THE YO[U]TAKA (NIGHT-HAWKS) OF HONJO[U]
O'Iwa's stay of nearly seven days at Cho[u]bei's house was one of the
golden periods of her life. O'Taki received the Ojo[u]san with humble
joy. Iémon could not drop Cho[u]bei out of his life of prosperity. O'Iwa
was soon brought in contact with the humble pair in adversity. Hers was
a generous heart, and O'Taki could not look around her house without
some indication of this kindness. Her sympathy with the wronged wife was
great. A husband--thriftless, a gambler, inconsiderate--of such a one
she had some experience. By the same means this lady was brought to her
present pass. It roused her indignation. As to brutality; that was
another matter. She squared her stout shoulders and looked derisively at
the loose angularity of Cho[u]bei, his rickety physique. But the storm
would pass. Ito[u] Sama, Kondo[u] Sama, Myo[u]zen Osho[u], all these
were agreed. The Ojo[u]san now out of his reach, without a home to go
to, and only hostile faces met with in the ward, Iémon Sama would soon
come to terms. Would the Ojo[u]san deign to honour their humble home as
long as she liked. She at once suppressed O'Iwa's rather futile attempts
to aid in her rough household work. It had been the lady's part to
direct her maids in their more repugnant tasks, and now brought right
under her hand in this plebeian household. O'Iwa never had undergone the
harsher lot of her mother O'Mino.
Cho[u]bei in his way was as kind as his wife. At once he devoted
himself to the repair of his property. When O'Iwa produced the paste and
lotion of Suian Sensei, as sovereign for the complexion, Cho[u]bei took
them, smelled and carefully tasted, and finally put some of the paste on
the end of the _hashi_ or sticks to arrange the charcoal in the
_hibachi_. A smell of garlic pervaded the room. He noted the puffy face
of O'Iwa, the unnatural, almost ghastly, white of the skin where the
wide pockmarks permitted it to be seen. Within the circles of these
scars there was a curious striated effect, only seen at times in the
efforts of artists to depict the supernatural, or of savages to frighten
their foes. It gave a drawn cadaverous look to the lower part of the
face. "There is more in it than _that_," mused Cho[u]bei. During her
stay O'Iwa had one of her attacks--of nerves--in fact a true epileptic
seizure. Cho[u]bei put an embargo at once on all remedies but his own.
Cynically, he added--"But elsewhere there will be no Cho[u]bei. If the
Okusama deigns to apply the drugs of Suian Sensei where she now goes,
doubtless she will find early relief. At present they spoil Cho[u]bei's
efforts." The clever rascal at once recognized his fellow in Suian,
bribed to render O'Iwa more hideous than Nature had made her, to take
away her womanhood and hope of an heir to the Tamiya. To poison her?
That he doubted; although the ignorance of leech and victim might
readily lead to such result.
Within the seven days O'Iwa San once more could show herself in public.
It was now Cho[u]bei's part to carry the plot to completion. Iémon, at
the proposition, had said--"Sell her as a night-hawk! An ugly woman like
that no one will approach."--"'Tis Cho[u]bei's trade," said the pimp
coolly. "In Yoshidamachi they have noses--over night. Between dark and
dawn the member melts, becomes distorted, and has to be made. It has
served its purpose. This is Cho[u]bei's affair. Provided that O'Iwa
never again troubles the presence of Iémon Sama the object is
attained."--"That is true. Do what you please. Kill her, if desired.
O'Iwa in the Yotsuya; and Cho[u]bei feels the wrath of Ito[u] Dono, of
this Iémon." Unwillingly he signed the contract required by Cho[u]bei.
He gave the latter a fee of ten _ryo[u]_ for the excision of this
excrescence, and with a sigh of joy learned of the disappearance in
company of the pimp and O'Iwa. Within three days carpenters and other
workmen swarmed over the Tamiya in Samoncho[u]. The master made ready
for his return.
O'Taki had gone forth on a mission for Cho[u]bei. This would insure her
absence for the greater part of the day. Said Cho[u]bei--"Deign,
Okusama, to allow Cho[u]bei to prove his art. All his accomplishments
have not been displayed." To pass off the ugly woman at night could be
done. He was compelled to act by daylight; though relying somewhat on
the dusky interior of Toémon's entrance and reception room. This Toémon
was the chief of the guild which bought and controlled these unfortunate
street-walkers, lowest of their class. Cho[u]bei sat down before O'Iwa.
