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402

TOKIO.

business quarter is on the east of the Castle, and is traversed by a main street running from the north to the south west under different names. A considerable length of this thoroughfare, which is called Guinza, is lined with newly built brick buildings in the European style; the road is wide and well paved, an 1 planted with with trees on either side. As it is in clos contiguity to the railway station, it is always very animated and thronged with vehicles and foot passengers.

The north end of the main street leads to the new public park or garden named Uyeno, which was formerly occupied by the magnificent Temple founded and main- tained by the Shoguns, and which was destroyed by fire during the revolution in July, 1868. In these grounds the Industr.al Exhibition of 1877 was erected, when the gardens where at great expense converted into a public pleasure resort by the Government. It was in the Uyeno Garden that the Mikado and General Grant were entertained by the citizens of Tokio in the summer of 1879 on a scale of magnificence unprecedented in the annals of the city.

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Among the places much resorted to by visitors is the ancient temple of Quanon, one of the most beautiful, most venerated, and most frequented temples in Japan. The avenue leading to the temple is lined with shops, in which are exposed all sorts of articles, religious and profane, to be sold to the numberless pilgrims who every year visit the temple. The temple is elevated about 20 feet from the ground. grand flight of steps gives access to the interior. There is a chief altar at the extreme end of the temple, with side chapels at its right and left, containing a great number of wooden images, which, with the "glory" round their heads, resemble the images of Catholic saints. The interior of the temple is not very large, and is not so conspicuous for cleanliness as most of the public buildings in Japin. At the right of the temple there is a fine old Pagoda, and near it two colossal stone statues. The buildings which are called the Temple of Confucius used to be the University of Tokio, but tuis has been superseded since the Restoration by the Ko-gaku-rio, Kai Séi-gaku-ko, and other universities in which Freign instructors are employed. There are numerous other temples in Tokio, some of which are fine e lilices.

The districts of Honjo and Fukagawa form the quiet portion of the capital. This quarter is connected with Tukio proper by five great bridges, some of which are constructed of stone and some of wood. They are called, commencing on the north, Alsuma Bashi, Umaya Bashi, Riogoku Basni, Ohashi, and Yeitai Bushi, respectively. The quay on the banks of the Samida forms a spacious and handsome street, and may be especially recommended to a traveller who has only a few days to spend in Tokio. In passing along the quay, he will see across the stream sev. ral fine temples and great buildings, which stand on the western bank of the Great River, and he may get at the same time a very good idea of the animated river-life of the Sumida, whose waters are always covered with junks and boats of all descriptions.

A great part of the remaining area forming the district North of the Castle is covered by paddy fi lds, in the midst of which rise picturesquely situated houses. There are also extensive pleasure gardens, such as Aska-yania, and neat little villages. The surface covered by paddy fields and pleasure gardens may be estimated at 4 square miles. In this district, too, are situated the great theatre of Tokio and Yosiwara, or the court of public women. The part West of the Castle contains fifty temples, and a great number of nobles' palaces. The part on the South of the Castle, with an average surface of 17 square miles, contains about sixty temples. The most remarkable among them is the Tera of Meguro. In this part of Tokio is situated the Mausoleum of the Shoguns, surrounded by sev ral temples.

Several great fires have during the last few years swept Tokio, more especially that of April, 1872, which led to great improvements and the widening of the streets. Rows of fine houses in brick and stone, and new bridges, in many cases of iron or store, have been built, and the city has in many portions been thoroughly modernised. The streets are generally broad and well kept. But as the city is in a transition state, it necessarily presents many strange anomalies. Side by side with lofty stone buildings stand rows of rude wooden houses. As with the buildings so with the people; while the mass still wear the native dress, numbers appear in European

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