THE “KAGO” (THE PALANQUIN)
In days remembered by many living at the present time, the Kago used to be the sole means of conveyance for travelling, till the more convenment Jinrikisha came to supplant it.
Even now-a-days in mountainous regions, where the vehicle is not passable, the palanquin is still in service.
There are two kinds of the Kago, viz, the covered and the open, the one represented in the photograph being the latter.
The Norimono, or the palanquin, used by Daimios in olden days, was an elaborate affair, richly lacquered and adomed, but the Kago for ordinary travelling is far from being comfortable, with a hard seat, and barely large enough to coop one's body in. |
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THE “HATSUNI” (THE FIRST STOCK OF NEW YEAR'S GOODS).
It is the custom of wholesale dealers in the city to send out the hatsuni, the first stock of New Year's goods, to retail merchants of the Second of January. The heavily loaded wagon, gayly decorated with lanterns, artificial flowers and flags, is drawn by an ox draped with different colours. The street sometimes shows quite a lively scene, as procession after procession of the hatsuni parades along with music. |
