THE RÔNINS INVITE RÔTSUKÉ NO SUKÉ TO PERFORM HARA-KIRI THE WELL IN WHICH THE HEAD WAS WASHED THE SATSUMA MAN INSULTS OISHI KURANOSUKÉ THE TOMBS OF THE RÔNINS THE TOMB OF THE SHIYOKU GOMPACHI AWAKENED BY THE MAIDEN IN THE ROBBERS' DEN FORGING THE SWORD MATAGORÔ KILLS YUKIYÉ THE DEATH OF DANYÉMON TRICKS OF SWORDSMANSHIP AT ASAKUSA THE DEATH OF CHÔBEI OF BANDZUIN FUNAKOSHI JIUYÉMON ON BOARD THE PIRATE SHIP JIUYÉMON PUNISHES HIS WIFE AND THE WRESTLER FUNAKOSHI JIUYÉMON AND THE GOBLINS "GOKUMON" CHAMPION WRESTLER A WRESTLING MATCH GENZABURÔ'S MEETING WITH THE ETA MAIDEN THE TONGUE-CUT SPARROW THE TONGUE-CUT SPARROW (2) THE ACCOMPLISHED AND LUCKY TEA-KETTLE THE ACCOMPLISHED AND LUCKY TEA-KETTLE (2) THE HARE AND THE BADGER THE HARE AND THE BADGER (2) THE OLD MAN WHO CAUSED WITHERED TREES TO FLOWER THE OLD MAN WHO CAUSED WITHERED TREES TO FLOWER (2) THE APE AND THE CRAB THE APE AND THE CRAB (2) LITTLE PEACHLING LITTLE PEACHLING (2) THE FOXES' WEDDING THE FOXES' WEDDING (2) THE DEPUTATION OF PEASANTS AT THEIR LORD'S GATE THE GHOST OF SAKURA SÔGORÔ THRUSTING THE PETITION INTO THE SHOGUN'S LITTER THE CAT OF NABÉSHIMA THE FEAST OF INARI SAMA A JAPANESE SERMON THE FORTY-SEVEN RÔNINS The books which have been written of late years about Japan have either been compiled from official records, or have contained the sketchy impressions of passing travellers. Of the inner life of the Japanese the world at large knows but little: their religion, their superstitions, their ways of thought, the hidden springs by which they move--all these are as yet mysteries. Nor is this to be wondered at. The first Western men who came in contact with Japan--I am speaking not of the old Dutch and Portuguese traders and priests, but of the diplomatists and merchants of eleven years ago--met with a cold reception. Above all things, the native Government threw obstacles in the way of any inquiry into their language, literature, and history. The fact was that the Tycoon's Government--with whom alone, so long as the Mikado remained in seclusion in his sacred capital at Kiôto, any relations were maintained--knew that the Imperial purple with which they sought to invest their chief must quickly fade before the strong sunlight which would be brought upon it so soon as there should be European linguists capable of examining their books and records. No opportunity was lost of throwing dust in the eyes of the new-comers, whom, even in the most trifling details, it was the official policy to lead astray. Now, however, there is no cause for concealment; the _Roi Fainéant_ has shaken off his sloth, and his _Maire du Palais_, together, and an intelligible Government, which need not fear scrutiny from abroad, is the result: the records of the country being but so many proofs of the Mikado's title to power, there is no reason for keeping up any show of mystery. The path of inquiry is open to all;