In one of their festivals they make pilgrimages at night to the graves of their friends, on which they place food and hang lamps.  It is said they believe their ancestors to come from heaven to them on these occasions, and imagine that they return again in small boats, to which they attach lanterns, and which they place on the water at ebb-tide, on the evening of the last day of the festival, and eagerly watch, out of sight.  An old fisherman, however, who was observed intently watching his frail bark floating out to sea, explained, on being questioned, that he whose lamp burnt longest caught most fish; and judging from the old man’s solemn manner there was no doubt he had perfect faith in the truth of his statement.

However gross their superstitions may he, there is no doubt that they affectionately revere the memory of their dead, and treat them with quite as much respect as the most civilised nation in Christendom.

In battle the Japanese always carry off the fallen.

At the bombardment of the Simono-seki forts, at the entrance of the Suwo-Nada, or ‘Inland Sea,’ in September 1864, Prince Choisiu’s loss, according to one of his own officers, amounted to upwards of 500 killed and wounded; but all had been removed when the brigade of English, French, and Dutch, under the command of Colonel Suther, C.B., Royal Marines, took possession of the forts early next day.  At the storming of a stockade (which was pluckily defended) by two battalions of Royal Marines and the light-armed companies of the British squadron, the Japanese were noticed carrying away their dead and wounded, and several were unfortunately shot while thus employed.[6]

A few nights afterwards large fires were noticed in the interior, which were said to be the funeral pyres of those who had fallen in the defence of the forts and stockade.

[Footnote 6:  The whole of the operations, with the exception of the storming of the stockade, which took place late in the day after the French and Dutch had embarked, were under the personal superintendence of the English and French admirals.]

The illustration representing the last offices, depicts a custom of Buddhist origin which is generally adopted by the Japanese.  They believe that shaving the head of the dead propitiates the deities in their favour.  It is also considered to be an emblem of sanctity, and the bonzes, or priests, always keep their heads clean-shaved.  Even children intended for the priesthood, as well as certain religious societies of both sexes, are similarly distinguished.  Odder-looking creatures than these bald-headed specimens of humanity can hardly be imagined.

[Illustration:  Itinerant Sweetmeat Vendor. (Native drawing.)]

The itinerant sweetmeat vendor shown in the woodcut is a specimen of the class of Japanese most prone to superstition.  The lantern he carries serves not only to light his way but to advertise his wares:  it also bears his name, no Japanese of the lower orders being allowed to stroll about at night without a lantern so distinguished.