6. Sho ko in; vacant, but the revenues are held by No. 5. 7. Say ray in Monzekke: is known as Awata Mia. He is of the Fusimi family. The income is 1,330 koku. 8. Chi wong in Monzekke, of the Arisungawa family. The temple is in Miako, and he is the head of the Jodoshiu sect of Buddhists. 9. Kwajooji is vacant. 10. Itchi jo in Monzekke. The temple is in Narra, and is very old. Held by one of the house of Fusimi. 11. Kaji ee Monzekke, of the Tendai sect. Of the family of Fusimi, with an income of 1,600 koku. 12. Manjo in Monzekke is vacant. 13. Bissa mondo Monzekke is also vacant. 14. Emmang in Monzekke, commonly called Medora, in the province of Owomi, is also vacant. All these bishoprics, as they may be called, are held, or may be held, by Sinwo or sons of Sinwo. But as it is in many countries, both European and Eastern, as necessary and as difficult to dispose of the females of high families as the males, they also are in many cases provided for. There are twenty-four temples or nunneries which are, or may be, under the superintendence of daughters or relatives of the four royal families. 1. Daijoji, in Miako; of this temple a daughter of the Emperor was formerly abbess. 2. Hokio ji. 3. Dan kay in. 4. Ko shio in. 5. Ray gan ji, held by one of the Fusimi family, who has the title of Nio-wo, or Queen of Nuns. 6. Yenshoji, in Narra, the ecclesiastical metropolis of Japan. 7. Rin kinji. 8. Chiu goji and sixteen others of lower class. Many of them are, however, unoccupied; partly, perhaps, from want of ladies of the royal family to fill them, and partly from failure of zeal for the Buddhist religion all over the country. The laws with reference to the perpetuity of the vows of these priests and priestesses do not seem to be very strict, as we find that, when opportunity offers, the garb is thrown off, the hair is allowed to grow, and he or she mixes again in the world in whatever capacity their worldliness, their ambition, or their sense, has prompted them to desire. It has been stated that the Emperor, as the fountain of honor, reserves to himself the sole right of conferring titles and rank. This reservation throws great political power into his hands, the acquisition of title and rank being, with rare exceptions, an object of the highest ambition to a Japanese. The amount of business connected with this power is great, and may be said to have been for many years the sole occupation for the Miako court. A special office and officers are set apart within the palace inclosure for carrying on the correspondence and settling disputes connected with the department. RANKS OF MEN IN JAPAN