Identifier: glimpseofislesof00whee (find matches)
Title: A glimpse of the isles of the Pacific
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Wheeler, William Webb, 1845- (from old catalog)
Subjects:
Publisher: (St. Joseph, Mo., Hardman press)
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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am is thetemporary bridge, which common people use every day—a very good bridge, too, but does not shine with paint likethe red and gold-lacquered sacred bridge. The town of Nikko is very prettily situated in themountains, two thousand feet above sea level. The air isfresh and invigorating; there are many country homes here,and in this vicinity, where the officials and wealthy Japaneseof Tokyo come to spend the heated term. A mile up theriver, on a stone wall built along the river bank, we sawthree hundred stone images, all alike, being the bust orimage of Buddha in a sitting posture; they are five feethigh and placed ten feet apart, made and placed there byone of the Shoguns about three hundred years ago, inhonor of the temples—a rather queer way to honor thetemples. Some of them have had their heads broken ofif,and a few have tumbled over into the river. I asked theguide who kept these temples so well painted, and who paidthe priests who attended them. He replied that it was 185
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done by the town. This is done to keep the tourist andJapanese pilgrims coming to Nikko. It is one of the showplaces of Japan, and they have to keep things bright andin repair to draw the crowd. After a good nights rest and a hearty breakfast, weset off for a trip up the Valley of Daiya-gawa to LakeChuzenji. Each member of our party took a sedan chair,which was carried on bamboo poles on the shoulders offour stalwart Japanese coolies, our guide taking a jinrikshawith one man to pull and two to push, our party requiringfifteen men to take us up. They wear very littleclothing, these Japanese coolies—a cotton shirt and cottonpants, so short that their legs and feet are bare. Thesesturdy fellows worked all day, and hard work, too, carryingus up to the lake ten miles and back for thirty-seven and ahalf cents each. I mention this to show the very smallwages paid in Japan; we gave them each a tip in addition.The road is very rough and steep, and rises twenty-fivehundred feet in going the t

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