5 Now solidly united with the mainland. Many extraordinary changes, of
rare interest to the physiographer and geologist, have actually taken
place along the coast of Izumo and in the neighbourhood of the great
lake. Even now, each year some change occurs. I have seen several very
strange ones.
6 The Hakuja, or White Serpent, is also the servant of Benten, or
Ben-zai-ten, Goddess of Love, of Beauty, of Eloquence, and of the Sea.
'The Hakuja has the face of an ancient man, with white eyebrows and
wears upon its head a crown.' Both goddess and serpent can be identified
with ancient Indian mythological beings, and Buddhism first introduced
both into Japan. Among the people, especially perhaps in Izumo, certain
divinities of Buddhism are often identified, or rather confused, with
certain Kami, in popular worship and parlance.
Since this sketch was written, I have had opportunity of seeing a Ryu-ja
within a few hours after its capture. It was between two and three feet
long, and about one inch in diameter at its thickest girth The upper
part of the body was a very dark brown, and the belly yellowish white;
toward the tail there were some beautiful yellowish mottlings. The body
was not cylindrical, but curiously four-sided--like those elaborately
woven whip-lashes which have four edges. The tail was flat and
triangular, like that of certain fish. A Japanese teacher, Mr. Watanabe,
of the Normal School of Matsue, identified the little creature as a
hydrophid of the species called Pelamis bicalor. It is so seldom seen,
however, that I think the foregoing superficial description of it may
not be without interest to some readers.
7 Ippyo, one hyo; 2 1/2 hyo make one koku = 5.13 bushels. The word hyo
means also the bag made to contain one hyo.
8 Either at Kitzuki or at Sada it is possible sometimes to buy a
serpent. On many a 'household-god-shelf' in Matsue the little serpent
may be seen. I saw one that had become brittle and black with age, but
was excellently preserved by some process of which I did not learn the
nature. It had been admirably posed in a tiny wire cage, made to fit
exactly into a small shrine of white wood, and must have been, when
alive, about two feet four inches in length. A little lamp was lighted
daily before it, and some Shinto formula recited by the poor family to
whom it belonged.
9 Translated by Professor Chamberlain the 'Deity
Master-of-the-Great-Land'-one of the most ancient divinities of Japan,
but in popular worship confounded with Daikoku, God of Wealth. His son,
Koto-shiro-nushi-no-Kami, is similarly confounded with Ebisu, or Yebisu,
the patron of honest labour. The origin of the Shinto custom of clapping
the hands in prayer is said by some Japanese writers to have been a sign
given by Koto-shiro-nushi-no-Kami.
Both deities are represented by Japanese art in a variety of ways, Some
of the twin images of them sold at Kitzuki are extremely pretty as well
as curious.
10 Very large donations are made to this temple by wealthy men. The
wooden tablets without the Haiden, on which are recorded the number of
gifts and the names of the donors, mention several recent presents of
1000 yen, or dollars; and donations of 500 yen are not uncommon. The
gift of a high civil official is rarely less than 50 yen.