On the sixth month, the first day, ice. It is a custom in Japan to use ice upon that day. On the sixth and seventh months, muskmelon. In hot weather, in summer, anything he thinks may please. On the sixth day of the ninth month, one obang (a large gold coin, worth above £6) or more. During the ninth and tenth months, persimmons--the best come from Mino. During the eleventh month, tea, cakes, fish, saki and Owarri radishes, which are very large and fine. During the twelfth month, fish, persimmons, storks, which are supposed to be a royal bird, and only for the table of the Shiogoon; but many people eat them. A present from an inferior to a superior, as from a Daimio to the Shiogoon, is “Kenjio”; the reverse is “Hyrio.” The Shiogoon is said to have called in proclamation the steamer “Emperor,” presented to him by her majesty the Queen of England, “Kenjio.” The Shiogoon has also four secretaries for private business, and others for government business. There are professors or teachers of the works and writings of Confucius. There is a school or college for the study of foreign books; but the school was lately entirely remodeled, and greater encouragement given to the study of foreign languages, books, and arts and sciences. There is an observatory, with astronomers, compilers of the almanac, etc. Nineteen physicians attend upon the Shiogoon, five of whom practice after the European system, and fourteen after the Chinese. There are five surgeons, of whom one practices according to the European system, and medical officers for treatment by acupuncture--_i.e._, by insertion of fine needles. These are fine flexible wires, not so strong as those used in imitation of them in Europe, but requiring a tube to be used for their insertion to prevent the needles bending. There are also dentists and oculists and medical men for attending officers on duty at the castle, and others for attending officers who are outside the castle. There is one medical man for vaccination, together with consulting physicians; and also doctors to look after the sick poor and destitute. There is or was a public hospital at Koishikawa. There is an officer who may be called poet-laureate. There are musicians to the court, and teachers of the Sinto religion; also teachers of a game, a kind of chess, as well as chess itself. After these are the keepers of the wicket-gate by which females go out or come in, and men to look out from a lofty platform. Such are always raised in Diamio’s houses, to enable the watchmen to look down upon the surrounding streets by day, and to look out for fires by night. There are keepers of the jewels belonging to the Shiogoon. There is one officer who looks after the food for the Shiogoon, and keeps the accounts of the expenditure of the table, as well as inspectors of rice for the use of the Shiogoon himself. The head-cook superintends the kitchen, and there are also cooks for guests.