me a priest most strangely dressed for
this land. Approaching them he said--"Is this the house of Baryu?" At the
fisherman's acknowledgement--"Has a girl come here?... Dead! Deign to let
this foolish cleric hang eyes upon her." Baryu thought he would take his
turn at questions. "And you; whence from?" "From Fudarakusan in the
Nankai." "Get you hence, frantic interloper," broke in Baryu with grief
and anger. "Enough has this Baryu heard of Fudarakusan. Baryu must needs
observe his state as widower. The month must pass before he seeks a wife.
And more than half its days remain! But look." Mollified by the humble
attitude of the priest he went and raised the coverlet from the woman's
body. He uttered a cry of surprise. "Oya! Oya! She has disappeared. There
is naught here but a wooden image. Ma! Ma! what a curious figure--with
scroll and fish basket, just as the wife appeared at the beach. This is
what one reads of in books." He turned to the priest in wonder and as
seeking explanation. Said the latter with earnest and noble
emphasis--"Favoured has been this Baryu. The Kwannon of Fudarakusan of
Nankai has shown herself before his very eyes. For the reform of this
wicked people, to teach them the holy writing, she has condescended to
submit to the embraces of the fisherman. Let not Baryu think of other
marriage. For him has come the call to leave this world. Fail not to
obey." Baryu rushed to the door, to catch but a glimpse of the departing
form. All sign of the priest quickly faded. Baryu returned to the wooden
figure lying where once had reposed the body of the beautiful girl. It was
a most unsatisfactory substitute for the flesh and blood original. But
Baryu made the most of it. He took his vow. He shaved his head, becoming a
priest to recite and preach the sutra of the Lady Kwannon. Hence this
Kwannon is known as the Baryufu Kwannon--wife of Baryu the fisherman.
Hence she is called the Kwannon of the fish basket, in honour of the aid
she brought the people of this village and land.

CHAPTER XXII

THE RITES FOR O'IWA SAN

Iemo[u]n fared as badly at the hands of the Buddha as at those of the
Kami. Shu[u]den Osho[u], as guardian of the sacred image of the
Gyo[u]ran Kwannon, was a very great man indeed. After some delay the
deputation from Samoncho[u] was ushered into his presence, Iemon made
profound obeisance and explained the cause of their presence. The
visitations of O'Iwa to the district were causing the gre