unbeaten tracks in japan-第3章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃complexion〃 and of hair upon the face makes it nearly impossible
to judge of the ages of men。 I supposed that all the railroad
officials were striplings of 17 or 18； but they are men from 25 to
40 years old。
It was a beautiful day； like an English June day； but hotter； and
though the Sakura （wild cherry） and its kin； which are the glory of
the Japanese spring； are over； everything is a young； fresh green
yet； and in all the beauty of growth and luxuriance。 The immediate
neighbourhood of Yokohama is beautiful； with abrupt wooded hills；
and small picturesque valleys； but after passing Kanagawa the
railroad enters upon the immense plain of Yedo； said to be 90 miles
from north to south； on whose northern and western boundaries faint
blue mountains of great height hovered dreamily in the blue haze；
and on whose eastern shore for many miles the clear blue wavelets
of the Gulf of Yedo ripple； always as then； brightened by the white
sails of innumerable fishing…boats。 On this fertile and fruitful
plain stand not only the capital； with its million of inhabitants；
but a number of populous cities； and several hundred thriving
agricultural villages。 Every foot of land which can be seen from
the railroad is cultivated by the most careful spade husbandry； and
much of it is irrigated for rice。 Streams abound； and villages of
grey wooden houses with grey thatch； and grey temples with
strangely curved roofs； are scattered thickly over the landscape。
It is all homelike； liveable； and pretty； the country of an
industrious people； for not a weed is to be seen； but no very
striking features or peculiarities arrest one at first sight；
unless it be the crowds everywhere。
You don't take your ticket for Tokiyo； but for Shinagawa or
Shinbashi； two of the many villages which have grown together into
the capital。 Yedo is hardly seen before Shinagawa is reached； for
it has no smoke and no long chimneys； its temples and public
buildings are seldom lofty； the former are often concealed among
thick trees； and its ordinary houses seldom reach a height of 20
feet。 On the right a blue sea with fortified islands upon it；
wooded gardens with massive retaining walls； hundreds of fishing…
boats lying in creeks or drawn up on the beach； on the left a broad
road on which kurumas are hurrying both ways； rows of low； grey
houses； mostly tea…houses and shops； and as I was asking 〃Where is
Yedo？〃 the train came to rest in the terminus； the Shinbashi
railroad station； and disgorged its 200 Japanese passengers with a
combined clatter of 400 clogsa new sound to me。 These clogs add
three inches to their height； but even with them few of the men
attained 5 feet 7 inches； and few of the women 5 feet 2 inches； but
they look far broader in the national costume； which also conceals
the defects of their figures。 So lean； so yellow； so ugly； yet so
pleasant…looking； so wanting in colour and effectiveness； the women
so very small and tottering in their walk； the children so formal…
looking and such dignified burlesques on the adults； I feel as if I
had seen them all before； so like are they to their pictures on
trays； fans； and tea…pots。 The hair of the women is all drawn away
from their faces； and is worn in chignons； and the men； when they
don't shave the front of their heads and gather their back hair
into a quaint queue drawn forward over the shaven patch； wear their
coarse hair about three inches long in a refractory undivided mop。
Davies； an orderly from the Legation； met me；one of the escort
cut down and severely wounded when Sir H。 Parkes was attacked in
the street of Kiyoto in March 1868 on his way to his first audience
of the Mikado。 Hundreds of kurumas； and covered carts with four
wheels drawn by one miserable horse； which are the omnibuses of
certain districts of Tokiyo； were waiting outside the station； and
an English brougham for me； with a running betto。 The Legation
stands in Kojimachi on very elevated ground above the inner moat of
the historic 〃Castle of Yedo；〃 but I cannot tell you anything of
what I saw on my way thither； except that there were miles of dark；
silent； barrack…like buildings； with highly ornamental gateways；
and long rows of projecting windows with screens made of reedsthe
feudal mansions of Yedoand miles of moats with lofty grass
embankments or walls of massive masonry 50 feet high； with kiosk…
like towers at the corners； and curious； roofed gateways； and many
bridges； and acres of lotus leaves。 Turning along the inner moat；
up a steep slope； there are； on the right； its deep green waters；
the great grass embankment surmounted by a dismal wall overhung by
the branches of coniferous trees which surrounded the palace of the
Shogun； and on the left sundry yashikis； as the mansions of the
daimiyo were called； now in this quarter mostly turned into
hospitals； barracks； and Government offices。 On a height； the most
conspicuous of them all； is the great red gateway of the yashiki；
now occupied by the French Military Mission； formerly the residence
of Ii Kamon no Kami； one of the great actors in recent historic
events； who was assassinated not far off； outside the Sakaruda gate
of the castle。 Besides these； barracks； parade…grounds； policemen；
kurumas； carts pulled and pushed by coolies； pack…horses in straw
sandals； and dwarfish； slatternly…looking soldiers in European
dress； made up the Tokiyo that I saw between Shinbashi and the
Legation。
H。B。M。's Legation has a good situation near the Foreign Office；
several of the Government departments； and the residences of the
