in length by twenty broad. The balls are red and white. The riders are distinguished by their costume, which is very picturesque. Each man is armed with a staff of bamboo, about five feet long, at the end of which is a sort of cup, by which they manage to pick up the balls, which are, in the first place, thrown on the ground on the opposite end from the board in which the hole is. They then ride towards it and throw the ball at the hole and go back for another. The balls bound back within the enclosed ground, and are again picked up. The saddle is never quitted. They jostle one another, knock the balls from each other’s staffs, pick up and throw altogether away the balls of their adversaries. A signal from behind points out the number and colour of the balls that have passed through the hole.