the
crossroads of town or village, or on the Yokohama Bluff. Or in times of
epidemic in numbers they are laid on the wayside shrine of the god of
measles or other disease. The latter disposition conveys its own
warning; the others are _majinai_ or charms by which it is hoped to
transfer the disease to some other child, thus insuring the cure of the
first sufferer. The coin has been rubbed on the body of the little
patient. Dogs usually dispose of the food offering; and passing children
are only too likely to pick up the nefarious coin. The road cleaner
comes along at his rare intervals and sweeps the chaplet into the hole
for refuse. It is to be regretted that the ignorance and malevolence
indicated by these charms cannot as easily be gathered in and disposed
of. With these remarks the Yotsuya Kwaidan and its tale of ill-fortune
is brought to an end.

YOKOHAMA,
5th June-4th July,
1916.

FINIS

APPENDICES

A

[In printed copies of the _gidayu_ the characters are to be
distinguished by their theme, only the term _kotoba_ is used to mark a
speaker. The shading into descriptive writing is at times vague. In the
present translation the characters are indicated. The original figures
in most _gidayu_ collections. Cf., "Gidayu Hyakuban," p. 271.]

The Gidayu:

Tsuruya Namboku was a writer of drama. Many are the persons called
Namboku. The three preceding generations were actors who played in
buffoon parts. In the fourth generation for the first time was taken up
the literary work of play-writing. The Namboku in the fourth generation,
Yo[u]myo[u] Genzo[u], later known as Inosuke, was born at
Motohamacho[u]. The father carried on the business of _katatsuki_ dyer,
(handling the cloth to be more or less gaily patterned). Anei 4th year
(1775), entering at the Kanai Sansho[u] no Mon he (_Yo[u]myo[u]_) took
the name of Katsu Byo[u]zo[u]. Later he received the name of Nan Tsuruya
Boku. When he became a playwright he was about fifty years old. His
plays are most ingenious, and are very numerous. Among them are the
"Osome Hisomatsu," "Iro-yomi-uri," "Sumidagawa Hana Gosho[u]," "Yotsuya
Kwaidan." In the playhouse they are known (collectively) as the "Namboku
Mono."

IEMON SUMIKA NO DAN

(Scene in the house of Iemon)

Now to present it:--Already on that day--ko[u], ko[u]--the bell of
sunset had issued its call. In the hedges were heard sounds of the
swarms of insects. Still more lonely was the de