As if in an actor's room he was surrounded with a battery of brushes and
spatulas, pastes, paints of all shades of greys, flesh colour,
pinks--even reds. Under his skilful hands O'Iwa was transformed. To make
her beautiful was impossible. He made her passable. The weather was
cold, though spring was now close at hand. Cho[u]bei hesitated. The walk
was a long one. His handiwork might fade or melt under the sweating
induced by effort. Besides he had no desire for conversation. There were
to be as few answers to curious questions as possible. In his house he
had left the two women to themselves, and saw O'Iwa only when O'Taki was
present. So he called a _kago_ and gave the necessary directions. As the
coolies moved off with their fair burden he trotted along in the rear,
his project occupying his busy mind.
The place of Toémon was at Yoshidacho[u] Nicho[u]me, in the centre of
the Warigesui district. To the north was the canal of that name. To the
south a second canal ditto; the second stream was the larger, fairer,
and more pretentious South Warigesui. An equal distance to the east was
the Ho[u]onji Bashi, with the great temple of that name just across the
bounding river or canal of the district. As the _kago_ bearers ambled
down the bank of the North Warigesui, O'Iwa thought she had never seen a
more filthy stream than this back-water with its stale current. The
bearers put them down at the canal. Cho[u]bei had some directions to
give during the short walk of a couple of hundred yards to their
destination. Said he--"For a _samurai_ woman to engage in this business
is a serious offence. After all the matter is mere form; a pledge to
secure the return of the sealed paper forged by the husband. The wife
performs her highest duty in saving the honour of the House. Is not that
true?" There was a little sob in O'Iwa's voice as she gave assent. She
felt different now that she was close at hand to the scene and crisis of
her trial. Continued Cho[u]bei--"The agreement has been made out as with
O'Iwa, daughter of Kanémon, the younger brother of this Cho[u]bei and
green-grocer of Abegawacho[u] of Asakusa. Deign to remember that the
twenty _ryo[u]_ is needed to save a father in peril of default and
imprisonment."--"The cases are not so different," whispered O'Iwa. "Just
so," said Cho[u]bei. "Here is the place. Condescend to wait a moment,
here at the entrance." Briskly he entered the house. "A request to
make!"--"Ah! Is it Cho[u]bei San? The Danna Sama is absent for the day,
at the office of the ward magistrate. Some drunkard considers that he
has been robbed. The girl he accused was punished--perhaps unjustly. All
the women of this house are honest."--"Beyond repair," laughed
Cho[u]bei. "However, the other matter has been agreed on. The girl is
here. An uncontrollable jade! The master has deigned to aid Cho[u]bei.
Thanks are felt. Since she will run with the men, it is as well for
Kanémon to get the profit of the business. If she breaks out--put a ring
in her nose, and treat her as the farmers treat their cattle. Don't let
her again bother home or Cho[u]bei. She will lie--of course. At Toémon's
they are used to lies?" The woman Matsu laughed--"No fear as to that."
She looked over the contract with care. "Ah! She is sold for life
service; otherwise the twenty _ryo[u]_ would be a scandalous price. Is
that her?... Um! Not a likely jade. Stand a little in the light.... This
Matsu would never have closed the bargain without a view. But Toémon San
has left no choice. In the scarcity of women, and his good-will to
Cho[u]bei San, he would pay any sum. At twenty _ryo[u]_ she is a gem!
You can come up here. Také! Haru! A new girl. Take her in charge and
show her the house and its ways.... Cho[u]bei San, some tea." Cho[u]bei
put a word into this running comment and invitation. As the girls were
leading off the hesitating O'Iwa he said loudly and roughly--"Remember
to obey the Okamisan (wife) in everything. Whatever she commands is
right and must be done: no nonsense. Ah! Something forgotten: a moment
please." He drew O'Iwa aside, seeing that she was on the verge of tears.
Speaking gently--"Be astonished at nothing; be ignorant of everything.
The house of Toémon in Honjo[u] is not the drawing room of Tamiya in
Yotsuya. Deign to remember that Cho[u]bei must play his part. Life is
like an excursion in a pleasure boat. There are rough places to pass,
some danger, and much refuse to get rid of. Condescend to have House and
husband in mind. It is but for a week--or so."--"And Iémon San, the
House; they will be secure?"--"That Cho[u]bei is assured of. See: he has
the twenty _ryo[u]_ in hand. It is mere matter of securing the
compromising paper and the return of Iémon. Some negotiations are
necessary for that. In the future his behaviour will be much improved."
He clinked the coin before her. As O'Iwa passed up the stairs he
returned to the _hibachi_ of the wife. The tea was a short course.
Cho[u]bei was on needles while drinking it. He feared an outbreak from
above in the course of O'Iwa's initiation into a vileness the depth of
which she never even could suspect. "Yes: trade is good. Women are
difficult to secure. The men prefer to have them in their homes, rather
than to gain by their service elsewhere." In such professional talk of a
few moments he quickly dispatched the refreshment, climbed into his
clogs, and departed. O'Iwa had disappeared far into the depths.
