h a large quantity of hair on the top mixed
with flowers and ribbons. Her costume was magnificent--sky-blue crape,
embroidered with gold and silver, and a profusion of flowers. It was
lined with a bright scarlet silk wadding, which formed a train on the
ground. Only a part, however, was visible, as the silken belt round the
waist allowed it only very slightly to open. She wore a very broad
sash, also of black silk, tied behind in an immense knot. The sleeves
of her dress reached only to the elbow. She had no other ornaments; and
her feet were encased in white cotton socks. Alas! however, her skin
was completely covered with rice-powder, damped, so that it might the
better adhere. Her eyebrows were shaven, as those of all married ladies
are. Her lips were dyed of a bright red colour, and her teeth were
black and polished as ebony. Yet we could judge of what she would have
been by her exquisitely-chiselled nose, and black expressive eyes. We
saw also several of her children, the younger ones dressed in crape of
various colours, the others dressed much as their mother; but their
teeth were beautifully white, their eyebrows unshorn; and very pretty
little creatures they were. We remained for another repast, which
commenced by the servants bringing in, and placing before each person on
the table, which was eighteen inches high, a handsome gold and black
lacquered cup and saucer, with a pair of chop-sticks. Some very nice
chicken soup, with vegetables, were in the cup. After this came a
similar bowl, containing venison, duck, and sweet jelly, all mixed up
together. We found it very difficult eating with the chop-sticks, and
Emily and Grace could not help looking up every now and then and
laughing at each other as they made the attempt. We managed better with
some harder things, such as fish. The last dish contained boiled
chestnuts, peeled. This was placed in the centre of the table, so that
each person could help himself.

The lady afterwards came to pay a return visit to our friend's wife.
She and her elder children arrived each in a _norimon_. This is a sort
of litter slung to a bamboo pole, each end of which is carried on a
man's shoulder. A cushion is placed at the bottom, so as to come up at
one end for the back, at the other for the knees; and the person sits
crouched up in rather an awkward position. There is a flat covering, on
which the lady's slippers, fan, smoking apparatus, and other articles