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is rowed along over the moon of the sea-depths? Is it the bush of the man in the moon?”
The fine weather, however, did not continue. The dark clouds which gathered overhead alarmed the master of the junk, and they put back to Murotsu under a pelting shower, and very miserable. Three more wretched days they were obliged to remain here, endeavouring with indifferent success to while away the time by writing Chinese and Japanese verses, and every morning counting the days that had been already spent on the voyage. On the 21st they again proceeded on their way. A large number of other junks sailed at the same time, a pretty sight which was greatly admired by Tsurayuki. “It was spring,” he remarks, “but it seemed as if over the sea the leaves of autumn were being scattered.” The weather was now fine, and they entered what we call the Kii Channel. Here they were disturbed by a fresh cause of anxiety. It seems that Tsurayuki during his term of office in Tosa had had occasion to deal rather severely with the pirates of these parts, and it was thought likely that they would now try to have their revenge. One of the commentators attempts to save Tsurayuki’s reputation for courage by reminding us that this diary is written in the character of a woman. The course of the narrative, however, shows that their alarm was quite genuine, and indeed, to all appearance, well-grounded. Two days later we find them praying to the Kami and Hotoke to save them from the pirates. On the following days there were constant alarms, and on the 26th they heard that the pirates were actually in pursuit of them, so they left their anchorage at midnight, and put to sea. There was a place on their way where it was usual to make offerings to the God of the sea. Tsurayuki made the captain offer nusa.[1] They were offered by being cast into the air, and allowing the wind to carry them to the sea. The nusa fell in an easterly direction, and the junk’s course was turned to the same quarter. To the great joy of
- ↑ The strips of white paper seen in Shinto Shrines, and also called Gohei.
