MIONOSEKI, August, 1892.
DEAR NISHIDA,--We felt quite lonesome after you went away, and
especially at supper-time,--when there were only two mats, instead
of three, laid upon the _suzumi-dai_, overlooking the bay, and the
twinkling of the Golden Dragon.
Next morning the water was rough, and made a great noise; and I
said, "That is because Nishida San has sent us some eggs." But in
the afternoon the bay again became like a mirror; and I succeeded in
teaching Masayoshi to lie on his back in the water. Quite late in the
afternoon the little Sakai Maru came in, and brought a magnificent box
of eggs, and your letter, and a copy of the _Nippon_.
You are too good; and I felt not less pleased to find myself so kindly
remembered than sorry to think of the trouble you took for us. But
the eggs were more than welcome. The landlord cooked them in a little
quadrangular pan; and each one looked like a Japanese flag, with the
Red Sun in the middle. A thousand thanks to you, and to your kindest
mother,--and to all your family warmest regards.
By the way, speaking of the Great Deity of Mionoseki, last evening we
had a good laugh at the arguments of a clever barber, who came to cut
my _kappa_-hair. I noticed he had a soldier's belt instead of an _obi_.
I questioned him, through Setsu; and found he had been many years in
the army. In the army they gave the soldiers eggs; and he hated eggs
at first. But he learned to eat them, and found that they made him
stronger. Whenever he ate many eggs, he could blow his bugle much
better. Then he became fond of eggs. Still he gets his friends secretly
to send him eggs; and the Great Deity of Mionoseki is not angry. He
says: "What nonsense! Suppose the Cock _did_ crow at the wrong hour,
is not Koto-shiro-nushi no Mikoto a _Kami sama_?--and how are we to
believe that a _Kami sama_ does not know the right time? And suppose the
_wanizame_ did bite him,--then it is at the _wanizame_ he ought to have
been angry,--not at the Cock. I don't believe Koto-shiro-nushi no Kami
could be so foolish. Indeed it is very wrong to tell such a story about
him. I like eggs. I pity the people of Mionoseki, who do not know the
rare pleasure of eating a well-cooked egg" (etc., etc.). "If the Deity
was angry with the Cock, he should have eaten him." ...
With many grateful regards,
Ever most truly,
LAFCADIO HEARN.