ministers； which are chiefly of brick in the English suburban villa
style。 Within the compound； with a brick archway with the Royal
Arms upon it for an entrance； are the Minister's residence； the
Chancery； two houses for the two English Secretaries of Legation；
and quarters for the escort。
It is an English house and an English home； though； with the
exception of a venerable nurse； there are no English servants。 The
butler and footman are tall Chinamen； with long pig…tails； black
satin caps； and long blue robes； the cook is a Chinaman； and the
other servants are all Japanese； including one female servant； a
sweet； gentle； kindly girl about 4 feet 5 in height； the wife of
the head 〃housemaid。〃 None of the servants speak anything but the
most aggravating 〃pidgun〃 English； but their deficient speech is
more than made up for by the intelligence and service of the
orderly in waiting； who is rarely absent from the neighbourhood of
the hall door； and attends to the visitors' book and to all
messages and notes。 There are two real English children of six and
seven； with great capacities for such innocent enjoyments as can be
found within the limits of the nursery and garden。 The other
inmate of the house is a beautiful and attractive terrier called
〃Rags；〃 a Skye dog； who unbends 〃in the bosom of his family；〃 but
ordinarily is as imposing in his demeanour as if he； and not his
master； represented the dignity of the British Empire。
The Japanese Secretary of Legation is Mr。 Ernest Satow； whose
reputation for scholarship； especially in the department of
history； is said by the Japanese themselves to be the highest in
Japan ｛3｝an honourable distinction for an Englishman； and won by
the persevering industry of fifteen years。 The scholarship
connected with the British Civil Service is not； however；
monopolised by Mr。 Satow； for several gentlemen in the consular
service； who are passing through the various grades of student
interpreters； are distinguishing themselves not alone by their
facility in colloquial Japanese； but by their researches in various
departments of Japanese history； mythology； archaeology； and
literature。 Indeed it is to their labours； and to those of a few
other Englishmen and Germans； that the Japanese of the rising
generation will be indebted for keeping alive not only the
knowledge of their archaic literature； but even of the manners and
customs of the first half of this century。
I。 L。 B。
LETTER IV
〃John Chinaman〃Engaging a ServantFirst Impressions of ItoA
Solemn ContractThe Food Question。
H。B。M。's LEGATION； YEDO；
June 7。
I went to Yokohama for a week to visit Dr。 and Mrs。 Hepburn on the
Bluff。 Bishop and Mrs。 Burdon of Hong Kong were also guests； and
it was very pleasant。
One cannot be a day in Yokohama without seeing quite a different
class of orientals from the small； thinly…dressed； and usually
poor…looking Japanese。 Of the 2500 Chinamen who reside in Japan；
over 1100 are in Yokohama； and if they were suddenly removed；
business would come to an abrupt halt。 Here； as everywhere； the
Chinese immigrant is making himself indispensable。 He walks
through the streets with his swinging gait and air of complete
self…complacency； as though he belonged to the ruling race。 He is
tall and big； and his many garments； with a handsome brocaded robe
over all； his satin pantaloons； of which not much is seen； tight at
the ankles； and his high shoes； whose black satin tops are slightly
turned up at the toes； make him look even taller and bigger than he
is。 His head is mostly shaven； but the hair at the back is plaited
with a quantity of black purse twist into a queue which reaches to
his knees； above which； set well back； he wears a stiff； black
satin skull…cap； without which he is never seen。 His face is very
yellow； his long dark eyes and eyebrows slope upwards towards his
temples； he has not the vestige of a beard； and his skin is shiny。
He looks thoroughly 〃well…to…do。〃 He is not unpleasing…looking；
but you feel that as a Celestial he looks down upon you。 If you
ask a question in a merchant's office； or change your gold into
satsu； or take your railroad or steamer ticket； or get change in a
shop； the inevitable Chinaman appears。 In the street he swings
past you with a purpose in his face； as he flies past you in a
kuruma he is bent on business； he is sober and reliable； and is
content to 〃squeeze〃 his employer rather than to rob himhis one
aim in life is money。 For this he is industrious； faithful； self…
denying； and he has his reward。
Several of my kind new acquaintances interested themselves about
the （to me） vital matter of a servant interpreter； and many
Japanese came to 〃see after the place。〃 The speaking of
intelligible English is a sine qua non； and it was wonderful to
find the few words badly pronounced and worse put together； which
were regarded by the candidates as a sufficient qualification。 Can
you speak English？ 〃Yes。〃 What wages do you ask？ 〃Twelve dollars
a month。〃 This was always said glibly； and in each case sounded
hopeful。 Whom have you lived with？ A foreign name distorted out
of all recognition； as was natural； was then given。 Where have you
travelled？ This question usually had to be translated into
Japanese； and the usual answer was； 〃The Tokaido； the Nakasendo； to
Kiyoto； to Nikko；〃 naming the beaten tracks of countless tourists。
Do you know anything of Northern Japan and the Hokkaido？ 〃No；〃
with a blank wondering look。 At this stage in every case Dr。
Hepburn compassionately stepped in as interpreter； for their stock
of English was exhausted
