Page:Nihongi by Aston.djvu/145

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114
Nihongi.

hid in a great tree, and by so doing escaped danger. So pointing to this tree, he said:—"I am grateful to it, as to my mother." Therefore the people of the day called that place Omo no ki no Mura.[1]

5th month, 8th day. The army arrived at the port of Yamaki in Chinu [also called Port Yama no wi]. Now Itsuse no Mikoto's arrow wound was extremely painful. He grasped his sword, and striking a martial attitude, said:—"How exasperating it is that a man should die of a wound received at the hands of slaves, and should not revenge it!" The people of that (III. 9.) day therefore called the place Wo no minato.[2]

Proceeding onwards, they reached Mount Kama in the Land of Kiī, where Itsuse no Mikoto died in the army, and was therefore buried at Mount Kama.

6th month, 23rd day. The army arrived at the village of Nagusa, where they put to death the Tohe[3] of Nagusa. Finally they crossed the moor of Sano, and arrived at the village of Kami[4] in Kumano. Here he embarked in the rock-boat of Heaven, and leading his army, proceeded onwards by slow degrees. In the midst of the sea, they suddenly met with a violent wind, and the Imperial vessel was tossed about. Then Ina-ihi no Mikoto exclaimed and said:—"Alas! my ancestors were Heavenly Deities, and my mother was a Goddess of the Sea. Why do they harass me by land, and why moreover do they harass me by sea?" When he had said this, he drew his sword and plunged into the sea, where he became changed into the God Sabi-mochi.[5]

(III. 10.) Mike Irino no Mikoto, also indignant at this, said:—"My mother and my aunt are both Sea-Goddesses: why do they raise great billows to overwhelm us?" So treading upon the waves, he went to the Eternal Land.[6] The Emperor was now alone with the Imperial Prince Tagishi-mimi no Mikoto. Leading his army forward, he arrived at Port Arazaka in Kumano [also called Nishiki Bay], where he put to death the Tohe of Nishiki. At this time the Gods belched up

  1. Mother-tree-village.
  2. Port Man (vir).
  3. Tohe seems to have been a word for chieftain.
  4. Or it may be of the Deity of Kumano.
  5. i.e. the blade-holder.
  6. Toko-yo no Kuni.