The family in the house-boat witnessing a pyrotechnic display in the bay of Yeddo, may be regarded as a faithful representation of a Daimio’s party enjoying the naiboen.  The great man in his light summer robe has apparently cast aside the cares of office, and seems thoroughly to enjoy the cool evening breeze and the society of his wives, only one of whom has a legal claim to that title, by right of which she takes precedence of the others.  Of the two bonzes, or priests, in the stem of the boat, one, probably, is a member of the family, and the other its spy, for even naiboen excursions are not exempted from espionage:  indeed the Japanese are so habituated to this custom that they generally regard it as a necessary check upon themselves.  Naiboen excursions to the tea-houses are very frequent, notice being sent previously in order to insure proper accommodation and privacy:  the latter precaution being principally taken on account of the ladies of the family, who never go beyond the palace except in a norimon guarded by armed retainers.

[Illustration:  A Daimio and family witnessing Fireworks.]

In their homes, the aristocracy are as simple in their habits as the rest of the people.  They are much given to study, the favourite subjects being poetry,[3] history, astronomy, and logic.  The children are usually taught the rudiments of education by their mothers, and as they advance in years, are either privately instructed by masters or sent to the great schools at Miako, which are said to be attended by upwards of four thousand scholars.

[Footnote 3:  A very interesting volume of translations of Japanese Lyrical Odes has lately been published by F.V.  Dickins, Esq.  M.B.:  Smith, Elder, & Co.]

CHAPTER V.

The court of the Mikado.

The spiritual Emperor of Japan is supposed to be a direct descendant of the gods, and as such enjoys the adoration, as well as the fealty of his subjects.  Unfortunately, his divine attributes deprive him of the free exercise of his human functions, as his feet are never permitted to touch the ground out of doors; nor is he allowed to cut his hair, beard, or nails, or to expose himself to the rays of the sun, which, would detract from the excellency of his person.  His principal titles are, ‘Zen Zi’—­’Son of Heaven;’ ‘Mikado,’—­’Emperor;’ and ‘Dairi,’ or ‘Kinrai,’—­’Grand Interior:’  the latter denoting the perpetual seclusion of his person.  It is said that his ancestry can be traced in an unbroken line from nearly 700 years before the Christian era.

The Mikado never goes beyond the precincts of the Imperial residence, which occupies a large portion of the city of Miako, comprising numerous palaces and gardens; and connected with it are the schools alluded to in the last chapter, which are established on the plan of a university, and are much resorted to by the children of the nobility.