[Decoration]
[21] The original of this story may be found in the book called
_Kibun-Anbaiyoshi_
THERE was a man named Tawaraya Totaro, who lived in the Province of Omi.
His house was situated on the shore of Lake Biwa, not far from the
famous temple called Ishiyamadera. He had some property, and lived in
comfort; but at the age of twenty-nine he was still unmarried. His
greatest ambition was to marry a very beautiful woman; and he had not
been able to find a girl to his liking.
One day, as he was passing over the Long Bridge of Seta,[22] he saw a
strange being crouching close to the parapet. The body of this being
resembled the body of a man, but was black as ink; its face was like the
face of a demon; its eyes were green as emeralds; and its beard was like
the beard of a dragon. Totaro was at first very much startled. But the
green eyes looked at him so gently that after a moment's hesitation he
ventured to question the creature. Then it answered him, saying: "I am a
_Samebito_,[23]--a Shark-Man of the sea; and until a short time ago I
was in the service of the Eight Great Dragon-Kings [_Hachi-Dai-Ryu-O_]
as a subordinate officer in the Dragon-Palace [_Ryugu_].[24] But
because of a small fault which I committed, I was dismissed from the
Dragon-Palace, and also banished from the Sea. Since then I have been
wandering about here,--unable to get any food, or even a place to lie
down. If you can feel any pity for me, do, I beseech you, help me to
find a shelter, and let me have something to eat!"
[22] The Long Bridge of Seta (_Seta-no-Naga-Hashi_), famous in
Japanese legend, is nearly eight hundred feet in length,
and commands a beautiful view. This bridge crosses the
waters of the Setagawa near the junction of the stream with
Lake Biwa. Ishiyamadera, one of the most picturesque
Buddhist temples in Japan, is situated within a short
distance from the bridge.
[23] Literally, "a Shark-Person," but in this story the
_Samebito_ is a male. The characters for _Samebito_ can
also be read _Kojin_,--which is the usual reading. In
dictionaries the word is loosely rendered by "merman" or
"mermaid;" but as the above description shows, the
_Samebito_ or _Kojin_ of the Far East is a conception
having little in common with the Western idea of a merman
or mermaid.
[24] _Ryugu_ is also the name given to the whole of that
fairy-realm beneath the sea which figures in so many
Japanese legends.
This petition was uttered in so plaintive a tone, and in so humble a
manner, that Totaro's heart was touched. "Come with me," he said. "There
is in my garden a large and deep pond where you may live as long as you
wish; and I will give you plenty to eat."
The _Samebito_ followed Totaro home, and appeared to be much pleased
with the pond.
Thereafter, for nearly half a year, this strange guest dwelt in the
pond, and was every day supplied by Totaro with such food as
sea-creatures like.
[_From this point of the original narrative the Shark-Man is
referred to, not as a monster, but as a sympathetic Person of
the male sex._]
Now, in the seventh month of the same year, there was a female
pilgrimage (_nyonin-mode_) to the great Buddhist temple called Miidera,
in the neighboring town of Otsu; and Totaro went to Otsu to attend the
festival. Among the multitude of women and young girls there assembled,
he observed a person of extraordinary beauty. She seemed about sixteen
years old; her face was fair and pure as snow; and the loveliness of
her lips assured the beholder that their every utterance would sound "as
sweet as the voice of a nightingale singing upon a plum-tree." Totaro
fell in love with her at sight. When she left the temple he followed her
at a respectful distance, and discovered that she and her mother were
staying for a few days at a certain house in the neighboring village of
Seta. By questioning some of the village folk, he was able also to learn
that her name was Tamana; that she was unmarried; and that her family
appeared to be unwilling that she should marry a man of ordinary
rank,--for they demanded as a betrothal-gift a casket containing ten
thousand jewels.[25]
[25] _Tama_ in the original. This word _tama_ has a multitude of
meanings; and as here used it is quite as indefinite as our
own terms "jewel," "gem," or "precious stone." Indeed, it
is more indefinite, for it signifies also a bead of coral,
a ball of crystal, a polished stone attached to a hairpin,
etc., etc. Later on, however, I venture to render it by
"ruby,"--for reasons which need no explanation.
* * * * *
Totaro returned home very much dismayed by this information. The more
that he thought about the strange betrothal-gift demanded by the girl's
parents, the more he felt that he could never expect to obtain her for
his wife. Even supposing that there were as many as ten thousand jewels
in the whole country, only a great prince could hope to procure them.
But not even for a single hour could Totaro banish from his mind the
memory of that beautiful being. It haunted him so that he could neither
eat nor sleep; and it seemed to become more and more vivid as the days
went by. And at last he became ill,--so ill that he could not lift his
head from the pillow. Then he sent for a doctor.