Toémon and his wife were quarrelling. Said the woman--"Are you mad, to
pay twenty _ryo[u]_ for such an ugly wench? No choice was given. This
Matsu was to receive her. Cho[u]bei is a cheat." Toémon and the
_banto[u]_ drew O'Iwa under the light, much as if she were a bag of
rice--"The clever rascal! From crown of the head to neck she is all made
up. And perhaps elsewhere."--"At all events she is a woman." The
_banto[u]_ spoke as in doubt. "Never mind: we are great artists, too, if
not so good at cheating as this Cho[u]bei. Twenty-six years! She's forty
at least.... What may be your honoured age?"--"Twenty-six years,"
replied the distressed O'Iwa. The wife threw up her hands--"And she does
not lie!... Haru! Ko[u]ta! It is time to go out. The bell already
strikes the hour of the dog (7 P.M.). Take Iwa to the reception room
(_yoséba_). She is to learn the ways of the place; where to entertain
her guests.... Come! Along with all of you!" Some ten or fifteen women
had gathered in their array for their night's campaign. Paint, powder,
plaster, disguised the ravages of disease among the hardened set of this
low class house. O'Iwa accompanied O'Haru to what had been called the
_yoséba_. The girl explained to her. Here was the place to bring and
entertain any guest picked up on the street. They were not the degraded
wretches who made the darkness of an alleyway the reception room for
their lovers. It was to be remembered that the wine drunk not only
profited the house, but paid in commissions for their own cosmetics and
other little gratifications. On entering the place O'Iwa shrank back to
the wall in horror; to shrink away in turn from the filth and obscenity
to be seen on that support. She would have fled, but the entering crowd
pressed her further in. It was a long room. The entrance formed a sort
of parlour or place to sit. The rest of the apartment was divided
longitudinally into little cubicula, rooms of the space of the one dirty
mat with which each was furnished. A shelf contained its cynically
filthy and suggestive furniture.
O'Iwa's disgust and terror was too obvious. O'Haru held on to her arm
to prevent flight. The attention of the others was drawn to them. "Does
the beauty want an apartment to herself? That is the privilege of the
Oiran, the Go Tayu, the Kashiku.[26] Ah! Sister dear; it is to be
learned that this place is Hell--First Block. There is no 'second block'
(nicho[u]mé). One gets used to anything here; even to use a demon's
horns for toothpicks." Thus spoke a hard-faced woman of some thirty odd,
by her looks. Said the frightened O'Iwa in low tones--"Iwa has not come
for this service. She is but a pledge. This redeemed, within the week
she returns to her home. This place upsets one's stomach." Those present
laughed loudly. "We all say that. The real reason for our coming is not
to be told. Be assured that you must perform the service, or suffer.
Condescend not to fall into the hands of the Okamisan. In anger she is
terrible." There was a general movement of the women. Said O'Haru,
drawing along O'Iwa by the hand--"Come! Make no trouble. A newcomer, you
are sure to be successful and please Matsu Dono." O'Iwa resolutely held
back. No matter what the suffering she would undergo it. Ah! A week in
this place indeed was to be life in Hell. She called up the sight of the
dismantled house, the figure of her grandfather, anything to strengthen
her will to resist. O'Haru left the room. "Okamisan, the new girl
refuses to serve. Haru makes report." The wife of Toémon leaped up from
her cushion. Dressed in night clothes, a long pipe in hand, she rushed
into the room. "What nonsense is this? Which slut is it that refuses the
service of the house?... You! The ink on the receipt for twenty _ryo[u]_
paid for your ugly face and body is hardly dry.... Pledge? A week's
service? You lie: as your uncle said you would lie. You are here for
life service as a street harlot. Out with you!... No? No?" She was about
to throw herself on O'Iwa, to cast her into the street. Then her
passion, to outward appearance, cooled. She was the woman of her
business, malevolent and without pity. "O'Kin! O'Kin!" The others now
gathered around O'Iwa. O'Haru and the girl O'Také plead with her to
obey. They tried to hustle her off by force. Said O'Haru--"Report had to
be made. This Haru acted for the best. Truly such obstinacy deserves
punishment. But Haru is filled with pity. Deign to obey. Go forth to the
service. The result of refusal is terrible." O'Iwa shook her
head--"O'Haru San is free from blame. Iwa is grateful for the kind
words. To go out to this service is impossible." The woman O'Kin strode
into the room; a big, strapping wench, and the understudy of O'Matsu in
her husband's affections. "A new recruit?" She spoke in inquiry--"Yes:
and obstinate. It is a matter of punishment in the _seméba_.... Now! Out
with you all! No dawdling!" The irate woman turned on her flock. They
fled like sheep into the open.