and he afterwards performed hara-kiri in the garden.  On the third day of the fourth month of the fourth year of the period Tenmei (A.D. 1784), a Hatamoto named Sano, having received his sentence in the supreme court-house, disembowelled himself in the garden in front of the prison.  When the ceremony takes place in the garden, matting must be spread all the way to the place, so that sandals need not be worn.  The reason for this is that some men in that position suffer from a rush of blood to the head, from nervousness, so their sandals might slip off their feet without their being aware of their loss; and as this would have a very bad appearance, it is better to spread matting.  Care must be taken lest, in spreading the matting, a place be left where two mats join, against which the foot might trip.  The white screens and other things are prepared as has been directed above.  If any curtailment is made, it must be done as well as circumstances will permit.  According to the crime of which a man who is handed over to any Daimio’s charge is guilty, it is known whether he will have to perform hara-kiri; and the preparations should be made accordingly.  Asano Takumi no Kami was taken to the palace of Tamura Sama at the hour of the monkey (between three and five in the afternoon), took off his dress of ceremony, partook of a bowl of soup and five dishes, and drank two cups of warm water, and at the hour of the cock (between five and seven in the evening) disembowelled himself.  A case of this kind requires much attention; for great care should be taken that the preparations be carried on without the knowledge of the principal.  If a temporary room has been built expressly for the occasion, to avoid pollution to the house, it should be kept a secret.  It once happened that a criminal was received in charge at the palace of a certain nobleman, and when his people were about to erect a temporary building for the ceremony, they wrote to consult some of the parties concerned; the letter ran as follows—­

“The house in which we live is very small and inconvenient in all respects.  We have ordered the guard to treat our prisoner with all respect; but our retainers who are placed on guard are much inconvenienced for want of space; besides, in the event of fire breaking out or any extraordinary event taking place, the place is so small that it would be difficult to get out.  We are thinking, therefore, of adding an apartment to the original building, so that the guard may be able at all times to go in and out freely, and that if, in case of fire or otherwise, we should have to leave the house, we may do so easily.  We beg to consult you upon this point.”