subdued, he returned from the country of Hitakami, and proceeding to the south-west, passed through Hitachi, and arrived (VII. 26.) at the Land of Kahi, where he dwelt in the palace of Sakawori. At this time a light was kindled and he partook of food. On this night he made a song, in which he inquired of those in attendance on him, saying:—
Since I passed Tsukuba,
And Nihibari,
How many nights have I slept?
None of his attendants was able to answer him. Now there was a man who had charge of the lights, who made a song, in continuation of the Prince's, saying:—
Counting the days—
Of nights there are nine nights,
Of days there are ten days.
Therefore the Prince commended his intelligence and liberally rewarded him.[1]
Now while he was residing in this palace, he granted to Take-hi, the ancestor of the Ohotomo no Muraji, the Yuki[2] Be. Thereupon Yamato-dake no Mikoto said:—"All the wicked chiefs of the Yemishi have submitted to the punishment of their crimes. Only in the Land of Shinano and the Land of Koshi there are a considerable number who are not yet obedient to the civilizing influence." So from Kahi he turned towards the north, and passing through Musashi and Kōdzuke, he went (VII. 27.) westward as far as the Usuhi-saka.[3] Now Yamato-dake no Mikoto always thought with regret of Oto-tachibana-hime. Therefore, when he ascended to the summit of Usuhi and looked down towards the south-east, he sighed three times, and said, "Alas! my wife!" Therefore the provinces east of the mountains were given the name of Adzuma.[4]
Here he sent Kibi no Takehiko by a different road to the Land of Koshi, and caused him to examine the character of the country as regards means of access, and also whether the people were tractable or not. So Yamato-dake no Mikoto advanced
