Japan and the Japanese

CHARMS AND AMULETS. 303
accidents, particularly from the small-pox, which proves fatal to
great numbers of their children. Others fancy they thrive ex-
tremely well, and live happy, under the protection of a countryman
of Jeso, whose monstrous, frightful picture they paste upon their
doors, being hairy all over his body, and carrying a large sword
with both hands, which they believe he makes use of to keep off,
and. as it were, to parry, all sorts of distempers and misfortunes
endeavoring to get
into the house.
" On the fronts of new and pretty houses I have sometimes seen
dragons' or devils' heads, painted with a wide open mouth, large
teeth and fiery eyes. The Chinese, and other Indian nations
nay, even the Mahomedans in Arabia and Persia have the same
placed over the doors of their houses, by the frightful aspect of this
monstrous figure to keep off, as the latter say, the envious from dis-
turbing the peace of families.
"
Often, also, they put a branch of the Fanna Skimmi or anise-
tree over their doors, which is, in like manner, believed to bring
good luck into their houses ;
or else liverwort, which thej fancy hath
the particular virtue to keep off evil spirits; or some other plants or
branches of trees. In villages they often place their indulgence
boxes,* which they bring back from their pilgrimage to Isje, over
their doors, thinking, also, by this means to bring happiness and
prosperity upon their houses. Others paste long strips of paper to
their doors, which the adherents of the several religious sects and
convents are presented with by their clergy, for some small gratuity.
There are odd, unknown characters, and divers forms of prayers,
writ upon these papers, which the superstitious firmly believe to
have the infallible virtue of conjuring and keeping off all manner
of misfortunes. Many more amulets of the like nature are pasted
to their doors, against the plague, distempers, and particular mis-
fortunes. There is, also, one against poverty."
* These offari or indulgence-boxes are little boxes made of thin boards and
filled with small sticks wrapped in bits of white paper. Great virtues are
ascribed to them, but a new one is necessary every year. They are manu
factored and sold by the Siiito priests.