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has been quietly at work for some years. Every foreigner who goes to Japan is on the look-out for old lacquer and curios which antedate the European demand for them. Whatever of the real thing comes up is eagerly snatched at. But Japanese modern art is equal to the emergency, and makes many things that are beautiful if not old. I met in a remote country district an enterprising Semitic from London who had spent two months in Japan and had bought up enough odds and ends to freight a brig. He would buy old lamps if he could get them. If not, new ones would do; but he must have them as like the old ones as possible, and would then take them by the dozen and the score. This is a clearing-out process from a strictly trading point of view, which I believe is not uncommon, and which must at no distant date empty Japan of whatever makes her dear to the curiosity hunter.

One other little difficulty the foreigner with in Japan surrounds the question of Japanese currency is chiefly in paper convenient denominations down to Ich should be of the value of fiver a long period terminating with aper currency was grievously hat was nominally worth four

EAST BY WEST.

CHAPTER I.

DINING AND CREMATING.

WE lunched with Mr. Inouyé, the Foreign Minister, at his pretty country house on the outskirts of Tokio. Mr. Ito was present, together with several English gentlemen who have been closely associated with the Government of Japan in furthering its desire of drawing nearer to Western civilization. The Foreign Office, where Mr. Inouyé officially resides, is furnished throughout in European style. At his country house the Foreign Minister preserves the two styles, there being a suite of reception and dining rooms furnished in European style, and one wing of the house in Japanese manner. There is no doubt which

VOL. II.

20

PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES.

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CHAPTER

I. DINING AND CREMATING

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II. A PERSONAL EPISODE IN HISTORY

III. BY SEA AND LAND TO KIOTO

IV. THE CAPITAL OF THE MIKADOS
V. TEMPLES AND WORSHIPPERS

VI. THE NEW EMPIRE IN THE WEST
VII. THE GIBRALTAR OF THE EAST
VIII. IN THE TROPICS

IX. THE ISLE OF SPICY BREEZES

X. THE PRISONER OF CEYLON

XI. THE LIVERPOOL OF INDIA

XII. BURYING AND GIVING IN MARRIAGE XIII. THE HOLY CITY

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