A Trip To Dai-Butsu.

Considering that the mountain is about forty miles off , we are anything but credulous ; but still it may be so—we would not for worlds contradict a man on his own territory , besides which our guide assures us that the cave has only been blocked recentlysince two

adven-, turous Englishmen ( our guide was most positive that they owned no other country ) started at the Enoshima end with a week ' s provisions , intending to come out at the summit of the volcano . As nothing was ever heard of them afterwardsthe way

, was blocked lest any others should become their disciples . The rocks were lined with | ths nude natives ready to show their daring by diving into the frothy waves , for any small consideration in the way of cumshaw thrown into the water . Some

of them would rescue the smallest coin from a very whirlpool , being the place where two billows met round an enormous boulder . Twilight was , however , deepening , so we hurried on to get the stepclimbing over before it became dark . We saw some fine old temples and monuments ,

and just before reaching the top of the hill , we passed into a lovely , turf-covered , shaded avenue , leading under the rustic wooden archway , which in Japan denotes the road to all temples , right up to one of the most picturesque idol houses we had ever seen . Dr . Ives' aphorism slightly

altered" Wherever God erects a house of prayer , The devil always builds a . public near , '' is no less true of Japan , for the next house was a tea-house , where we paused a few moments whilst drinking a cup of ochar . Reaching the village we had time to

inspect the fancywork m several shops , Nearly the whole of the women and children of Enoshima are employed making toys and ornaments of sea shells and weeds . Some of the specimens were very beautiful , flowers and birds being represented with an accuracy that could alone be gained b y

long experience . Reaching our quarters , boots and coats were thrown off , and we settled clown to cards , our coolie employing the time that he was not dozing , in replenishing our glasses and snuffing the long sixteens

which had been provided by our landlord . Occasionally the noise of the samisen ( native lute ) reached us from the house opposite , with singing and laughter ; but our wary old host knowing that if we only ran across for a few minutes , he

would probably have to wait up for us till midnight , had locked all the doors and forgotten where he had put the keys , so we were obliged to rest contented , turning in , no doubt , much earlier than if we had gone out . Our hostess had brought in a plentiful supply of bedding , leaving us to

choose our own positions , and make up according to taste . Japanese houses are the most convenient it is , possible to conceive . Our room consisted of a grass-matted area of about

30 feet by 20 , whose walls were sliding frames of wood and paper ; between the grass mats on the floor , there is a stri p of polished wood with a

groove — something like that on our tramwaysoverhead in the ceiling runs another groove , corresponding to the one below .

Into any of these , light frames of paper and wood may be fitted , run up close to each other so as to partition off any part of the larger surface , and in this way ten or a dozen rooms may be built up in a few minutes . New-comers to the countryon leaving some spacious room

, and returning after a few minutes , are often utterly bewildered by such changes , and the natives , especially the fair sex , are fond of such surprises , and will lang h heartily at the foreigner ' s perplexed looks . We slept soundly , and on turning out in