The doctor, after having made a careful examination, uttered an
exclamation of surprise. "Almost any kind of sickness," he said, "can be
cured by proper medical treatment, except the sickness of love. Your
ailment is evidently love-sickness. There is no cure for it. In ancient
times Roya-O Hakuyo died of that sickness; and you must prepare yourself
to die as he died." So saying, the doctor went away, without even giving
any medicine to Totaro.
* * * * *
About this time the Shark-Man that was living in the garden-pond heard
of his master's sickness, and came into the house to wait upon Totaro.
And he tended him with the utmost affection both by day and by night.
But he did not know either the cause or the serious nature of the
sickness until nearly a week later, when Totaro, thinking himself about
to die, uttered these words of farewell:--
"I suppose that I have had the pleasure of caring for you thus long,
because of some relation that grew up between us in a former state of
existence. But now I am very sick indeed, and every day my sickness
becomes worse; and my life is like the morning dew which passes away
before the setting of the sun. For your sake, therefore, I am troubled
in mind. Your existence has depended upon my care; and I fear that there
will be no one to care for you and to feed you when I am dead.... My
poor friend!... Alas! our hopes and our wishes are always disappointed
in this unhappy world!"
No sooner had Totaro spoken these words than the Samebito uttered a
strange wild cry of pain, and began to weep bitterly. And as he wept,
great tears of blood streamed from his green eyes and rolled down his
black cheeks and dripped upon the floor. And, falling, they were blood;
but, having fallen, they became hard and bright and beautiful,--became
jewels of inestimable price, rubies splendid as crimson fire. For when
men of the sea weep, their tears become precious stones.
Then Totaro, beholding this marvel, was so amazed and overjoyed that his
strength returned to him. He sprang from his bed, and began to pick up
and to count the tears of the Shark-Man, crying out the while: "My
sickness is cured! I shall live! I shall live!"
Therewith, the Shark-Man, greatly astonished, ceased to weep, and asked
Totaro to explain this wonderful cure; and Totaro told him about the
young person seen at Miidera, and about the extraordinary marriage-gift
demanded by her family. "As I felt sure," added Totaro, "that I should
never be able to get ten thousand jewels, I supposed that my suit would
be hopeless. Then I became very unhappy, and at last fell sick. But now,
because of your generous weeping, I have many precious stones; and I
think that I shall be able to marry that girl. Only--there are not yet
quite enough stones; and I beg that you will be good enough to weep a
little more, so as to make up the full number required."
But at this request the Samebito shook his head, and answered in a tone
of surprise and of reproach:--
"Do you think that I am like a harlot,--able to weep whenever I wish?
Oh, no! Harlots shed tears in order to deceive men; but creatures of the
sea cannot weep without feeling real sorrow. I wept for you because of
the true grief that I felt in my heart at the thought that you were
going to die. But now I cannot weep for you, because you have told me
that your sickness is cured."
"Then what am I to do?" plaintively asked Totaro. "Unless I can get ten
thousand jewels, I cannot marry the girl!"
The Samebito remained for a little while silent, as if thinking. Then he
said:--
"Listen! To-day I cannot possibly weep any more. But to-morrow let us go
together to the Long Bridge of Seta, taking with us some wine and some
fish. We can rest for a time on the bridge; and while we are drinking
the wine and eating the fish, I shall gaze in the direction of the
Dragon-Palace, and try, by thinking of the happy days that I spent
there, to make myself feel homesick--so that I can weep."
Totaro joyfully assented.
Next morning the two, taking plenty of wine and fish with them, went to
the Seta bridge, and rested there, and feasted. After having drunk a
great deal of wine, the Samebito began to gaze in the direction of the
Dragon-Kingdom, and to think about the past. And gradually, under the
softening influence of the wine, the memory of happier days filled his
heart with sorrow, and the pain of homesickness came upon him, so that
he could weep profusely. And the great red tears that he shed fell upon
the bridge in a shower of rubies; and Totaro gathered them as they fell,
and put them into a casket, and counted them until he had counted the
full number of ten thousand. Then he uttered a shout of joy.
Almost in the same moment, from far away over the lake, a delightful
sound of music was heard; and there appeared in the offing, slowly
rising from the waters, like some fabric of cloud, a palace of the color
of the setting sun.
At once the Samebito sprang upon the parapet of the bridge, and looked,
and laughed for joy. Then, turning to Totaro, he said:--
"There must have been a general amnesty proclaimed in the Dragon-Realm;
the Kings are calling me. So now I must bid you farewell. I am happy to
have had one chance of befriending you in return for your goodness to
me."
With these words he leaped from the bridge; and no man ever saw him
again. But Totaro presented the casket of red jewels to the parents of
Tamana, and so obtained her in marriage.